Why can't I make the perfect Hot Chololate?

Question

Seriously..I'm sick of these darn lumps that float..I use the water off the boil, and I stir it James Martin style and still they don't break up. Any advice on how to make the PERFECT cup? Or can you recomend any good hot choc?

Cheers!

Answer 1

Put the powder in first then mix with a couple of teaspoons of water to make a paste.  The lumps are easier to break up this way, then add the water slowly, stirring all the time.

Or you could buy one of those little battery operated milk frother things!

My faveourite way of making it though is to heat some milk, put it in your favourite mug, take 3 or 4 squares of dark chocolate (still joined together in a line) and stir the milk with the chocolate until it goes all, erm...  chocolatey!!!  If you've broken off too much chocolate then you get to eat it, and one end will be all yummy and melty!!!!  Best drunk in your pyjamas in front of Desperate Housewives (or your favourite program!!).  You can do this with white chocolate too, but you need more.

Answer 2

maybe its cuz you suck...you should get someone to do it for u...

Answer 3

buy a cookbook with the recipe in it.

Answer 4

its because you have a limp wrist perhaps... you need to stop the other thing and save some energy

Answer 5

ok, well my perfect hot choclate is made with milk.. not water.. and it doesn't matter what brand i use.. it always turns out lovely.

Put Milk in a mug, cup, in the microwave for about 1min. Then add the hot chocolate powder.. sugar.. and whip(stir) up for about 30secs very fast. At this stage, it may look as though there are lumps on top.. keep doing it to make it pastey if you wish.

Put it back in the microwave for another minute, and stir. What usually happens to mine is that it looks kinda frothy on top.. and i have no lumps.. try it and see.

Answer 6

You make your hot chocolate with water!!! Use milk! And mix a little milk into the powder to form a paste then add hot milk and stir in - you shouldn't get any lumps.

Answer 7

Here is a Belgian recipe - they know a bit about chocolate.

Buy blocks of real chocolate, make a little hole through them, and skewer on a little stick. Put the hot milk into a cup, and stir with the chocolate on the end of the stick. Bootiful.....

Answer 8

Mmmmm, try and get some Suchard hot chocolate, it is soooo creamy, and you just can't go wrong, or br really extravagant, and go to www.lakeland.co.uk, and try some of their Carbochel hot chocolate. This actually comes in chocolate flakes....sheer indulgence!!!

Answer 9

I make the perfect hot chocolate my making the powder into a paste first.

Answer 10

Kahlua Hot Chocolate

6 cups (approx)

8 min prep

5 ounces dark chocolate (140 grams, cut into small pieces)

2 cups full-fat milk

2 cups half-and-half cream

sugar (optional)

1-2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup Kahlua

1 cup whipping cream, whipped

grated chocolate

Heat the chocolate, milk and half and half cream over medium heat in a heavy saucepan, stirring until the chocolate has melted.

Whisk until the mixture is hot and frothy.

Add in sugar if desired.

Add in the Kahlua and vanilla; contine to whisk until the mixture is hot.

Remove from heat.

Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream.

Garnish with shaved chocolate.

Delicious!

-----------AND, BAILEY'S NOT BAD, EITHER...

Irish Hot Chocolate

4-6 servings 7 min 5 min prep

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup cold water

2 1/4 cups milk, scalded

3/4 cup half-and-half cream, scalded

1/2 cup baileys original irish cream, to taste

whipped cream

shaved bittersweet chocolate (to garnish)

In a large heavy saucepan combine the cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, water and a dash of salt.

Heat mixture over low heat, whisking, until the cocoa powder is dissolved and the mixture is a smooth paste.

Gradually add the milk and half&half and simmer whisking for 2 minutes.

Stir in Baileys.

Divide hot chocolate into warmed mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

--------LOOK AT THIS ONE...VERY INTERESTING...

Coconut Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

2 cups (1 pint) vanilla ice cream

1 cup fine coconut, or coconut flakes

1/2 cup of your favorite cocoa

1 quart milk

1 cup cream of coconut

1/2 cup of your favorite chocolate syrup

vanilla extract

Marschino cherries

Method:

Scoop ice cream into 8 balls

Roll in coconut

Place on non-stick cookie sheet and freeze

In large saucepan, combine milk and cocoa

Add cream of coconut and vanilla extract

Scald

Pour into Christmas mugs. Float frozen ice cream balls in the cocoa. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with a Marschino cherry. Delicious!

HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups milk

1.Combine the chocolate,sugar,cinnamon and a 1/2 cup of the milk in a small but heavy sauce pan.

2.Whisk constantly over a medium-low heat until the chocolate mixture melts and forms a smooth paste.

3.Add the remaining milk and whisk until warmed through.

4.Serve immediately.

Ingredients

1 Part cocoa powder (I like OPTIONAL, add a vanilla bean

Dutched cocoa) To the jar where you

2 Parts sugar Store the mix

3 Parts powdered milk

Directions

When ready to use, simply place about 3 Tbls. in a mug and fill with very hot water.

This is from Jacques Torres one of the kings of chocolate.

3 pounds bittersweet chocolate

1 pound 2 ounces whole dry milk powder

Cayenne pepper

1 large stick cinnamon

Finely grate the bittersweet chocolate. Place the milk powder, grated chocolate, and cayenne pepper, to taste, in a large mixing bowl and combine thoroughly. Spoon the mixture into attractive tins or jars and tie the cinnamon stick to the jar. Label the jar with the following instructions:

Use 1/2-cup of chocolate mixture with each cup of hot milk or water. When making the hot chocolate, be sure to boil the chocolate milk for at least 15 seconds. Use the cinnamon stick to stir. Serving with marshmallows is optional

Hope I Helped!!!!

Answer 11

'Jarah' hot chocolate is great! It taste amazing!!!

With the lumps - I'm not sure mate!

Answer 12

buy a hot chocolate machine !

Answer 13

"No lump serious hot chocolate"



2 1/4 cups whole milk

1/4 cup water

1/2 vanilla bean sliced in half lengthwise and scraped

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3 1/2 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate finely sliced with a serrated bread knife

1/4 cup (1 ounce) good quality cocoa powder, loosely packed

In a 2 quart saucepan, over low heat, add cocoa and 1/8 cup of the water, whisk into a paste and slowly add other 1/8 cup of water, add sugar and whisk until paste like, and add sliced chocolate, stir to melt, add 1/8 cup of milk at a time, after 1 cup add vanilla, add the rest of the milk and keep whisking.

Serve with whipped cream and shaved chocolate on the top