I manufacture a million ways to ensure that I get my chocolate fix every day. I sneak chocolate hazelnut spread into my coffee some mornings. I eat chocolate chips by the handful. Did you know you can make your own hardening chocolate ‘magic shell’ for ice cream with coconut oil? Chocolate in my cookies. Chocolate in my pancakes. The only thing I don’t put chocolate in is salad. And hash browns. And quiche… anyway. I get my chocolate fix in… we’ll leave it at that.
For some reason, my chocolate habit doesn’t usually include a mug of hot chocolate… mostly because I’m usually shoving it in my face as fast as possible. These cold cold days have had me craving a cup of creamy chocolate. This is that, with extra cinnamon, because because.
Original Photography Shot with the Canon EOS 6D Digital SLR. The perfect multimedia solution.
There are some special ingredients going on here. I mean… if we’re going to have a cup of hot chocolate, it should be primo! I used super dark, Black Onyx Cocoa Powder. This is the sort of coco powder that is super-dutched and tastes a bit like Oreo cookies. You know the flavor, right? Last year I made this Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding with this same cocoa powder. So delicious!
Of course you can use any kind of unsweetened cocoa powder that makes you happy. It’s your hot chocolate.
Oh! We’re using vanilla sugar too! I want every element of this hot chocolate to have a layer of flavor. To make this vanilla sugar, I rubbed vanilla beans, scraped from a vanilla pod into granulated sugar.
To flavor the milk, I heated it, tossed in a crumbled cinnamon stick and let the mixture steep for a few minutes.
Layers and layers of flavors!
Chocolate powder is whisked into the warm milk. This feels right.
Let us not forget the whipped cream. Heaven forbid.
I sure did drink both of these glasses. I even piled each glass with the remaining whipped cream. Waste not want not.
Chocolate meets warmth and comfort, with a hint of cinnamon. Chocolate consumption should always be this comforting… and it usually is.
Cinnamon Infused Hot Chocolate
makes 2 cups
2 cups whole milk (or any milk you like)
1 cinnamon stick
3 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar (depending on your sweetness preference)
half a vanilla bean, split and beans scraped out
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons black onyx unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
ground cinnamon to garnish
Place milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the milk is steaming but not boiling. Remove from the heat. Crush the cinnamon stick slightly and add to the warm milk. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes.
While the milk and cinnamon steep, rub the vanilla bean into the granulated sugar, creating a fragrant vanilla sugar.
Once steeped, remove the cinnamon stick from the milk and discard. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla sugar to the warm milk. Heat over low heat, whisking constantly until the sugar and cocoa are completely dissolved.
While the cocoa is heating, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to soft peaks.
Divide hot cocoa between two glasses. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Enjoy immediately.
83 Responses
I tried this with almond milk, but the infusion did not work; not a trace of cinnamon . . .
Adding more ground cinnamon should give you the flavor you want.
Oh! WOW! Best thing I’ve seen in a very long time! Trying it sooooooon :)
https://www.wanderwings.com
hot chocolate is a daily occurrence for me in the winter. this looks amazing! think i will go make some now.
This sounds soooooooo deliious! I have to try it one day!
Wow! Sounds amazing. x
I tried this recipe last night and it made my husband’s eyes roll. It did have layers of flavor! I will be making this a whole bunch this winter. Thank you!!
Because because.
That looks so delicious and heartwarming!
Love a good hot chocolate.
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I adore how delicious this looks.
xo
Maggie A
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I get my chocolate in my salads by using that AMAZING dark chocolate sharp white cheddar from Trader Joe’s crumbled over the top! It’s crazy good!
I want that whipped cream dolloped on everything!! Yum!
I’ve never been a fan of hot chocolate, but from the looks of your hot chocolate, I think I have to rethink my position. This cocoa looks so warm and creamy; lovely and comforting for a cold snowy day. Thanks for the recipe.
yum yum yum!!!!
i want this so much now!!
molliebylett.blogspot.co.uk
xoxo
I’m totally like you. More than year ago, I tried going 4 days without chocolate..and I only just completed my goal. Good thing I didn’t see this during those 4 days, because I know I would have broken my streak
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only that needs to get her sugar fix every day… chocolate chips by the handful? Yup. That sounds about right.
Cinnamon in hot chocolate sounds cozy…! Reminds me of Mayan Chocolate Haggen Daaz! But that’s cold…and a must try in the summer!!
