Mexican Drinking Chocolate

 by jessyratfink
Featured
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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!

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  • 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.

Step 2: Warm the milk and cream.

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Pour the milk and cream into a small saucepan and set it over medium-low heat. Really, the lower the better... you do not want to scald or boil the milk.

You'll want to stir it every few minutes until you begin to see tin bubbles forming around the edges and steam coming from the pot.

Step 4: Add the chocolate to the hot milk & cream.

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Add the chocolate little by little into the cream, lowering the heat if necessary to keep it from boiling, stirring or whisking constantly.

When done it should look like the last photo.

Step 5: Add salt, sugar and cayenne or chili powder!

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Add a good pinch of salt, a pinch of your preferred spice, and about 1 tbsp of sugar to start.

Mix all those in, and give it a taste. I normally add more cayenne and a bit more sugar - it all depends on how dark your chocolate is.

Step 6: Serve!

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Pour into cups and devour!

If you have some espresso cups, you should definitely use those. It's hard to drink very much of this because it's so rich. Based on how big your cups are, you can serve 4-8 people.

Top with whipped cream and put the sugar out for those who like their drinks sweeter.

Step 7: Update: stores well in the fridge!

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Normally, there are no leftovers. But when you makes this for just a couple of people, there's tons!

I was able to store this in the fridge for three days and it still tasted great and reheated well. Plus, when it's chilled it turns into a slightly runny pudding, and it's delicious that way too. :D
maltesergr8 says: Apr 18, 2012. 6:20 AM
YUMMM!!
D00M99 says: Jan 11, 2012. 12:55 PM
How long do you need to reheat it in the microwave?
jessyratfink (author) in reply to D00M99Jan 11, 2012. 8:19 PM
It was very quick - maybe 1:30 per cup? I can't remember exactly now. :P
BlueSalomon says: Dec 7, 2011. 8:16 AM
OK the mexican's ingredients

chocolate
cinnamon
sugar
water or milk

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oba fo says: Nov 18, 2011. 9:06 AM
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 in reply to oba foNov 30, 2011. 8:05 AM
Well, Oaxaca is a state, but Hear Hear!
oba fo in reply to NachomanDec 1, 2011. 9:15 AM
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 says: Nov 17, 2011. 9:01 AM
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 in reply to HollyHarkenNov 30, 2011. 9:32 PM
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 says: Nov 14, 2011. 7:16 AM
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 in reply to iminthebathroomNov 29, 2011. 11:53 PM
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 (author) in reply to iminthebathroomNov 17, 2011. 8:06 AM
Oh dear, that sounds like quite the adventure. :P
Nachoman says: Nov 29, 2011. 11:35 PM
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 says: Nov 19, 2011. 2:45 PM
Nice manicure too!
lambsb says: Nov 18, 2011. 6:11 AM
I need a cup of this sitting next to Scooch's Krispy Kreme doughnuts. MMMMMMM....
A P3RS0N says: Nov 17, 2011. 6:13 PM
Call it heresy if you wish, but does canned whipped cream suffice?
AussieAnglerGal says: Nov 16, 2011. 12:42 AM
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 (author) in reply to AussieAnglerGalNov 17, 2011. 8:05 AM
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 in reply to jessyratfinkNov 17, 2011. 3:10 PM
hahaha, well i'll defiantly be trying this method! its cool
Vaughanabe13 says: Nov 17, 2011. 12:23 PM
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 says: Nov 17, 2011. 10:18 AM
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 says: Nov 13, 2011. 2:05 PM
I almost only like cayenne when it is paired with chocolate. This is fantastic.
jessyratfink (author) in reply to scoochmarooNov 17, 2011. 8:06 AM
Thanks! :D
lmnopeas says: Nov 14, 2011. 1:57 PM
Great recipe! It's so important to make whip cream from scratch. You can definitely taste the difference.
jessyratfink (author) in reply to lmnopeasNov 17, 2011. 8:06 AM
Thank you! And you definitely can taste a huge difference. It's so good!
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