When I was maitre 'd at a French restaurant, people would line up in the winter for me to make them this recipe from my Grandma instead of letting the barrista make them the restaurant's recipe!

3 cups whole milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup good quality cocoa powder (I like Ghiradelli if you can find the unsweetened kind)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Simmer the milk and half & half. Mix together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add a few tablespoons of the hot milk to the powder & stir to create a paste (this will prevent you having the powdery buildup in the bottom of your glass.) Add the paste & the vanilla to the milk & simmer for a couple of minutes without bringing to a boil.

For garnish, whip some heavy cream & sugar & float on top of the cocoa. Sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon & cocoa over the top & drizzle a small criss-cross of a dark chocolate syrup.

The pinch of salt is very important in anything used with cocoa, so don't leave it out! If you want it less sweet, adjust the sugar to taste. Try this & you'll be ready for winter again before the summer's out! For the grown up version, you can add a shot of Godiva chocolate liqueur & creme de menthe.
Source(s):
Grandma. Top that for hot cocoa cred!


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