Spiced Orange Hot Chocolate (The Coziest Winter Drink)
It’s officially cozy season, and that means it’s time to talk about hot chocolate. I’m not talking about the powdery stuff from a packet. I’m talking about rich, velvety, deeply chocolatey, homemade hot chocolate that feels like the most luxurious treat on a chilly night. And today, we’re giving it a sophisticated, festive twist: Spiced Orange.
The secret to making this taste like it came from a fancy café is our “flavor infusion” technique. We’re gently warming the milk with a cinnamon stick and a long strip of fresh orange peel. This simple step infuses the milk with the most incredible, fragrant aroma of warm spice and bright citrus before we even add the chocolate. The result is a hot chocolate that is complex, elegant, and unbelievably comforting.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich and Velvety Smooth: We’re using real chocolate and a touch of cocoa powder for a deep, complex flavor and a luxuriously smooth texture.
- Sophisticated Flavor: The combination of warm cinnamon, bright orange, and rich dark chocolate is a classic for a reason. It’s incredibly elegant and delicious.
- The Perfect Cozy Treat: This is the ultimate drink for curling up on the couch with a good book or movie on a cold winter night.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s make the most decadent hot chocolate ever. Here’s how.
First, let’s gather our simple, high-quality ingredients.
Next, the flavor infusion. This is the secret step that makes all the difference. We’ll gently warm our milk with a cinnamon stick and a strip of orange peel, letting those beautiful, aromatic flavors infuse the liquid. Your kitchen will smell like a holiday dream!
Now, make it chocolatey. Once the milk is beautifully infused, we’ll remove the aromatics and whisk in our chopped chocolate and cocoa powder until everything is melted, smooth, and velvety.
Finally, serve and garnish! Pour that liquid gold into your favorite mug, top it with a generous cloud of whipped cream, and finish with our final, all-important “zesty sprinkle” of fresh orange zest.
Ava’s Notes
- Use Good Chocolate! Since chocolate is the star here, using a good quality semi-sweet or dark chocolate bar that you would enjoy eating on its own will make a huge difference in the final flavor.
- Don’t Boil the Milk: The key to a creamy texture is to heat the milk gently. You want it to be hot and steamy, but never boiling, which can cause it to scorch.
- Make it Boozy: For a grown-up treat, a splash of Grand Marnier (orange liqueur) or a good quality dark rum stirred in at the end is absolutely incredible.
Spiced Orange Hot Chocolate
2
servings5
minutes10
minutes15
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
2 c whole milk
1 long strip of orange peel (use a vegetable peeler)
1 stick cinnamon
3 oz good quality semi-sweet or dark chocolate, finely chopped
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp granulated sugar (or more, to taste)
A tiny pinch of salt
For Serving: Whipped cream and fresh orange zest
Directions
- Infuse the Milk: In a small saucepan, combine the milk, orange peel, and cinnamon stick. Place over medium-low heat and warm gently, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes. Do not let it boil. You want the milk to be hot and steamy, and for the flavors to infuse.
- Remove Aromatics: Turn off the heat. Use a slotted spoon to remove and discard the orange peel and cinnamon stick.
- Make the Hot Chocolate: Add the chopped chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar, and pinch of salt to the hot, infused milk. Whisk constantly until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and velvety.
- Serve: Pour the hot chocolate into two mugs. Top with a generous amount of whipped cream and a final “sprinkle” of fresh orange zest. Serve immediately.
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