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Yum, yum, yum. Perfection. :)
Joy, I just made this and it’s amazeballs awesome. However – I have NO idea how you managed to drink both cups. I’ve got a hard core sugar rush going from just one! (mind you I topped mine with marshmallow fluff…)
Those are some gorgeous cups of hot chocolate!
It looks divine. I love me some hot chocolate.
I got the black cocoa from King Arthur, and it’s awesome!
I get my chocolate in every day too, although it usually just means munching on a bar of dark chocolate. I feel out of sorts without it!
This hot chocolate looks so decadent. I will need to make some soon! Also, I love the pretty blue backdrop for your first and last photos.
I love the layers and layers of flavors here! i’ve gotta make this!
Hi Joy! This looks amazing. And I had to tell you – last summer I ate at this French restaurant and they served a salad with fruit and chocolate shavings! I didn’t know what I’d think of it…but I loved it!
Oh, you are so so right – cocoa needs to be good quality to be worth drinking! And it NEEDS lots and lots of whipped cream. I haven’t been brave enough to try cinnamon in my cocoa yet…I suppose I should really give it a go!
This looks absolutely delish! Cannot wait to try it. Kudos on the chocolate chips by the handful, I too indulge that way, a little too often!
This looks delicious. Yo make something as simple as hot chocolate so delectable.
Hot chocolate is probably my favorite hot drink. This looks so good!
The backdrop in the first photo is beautiful! Is it a painting? Your recipes are awesome, your words always make me smile but I really love your photo style!
This looks so yummy Joy! It snowed here so I might have to make this today
as for chocolate in salad — I had a salad on chocolate plantation that had cacao nibs in it, which is technically chocolate though cacao nibs definitely don’t taste as good as just a chocolate bar (:
I will have to try this recipe for our Christmas tradition of watching Elf and drinking hot chocolate on Christmas morning! Sounds so good, love the extra flavor components! Thanks for sharing, I also believe everyone needs a chocolate fix everyday.
I need a hot cup of this hot chocolate right now!
This hot chocolate looks amazing, Joy! However, I’m afraid I can’t find black onyx unsweetened cocoa powder around here… Maybe I should order it online. I’m sure it has a great flavor and depth to it.
of course you can use regular cocoa powder as well! don’t stress it.
This looks so delicious! I have made a green salad with bits of dark chocolate and dried cherries or craisins. Not that you are looking for MORE ways to get your chocolate fix. This cinnamon hot chocolate is like a warm dessert. I’m in!
Molly Wizenberg put chocolate in her salad in A Homemade Life.
Love the idea of adding cinnamon to hot chocolate – such a lovely touch
Joy, I just watched a few episodes of ‘bonkers awesome’ – you look so glamourous!
Enjoyed the recipes and getting enlighten on food photography. Lovely.
Nothing like hot chocolate to bring a spark of warmth into a cold and dark winters day. Also important to remember that chocolate is healthy, especially for women. Something with enzymes in the chocolate and chemistry in our brains – it makes us happy. Bring on the chocolate, I say!
Thanks for sharing this recipe
I want this so bad right now….so I’ll make it tomorrow. I’m sad I have to wait, but so happy I’ll get this soon!
I love chocolate but I do’t usually like it mixed with cinnammon. And I love cinnamon! I don’t know, maybe I just want to love them separatedly… or maybe I tried a very bad Mexican cinnamon chocolate once that made me stay in bed for two days. How can a non alcoholic drink do that? Anyway… this looks amazing!
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
mmmm, yes please :)
Salivating all over the keyboard! Don’t have any milk at home – must get some asap!
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Holy smokes! These look so good! I’m down for anything “infused” with chocolate! YUM!
https://sometimesgracefully.com
the weather here could be described as frigid. it would be made more bearable with this hot chocolate. bless you, JTB
I think my fix of chocolate comes in the from of nutella sandwiches with challah bread because sandwich has to be good for doesn’t it?
Love the background in the last shot, did you make it yourself?
What a coincidence. I was just thinking earlier that I needed to make cinnamon hot cocoa.
The drink looks amazing although I was sidetracked by the fact that you put nutella in your coffee. That is a brilliant idea.
Mmm, now THAT looks great! And your wood board in back reminds me of the sky, and the whipped cream reminds me of clouds, and like these mugs of cocoa are just floating through the happy sky :) pinned
I had the exact same thoughts – happy hot chocolate whipped cream clouds floating on this dreamy sky background … oh so lovely!