Fancy Hot Chocolate Recipes

Steps:

• In a 1.5-quart saucepan over medium heat, whisk together whole milk, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and espresso powder until hot.
• Small bubbles will appear around the edges and the mixture may start to steam. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
• Turn heat to low and stir in chopped chocolate until melted completely.
• Serve warm, topped with whipped cream.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Fill a small pot with 1/3 cup water and bring to a boil. Whisk in cocoa; it may clump, which is O.K.
• Reduce heat to medium and whisk in milk, whisking around the sides of the pan to help dissolve all the cocoa.
• When milk simmers, whisk in the chocolate, 1 tablespoon sugar and a tiny pinch of salt, and reduce heat to low. Whisk until chocolate is melted and very smooth. Taste and add more sugar if you like. Turn off heat and whisk in vanilla.
• Serve topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Steps:

• For the chocolate decorations: Put the melted chocolate into a pastry bag and snip off a tiny hole at the tip. Pipe lacy chocolate designs--just larger than the tea cups you're using--onto a baking mat or piece of parchment paper. Allow to set completely.
• For the hot chocolate: Combine the milk and half-and-half in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat, then stir in the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chips, sugar and vanilla, heating until melted and combined. Transfer the mixture to a teapot.
• To serve: place a lacy chocolate piece over each tea cup and pour over the hot chocolate. When the chocolate has melted into the cup, top with the whipped cream and enjoy.

Steps:

• Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.