Italian winters can be really cold. I miss the short days, cosy evenings and heart warming food that we used to have during those cold months. The truth is, it never gets that cold here. One of the special treats we would have in winter was hot chocolate. The Italian hot chocolate is creamy, thick and sinful. And when I say “thick” I mean “eat-it-with-a-teaspoon” kind of thick! Nothing to do with the liquid stuff available here. No hot cocoa for me… it just doesn’t cut it: it’s not chocolatey enough! Italian hot chocolate is not very sweet and it is often served with some whipped cream to cut through the richness of the chocolate and to cool it down, so you don’t burn your tongue while drinking it! On a cold rainy (or snowy) day, there is nothing better than coming back home and making yourself this delicious treat! I saw the whipped cream hearts a while ago and I loved them so much that I had to try and make them myself. I could not believe how easy they were to make! For disclosure purposes… I made this recipe during our winter and it has been sitting in my archive till now: I could not think of a better time than the holiday season to post this… even if we are in full blown summer down here! Enjoy!
Italian style Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream
Italian style Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream - how to make Hot Chocolate, the Italian way!
Ingredients
- 115 gms – 4 oz. dark chocolate 70% or higher, roughly chopped
- 350 ml – 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- Whipped cream
Instructions
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Whip the cream, spread it on a cookie sheet covered with baking paper and put it in the freezer.
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Put the milk in a pot and heat it on a medium flame. The milk has to become hot, but not boil.
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Take the hot milk off the fire, add the chocolate pieces and sugar. Mix well until melted.
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Add the corn starch, mix well and put it back on the fire.
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Pour it in your serving cups (ideally cappuccino sized cups are perfect).
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Take the whipped cream out of the fridge and cut out 2 hearts with a cookie cutter. Put them on the hot chocolate and serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
If you don’t care for the heart shaped cream, you can serve your hot chocolate with simple whipped cream (or without cream).
I do not add any sugar to my whipped cream, but you could add 1 tbsp of sugar if you like it sweet.
I have made my own version of this too! I love thick Italian hot cocoa! Starbucks attempted (and failed miserably) to serve this a few years ago…American’s don’t know what they’re missing!
*oops! Americans (without the apostrophe!)
This looks DIVINE, Manu! We are expecting snow tomorrow, and I am going to delight my kids with this delicious treat from you. Yay!
Yay! Let me know if you guys liked it! 🙂
A friend of mine just came to visit me in Seattle and was on a mission to find the best hot chocolate. If only I’d found your recipe sooner…I could have just made it for her!
hello
this coffee is Tasty
and with….. Beautiful Ornamentation
I love how you made this, look lovely I will tryt!!!!
I agree, nothing beats Italian hot chocolate. I love it so much that I also wrote a post about it eons ago. It truly is the best there is.
Oh my lord.. this hot chocolate is amazing. I’m a woman so I love chocolate. I had one cup of hot chocolate and my boyfriend had 2… definitely good!!! Thumbs up!!!
This chocolate really is amazing. I don’t think I can ever touch powdered hot cocoa again. Definitely keeping this recipe.