This Home-made hot chocolate is  kid-friendly recipe that is  easy to make and enjoy.

A little history

Hot chocolate  is a heated beverage consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and  a sweetener. The first chocolate beverage was  created by the Mayans almost 2,500-3,000 years ago. Hot chocolate got it’s popularity after being introduced from Mexico.

Before the drink became hot chocolate, it was served cold and called a chocolate drink. It was made with ground cocoa seeds and mixed with water, cornmeal, even chili peppers and other ingredients. (I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t sound like a drink I’d order back then).

The Spaniards created xocōlātl,  a beverage consisting of a chocolate base flavored with vanilla and other spices that was served cold. The taste was spicy and to Americans was considered to be an “acquired taste” (sugar had not been invented).

Thanks to the Aztecs for creating drinks were made from cacao beans, enhanced by  vanilla to  and other flowers add flavor.

In the 17th century, sweet-tasting chocolate was invented, and hot chocolate became a luxury item among the wealthy in Europe.

In 2010 hot chocolate was created in many variations and consumed around the world. Have you ever had cioccolata clada? It’s a thick rich hot chocolate you’ll find in Italy. How about chocolate para mesa? This is a spicy take on the famous beverage you can find in Latin America. For more details about the history of this amazing beverage take a look at this Wikipedia page about hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate

Ready for the recipe?

Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
    • 1/3 cup hot water
    • dash of salt
    • 4 cups milk (your choice, I prefer 2%)
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt.
  2. Add water; bring to a boil.
  3. Cook and stir for approximately 2 minutes
  4. Stir in milk, allow it to get warm, not boil.
  5. Remove from the heat.
  6. Stir in vanilla.
  7. Whisk until frothy (that’s the fun part, takes about a minute).
  8. Pour into cups
  9. Garnish, if desired with marshmallow or your favorite topping and serve.