There is nothing more inviting than a good cup of hot cocoa on a cool autumn or cold winter night. My family and I enjoy mugs full of cocoa as a special treat during this time of year. Hot cocoa is especially good after an afternoon of snowball fights and snowman building. Until recently, I thought the packaged cocoa mix was the best way to make a glass. One night, after everyone was tucked into bed, I was craving a mug of cocoa and a good book. I decided to do an Internet search for a single-serving recipe of cocoa. What I found was a basic recipe that could be tweaked to my own tastes. I found this recipe at http://www.recipezaar.com/26773.
To make a simple one serving mug of cocoa you need:
1 heaping tablespoon of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2 leveled tablespoons of Granulated Sugar
1 cup of Milk
Pinch of Salt
Splash of Vanilla Extract
First, take out your favorite mug. Make sure you choose one that is microwave safe. Pour in the Cocoa Powder, Granulated Sugar, and pinch of Salt. Next pour in enough water to blend with the powdered mix to make a syrup. Stir well. Next pour in your Milk. Stir until well blended. Place mug into microwave and heat. Microwave ovens vary, mine usually takes two minutes to become heated. Carefully take the mug out of the microwave, using an oven mitt if necessary, and stir in a splash of Vanilla Extract.
This recipe yields a delicious cup of cocoa. However you can get more creative and create different versions by adding extra ingredients.
Toppers: There are several options when it comes to toppings. You can choose to add one regular sized marshmallow or several smaller ones. If you enjoy whipped cream you can add some of that on as well. Chocolate shavings make a great addition on top of the whipped cream. You could also choose to add grated orange peel to your mug. If you want you could also top your cocoa with some vanilla ice cream.
Flavoring: Instead of the Vanilla Extract you could choose to add Peppermint Extract instead, some mint chocolate chips, or you could add a Peppermint Candy. Add some extra chocolate flavor by adding in some chocolate chips. If cinnamon is more your thing you could add in a pinch or two along with some nutmeg. You could also try adding Brown Sugar rather than the granulated kind. Try a mix of half hot cocoa and half coffee or two thirds cocoa and one third coffee. Or add some powdered coffee mix in with your cocoa. You could even try adding a tiny pinch of cayenne to your mug.
Stirrers: You don’t have to stick with just an ordinary spoon as your stirrer. You can use flavored spoons instead. For a minty flavor use a Peppermint Candy Cane for your stirrer. For an extra indulgent treat try stirring with Kit Kat bars or Twix. After a few stirs the chocolate coating begins to melt and creates a nice gooey treat to go along with your cocoa.
There are many different variations to the traditional cup of hot cocoa. Experiment and play around with various flavors to find the one that suits your own personal taste.
Source:
http://www.recipezaar.com/26773
Reference:
- Basic Recipe: www.recipezaar.com/26773
