Description
Creamy, decadent Strawberry Hot Chocolate infused with fresh strawberries for a vibrant, fruity twist. Perfect for a cozy night in.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup whole milk (or your favorite milk alternative)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- Whipped cream, for topping (optional)
- Strawberry slices, for garnish (optional)
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped fresh strawberries with 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Gently stir them together, ensuring the sugar coats all the strawberry pieces. Let this mixture sit for at least 15 minutes, or even up to an hour, at room temperature.
- After the maceration period, place a fine-mesh sieve over a small saucepan. Pour the strawberry mixture into the sieve, allowing the syrup to drip into the saucepan. Gently press down on the strawberries with the back of a spoon to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the strawberry solids or save them for another use.
- In the saucepan with the strawberry syrup, add the unsweetened cocoa powder, the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and the salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together until they are well combined and there are no lumps of cocoa powder.
- Pour in the whole milk (or your chosen milk alternative) into the saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly to prevent the cocoa powder from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and begins to steam gently. Do not let it boil!
- Once the milk is steaming, reduce the heat to low. Add the finely chopped bittersweet chocolate to the saucepan. Continue whisking constantly until the chocolate is completely melted and the hot chocolate is smooth and glossy.
- Allow the hot chocolate to simmer gently over low heat for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let it boil!
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the strawberry hot chocolate into your favorite mugs.
- If desired, top each mug of hot chocolate with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
- For a beautiful and festive touch, garnish each mug with a few fresh strawberry slices.
- Sprinkle some chocolate shavings over the whipped cream or directly onto the hot chocolate for an extra layer of chocolatey goodness.
- Serve the strawberry hot chocolate immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Feel free to use your favorite milk alternative, such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
- Experiment with different types of chocolate, such as milk chocolate or white chocolate.
- If you want to intensify the strawberry flavor even further, you can add a few drops of strawberry extract to the hot chocolate.
- Add mini marshmallows to the hot chocolate for a classic touch.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the hot chocolate for a warm and spicy flavor.
- For an adult version, add a shot of your favorite liqueur, such as strawberry liqueur, chocolate liqueur, or rum.
- To make this recipe vegan, use a plant-based milk alternative, vegan chocolate, and vegan whipped cream.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to your liking.
- You can prepare the strawberry syrup ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger group.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes