Description
Enjoy a cozy night with this rich and creamy Polar Express Hot Chocolate, made with whole milk, heavy cream, and a blend of chocolate. This decadent drink is perfect for warming your heart and soul, topped with whipped cream and garnished with chocolate shavings or mini marshmallows.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Whipped cream, for topping
- Chocolate shavings or mini marshmallows, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, pour in the 4 cups of whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir the milk and cream together gently as they heat up, ensuring they warm but do not boil.
- In a separate bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar.
- Once the milk and cream mixture is warm (with steam rising but not boiling), add the cocoa and sugar mixture to the saucepan. Whisk thoroughly until there are no lumps.
- Add in the 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir continuously until the chocolate chips have completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Add in the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir well to combine.
- Continue to heat the hot chocolate over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to keep it warm but not boiling.
- After about 5-10 minutes of gentle heating, taste your hot chocolate. Adjust sweetness with more sugar if desired.
- Once satisfied with the flavor, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Grab your favorite mugs or cups.
- Pour the hot chocolate into each mug, filling them about three-quarters full.
- Top each mug with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or mini marshmallows, and optionally drizzle with chocolate syrup.
- Serve immediately while warm, adding a festive straw or cinnamon stick for stirring.
Notes
- Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best flavor. Experiment with different types of chocolate, like dark or milk chocolate, to find your favorite combination.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes