Italian hot chocolate is such a treat! This thick, rich and creamy hot chocolate is so much better than the store-bought mixes and is perfect for cold weather!
I love a good cup of hot chocolate and I've had my fair share of them. while I love a healthy hot chocolate on a regular basis, Italian hot chocolate (Cioccolata Calda) is the way to go if I want to indulge a bit. This recipe is a keeper because it gives you thick and creamy hot chocolate every time! It's so easy to make and is ready in just a few minutes. Treat yourself to this creamy and rich drink on a cold winter day!
Why this recipe works
This Italian hot chocolate recipe is a family favorite for a few good reasons:
- It's very easy to make and is ready is a few minutes.
- This recipe calls for just a few ingredients that you might already have in hand.
- You can easily adjust this recipe to your liking by adding more liquid or more cornstarch for a thicker drink.
Once you try this recipe, you won't have the powdered mix ones again. This one is just too good to resist!
Ingredients
Dark chocolate - It's best to use high quality chocolate for this recipe since that's where all the flavor is.
Sugar - This is optional, but if you like your hot chocolate on the sweeter side, you can add some sugar.
Cocoa powder - To enhance the flavor, add some cocoa powder.
Milk - Whole milk works best for this recipe. However, 2% milk works just fine.
Cornstarch - It makes the hot chocolate rich and thick.
How to make Italian hot chocolate
- Place milk and sugar in a saucepan and place over medium heat.
- Once the milk starts bubbling around the edges, add the cocoa powder and cornstarch.
- Mix well using a whisk and then add the chocolate chunks.
- Whisk over medium heat until the chocolate is melted.
- If desired, add a little bit of vanilla extract.
- Pour into mugs and serve plain or with whipped cream.
Notes and tips to make Italian hot chocolate
- I strongly suggest that you use quality chocolate bars to make this rich hot chocolate. Chocolate chips are not going to work as well.
- It's important to constantly stir the hot chocolate to make sure it doesn't burn.
- If you'd like your Italian hot chocolate to be richer, add ¼ cup heavy cream to the milk.
- I like my Cioccolata Calda to have strong dark chocolate flavor therefore I use chocolate that has 70% or 80% cocoa. However, if you like yours sweeter, you can use anything below 60%.
- To make a thicker hot chocolate, add an additional teaspoon of cornstarch to the mixture.
Looking for more hot chocolate recipes?
Italian Hot Chocolate Recipe (Cioccolata Calda)
Ingredients
- 4 oz dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- Place milk and sugar in a saucepan and place over medium heat.
- When the milk starts bubbling around the edges, add the cocoa powder and cornstarch.
- Mix well using a whisk and then add the chocolate chunks. Whisk over medium heat until the chocolate is melted.
- If desired, add a little bit of vanilla extract.Pour into mugs and serve plain or with whipped cream.
Notes
- It's best to use quality chocolate bars to make this rich hot chocolate. Chocolate chips are not going to work as well.
- It's important to constantly stir the hot chocolate to make sure it doesn't burn.
- If you'd like your Italian hot chocolate to be richer, add ¼ cup heavy cream to the milk.
- I like Cioccolata Calda to have strong dark chocolate flavor therefore I use chocolate that has 70% or 80% cocoa. However, if you like yours sweeter, you can use anything below 60%.
- To make a thicker hot chocolate, add an additional teaspoon of cornstarch to the mixture.
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