Mexican Drinking Chocolate

Velvety, rich, decadent, spicy drinking chocolate. It's more than a drink - it's dessert!

How could you go wrong?

I discovered this stuff a few years ago thanks to some friends and a wonderful little place here in Louisville called Coco's Chocolate Cafe. This is my version of their signature drink. Feel free to dress it down or up based on your personal preferences. :D

If you're curious about how good it is - I'm lactose intolerant, but I will have a bit of it when I make it. It's so delicious I'm willing to suffer the consequences.

Step 1: Ingredients and supplies!

• one cup milk
• one cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup heavy cream for making whipped cream
• salt
• sugar
• cayenne pepper or chili powder
• one 3.5 oz bar dark chocolate, broken into squares or large bits

Note that you can use only milk - it just won't be quite as velvety. Also, chili powder tastes the best, but I tend to use cayenne for maximum spiciness. Sugar in this recipe is all about your personal taste.

Comments

[maltesergr8]

YUMMM!!

[D00M99]

How long do you need to reheat it in the microwave?

[jessyratfink]

It was very quick - maybe 1:30 per cup? I can't remember exactly now. :P

[BlueSalomon]

OK the mexican's ingredients

chocolate
cinnamon
sugar
water or milk

[oba fo]

Well looks good, but it si not mexican just because it has pepper or chili. Try to taste a really chocolate de agua from Oaxaca mexican country.

[Nachoman]

Well, Oaxaca is a state, but Hear Hear!

[oba fo]

Uh O.k sorry. What is the meaning of "but Hear Hear"? And which is the difference between a City, country, and a State? I´m learning english :)

[HollyHarken]

Since you are lactose intolerant I would suggest either taking some Lactaid pills or the once a day kind from Digestive Advantage. I am lactose intolerant as well and I find the once a day pill to be the best bet. This sounds like a yummy way to drink hot chocolate. With Winter heading our way here in the North East this recipe will come in handy. Thanks for posting it!

[Nachoman]

Don't worry about the milk, as the real old Mexican way doesn't include milk products but as an option. Dissolve dark baking chocolate in boiling water, add some tea-making herbs or SWEET spices (We Mexicans don't consider hot pepper a sweet spice), then drink in teacups.

What's up with people thinking that adding hot pepper makes things Mexican? Does eating hotdogs, denying evolution and climate change and being warmongers make people US citizens?

[iminthebathroom]

Looks awesome, when my wife came back from Ba-ha she brought back Mexican chocolate for just this purpose, you know the round disks you snap in 6 pieces. Anyway, what ever you do, don't store it beside laundry detergent - another thing she loved the smell of "Mexican brand powdered laundry detergent. Anyway - the hot chocolate ended up tasting like soap, we will try your version - pass on the suds...

[Nachoman]

Real Mexican table chocolate (those disks) is supposed to be dissolved in boiling water (needs to boil for a while for it to truly dissolve, and may accept a lil' bit of cinnamon or other SWEET spices), then mixed with whole milk or cream-milk when being served. Modern Mexicans often dissolve it in milk to begin with, to it still has to be carefully boiled for it to dissolve properly.
Don't waste good choc on this instructions: they are pure ultra-fat chicanery!

[jessyratfink]

Oh dear, that sounds like quite the adventure. :P

[Nachoman]

Too bad this is extremely inaccurate: real Mexican chocolate needs to boil for several minutes for it to even dissolve completely. Never mind the sloppy mess of trying to swallow that triple-creamy mess, considering that, while modern Mexicans do make it in milk, table chocolate is supposed to be dissolved in water.

[danny6114]

Nice manicure too!

[lambsb]

I need a cup of this sitting next to Scooch's Krispy Kreme doughnuts. MMMMMMM....

[A P3RS0N]

Call it heresy if you wish, but does canned whipped cream suffice?

[AussieAnglerGal]

wow great idea with the whipped cream, i use an electric beater but i end up using like half a cup of sugar to get it thick and fluffy, your method looks great!

[jessyratfink]

I'm normally too lazy to get the hand mixer out, haha. Plus, it's loud and my house is loud enough with two cats and a dog. :P

[AussieAnglerGal]

hahaha, well i'll defiantly be trying this method! its cool

[Vaughanabe13]

Looks really really good, I will have to make it for my girlfriend. Also I like that you took pictures of the pinch size - a nice touch.

[DMBillies]

This is very similar to my own recipe and this is definitely worth every calorie.

Just for some potential additions to the recipe that I think work nicely, you can go with a little cinnamon. There's also the possibility of adding things like Bailey's, Grand Marnier, or a nutty flavored liquor for something different and a little extra winter warmth.

Oh, and depending on how finely powdered your chilis are (and cinnamon if you go that way), you can really help keep things smooth if you run it through some wire mesh when you pour it into the cups.

[scoochmaroo]

I almost only like cayenne when it is paired with chocolate. This is fantastic.

[jessyratfink]

Thanks! :D

[lmnopeas]

Great recipe! It's so important to make whip cream from scratch. You can definitely taste the difference.

[jessyratfink]

Thank you! And you definitely can taste a huge difference. It's so good!