Hot Chocolate: Two Ways

BEST OF THE TASTY CHEAPSKATE

It's hot chocolate season around here. (See picture below.)

My kids have been playing in the snow every day and today we went to enjoy a friend's huge hill. 

So I thought I'd share a few of my favorite hot chocolate recipes. 

The first is the recipe I grew up with my mom making on snow days just like these. It's incredibly easy, fantastically cheap, and so much more delicious than anything you'd get out of a packet. 

The second is a Creamy Milk Chocolate that will cost a little extra. It's high-falutin' like that. But so amazingly creamy and rich that we often have it for dessert. 

Easy, Perfect Homemade Chocolate

Serves 1 (or 2 small mugs) 

Prep time: 3 minutes

Cost: $.20 ($.10-.20/serving)

sugar: .02, cocoa: .03, milk: .15

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp cocoa

1 C milk

Stir sugar and cocoa together in a saucepan and then whisk in milk. Heat, stirring as you do. Don't boil. 

Creamy Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate

serves 4

Prep time: 4 minutes

Cost: $1.05, or about $.26/serving

Chocolate chips .75, milk: .30

3/4 C milk chocolate chips (preferably something higher quality like Ghiradelli or Guittard)

2 C milk

1/2 tsp vanilla (or 1/4 tsp almond extract)

Melt chocolate chips with a portion of the milk, Gradually whisk in remaining milk, stirring as you do. Whisk until smooth and to the desired heat. Don't boil.