Chase Off The Winter Chills With These Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipes

By Megan-Josephine Reynolds

One of our favourite winter traditions here at GALWAYnow is cosying up with a cup of hot chocolate. Whether you like yours classic, with chilli, gingerbread flavoured, or even with a hint of mint, there’s a version for everyone.
As big fans of the indulgent treat, we have rounded up some gorgeous recipes to serve as inspiration the next time you whip up a mug of the chocolatey goodness.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Take inspiration from this BBC Good Foods’ recipe, and try your chocolate with a hint of gingerbread!

Ingredients:

  • 150ml milk
  • 50ml double cream
  • ¼-½ tsp dark brown soft sugar
  • ½ orange, zested
  • pinch of ground ginger
  • pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 1 clove
  • 2 drops of vanilla extract
  • 50g dark chocolate, chopped

Method:

  • Stir the milk, cream, sugar, orange zest and spices together in a saucepan, then bring to a simmer over a low heat.
  • Remove from the heat and pour through a sieve into a jug, discarding the clove and orange zest.
  • Pour the warm infused milk back into the pan and stir in the vanilla and chocolate until the chocolate has melted and is smooth.
  • Return the pan to a low heat to warm through, if needed, then pour into a heatproof mug.
  • Top with whipped cream and crushed gingerbread biscuits, if you like, then serve.
Chocolate-orange hot chocolate

Try the cheeky twist of chocolate and orange by whipping up this delightful drink from BBC Good Foods.

Ingredients:

  • 150ml milk
  • 50ml double cream
  • zest of 0.5 orange
  • 50g dark chocolate , chopped
  • 25ml orange liqueur

Method:

  • Heat the milk, cream and orange zest together in a saucepan until simmering
  • Remove from the heat and pour through a sieve into a jug to remove the orange zest.
  • Pour the infused milk mixture back into the pan and add the chocolate, stirring until the chocolate has melted and is really smooth.
  • Put the pan back on the heat to warm through then add the orange liqueur. Pour into a mug and serve.
The Ultimate Hot Chocolate

Finally, there really is nothing like a mug of classic hot chocolate, and Jamie Oliver’s epic hot chocolate recipe is so fantastically indulgent that it might be our new go-to.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pints of semi-skimmed milk
  • 2 tablespoons Horlicks (or Ovaltine, as a substitute)
  • 2 tablespoons cornflour
  • 3 tablespoons icing sugar
  • 4 tablespoons quality cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon
  • 100 g quality dark chocolate (70%)

Method:

  • Pour the milk into a large pan, and bring almost to the boil over a medium heat.
  • Meanwhile, add all the chocolate mix ingredients to a large jar, finely grating in the chocolate, then give it a good shake to combine.
  • You need around 10 heaped tablespoons of the chocolate mix for this amount of milk. Simply spoon the chocolate mix into the hot milk, give it a good whisk and leave to bubble away for a few minutes before serving – you’re looking for that gorgeous, thick, almost claggy, knockout texture.

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