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Thick Italian-style homemade hot chocolate in a glass mug, rich and velvety

Hot Chocolate

Rich, thick Italian-style hot chocolate — velvety, chocolatey and ready in 10 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1–3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • 100 g dark chocolate, chopped
  • ½ cup cold milk
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Method
 

  1. Add 1 cup of milk to a small saucepan. Place the saucepan over low heat and let the milk warm gently.
  2. Add the sugar, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt to the warm milk. Whisk everything together until the cocoa powder is well incorporated and the mixture becomes smooth.
    You can use anywhere from 1 to 3 tablespoons of sugar, depending on how sweet you like your hot chocolate.
  3. Chop 100 g of dark chocolate into small pieces and add it to the saucepan. Continue stirring over low heat until the chocolate melts completely and blends into the milk.
    For a refreshing twist, mint-flavored dark chocolate works especially well in this recipe.
  4. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup of cold milk with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Whisk thoroughly until the cornstarch is completely dissolved and there are no lumps.
    Using cold milk helps the cornstarch dissolve smoothly.
  5. Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan while whisking continuously. Increase the heat slightly to low-medium and continue cooking for 3–5 minutes.
    Keep whisking as the mixture cooks. It will gradually become noticeably thicker and creamier.
  6. Once the hot chocolate reaches your desired thick consistency, remove it from the heat and pour it into mugs. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Whisk constantly to avoid lumps and keep the hot chocolate smooth. Use good-quality dark chocolate for a richer flavor. Serve immediately while thick and hot.