Salted-Caramel Hot Chocolate and more

One thing that I am going to take time to do this weekend is to go on a good snowshoe hike or cross-country ski near our cabin or Mer Blueu. I can’t wait to get some fresh air and sun, smell the pines, and get some rigorous outdoor cardio.

As every good Canadian winter outdoor enthusiast knows, a good adventure isn’t complete without an accompanying tasty warm beverage in a thermos! And what’s better than hot chocolate? Why Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate of course! Not to your liking, well you can always go for a Spicy Chili Hot Chocolate instead … or for the truly adventurous, Orange Hot Chocolate. These hot chocolate mixes make fantastically yummy gifts too. Just package up the dry ingredients and write down the wet ingredients and instructions on a pretty piece of paper.

 

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 1 tbls dark chocolate chips
• 2 tbls cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 -1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 cups of milk (a nut based milk works well for this one)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tsp of butter or margarine (optional)

  

Instructions

1. Heat up the milk.
2. Slowly add in your chocolate and cocoa powder. Whisk until incorporated.

   

3. Add the rest of the ingredients and whisk
4. Heat to the temperature you desire.
5. Pour into your favourite cup or thermos and enjoy!

 

Spicy Chili Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2-3 tbsp sugar, agave, or honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• pinch of salt
• 2 cups milk (coconut milk works great for this one.)
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract (optional).

  

Instructions

1. Heat the milk.
2. Whisk in the other ingredients. Whisk until sugar dissolves.
3. Heat to your desired temperature.
4. Pour into your favourite mug or thermos and enjoy!

 

Orange Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp whole cloves
• The peel to about 1/2 an organic orange (more or less depending on your taste). If you are packaging this up for a gift be sure to dry the orange first.
• 2 cups milk (vanilla soy works good for this one)

Instructions

1. Heat the milk.
2. Whisk in the cocoa and cloves.
3. Add the orange peel and let it infuse for a few minutes.
4. After infusing, remove the orange peels.
5. Heat to the temperature you desire.
6. Pour into your favourite mug or thermos and enjoy!