Milk or Water? Unlock the Secret to the Perfect Hot Chocolate! (2024)

FAQs

Milk or Water? Unlock the Secret to the Perfect Hot Chocolate!? ›

“Water gives you more of the flavor of whatever cocoa or chocolate you're using,” she says, “so over the years whenever I work on a recipe, make opinions about it, or experiment, I want to start with that.” If you want the hot chocolate to be creamy, you can add a bit of milk, cream, or whipped cream, she notes, which ...

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

MORE ABOUT THIS DRINK

Contains milk. *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Hot cocoa: a history

The Mayans ground the cocoa seeds into a paste and mixed it with water, cornmeal and chile peppers along with other spices to create an abundance of flavors. They would pour it back and forth into cups creating a foamy top but the drink was served cold (not exactly a concept we can get behind).

While plain milk itself surpasses water in several hydrating aspects, chocolate milk has been shown to be a highly effective post-exercise recovery drink. The combination of carbohydrates and proteins in chocolate milk helps replenish glycogen stores and repair muscles after physical exertion.

McDonald's Hot Chocolate recipe features steamed whole milk with rich hot chocolate syrup and is finished with whipped light cream and chocolate drizzle. Available in small, medium and large sizes. There are 370 calories in a small Hot Chocolate from McDonald's.

In contrast, water's clear base allows the cocoa to appear much darker. Furthermore, water enables the hot chocolate powder to melt seamlessly into the liquid, dissolving more easily than it might with milk. This often results in a less clumpy hot chocolate.

In the United States and Canada, the drink is popular in instant form, made with hot water or milk from a packet containing mostly cocoa powder, sugar, and dry milk. This is the thinner of the two main variations. It is very sweet and may be topped with marshmallows, whipped cream, or a piece of solid chocolate.

Use Milk or Cream

Adding milk or cream to dark chocolate can significantly reduce its bitterness. The fats in milk or cream soften the intense flavours of the cocoa, creating a smoother and less bitter taste. This method is especially effective when making hot chocolate or chocolate sauces.

Why add cornstarch to hot chocolate? ›

The cornstarch version thickened quickly, making the hot chocolate very thick and creamy, and in the end we decided on a combination of cornstarch and confectioner's sugar, for the ideal texture and sweetness.

Salt accentuates sweetness and suppresses bitterness, while also functioning as a natural enhancer to bring out the flavor in chocolate. Simply adding a touch of salt in chocolate recipes can make the chocolate taste better by balancing out flavours and bringing out many subtle nuances.

Using milk as an ingredient in hot chocolate gives it a creamy texture that many people enjoy. It also adds more fat, protein, calcium, and other vitamins than water does. However, some people may find that using too much milk makes the drink overly thick or heavy.

All you need to make hot chocolate at home is cocoa powder, sugar, and milk or water. This combination is my absolute favorite, but I'll give you a few substitutions you can use to make this with what you have in your pantry right now!

Steps to Make It

Pour 12 ounces milk (any kind) into a glass and slowly add 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder while blending with an immersion blender, spoon, or a small whisk. An immersion blender or a small whisk works best because they reduce the clumping of the cocoa powder.

1 cup water or milk. 2 envelopes (1.38 oz each) Swiss Miss® Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix.

It's best to heat your milk slowly over medium heat, and stir it while it comes to a boil. Stirring and heating gently help hold the water, carbs, fat, and protein in milk together. As soon as you see bubbles forming around the edges of the pot and just a few in the middle, turn off the heat.

Summarising the Best Choices

Dairy Milk: Full cream dairy milk remains a classic choice for a rich, velvety hot chocolate. Plant-Based Milks: Soy, oat, almond, and coconut milks offer delightful plant-based alternatives, each adding a unique twist.

Just Add Milk, Smooth, luxurious drinking chocolate. Galaxy is the perfect partner for the ultimate hot chocolate experience.