Spicy Moroccan Hot Chocolate
After a cold snap the end of September, during which I too hastily put away all kids’ short-sleeved-attire, the days here in Chicago have turned warmish. My poor children are roasting; requests for “a cool drink of water” are frequent.
But the nights are still chilly. And once my three young ones are in bed, I breathe a sigh of relief, and generally sit down to enjoy something indulgent. It is often chocolate.
I developed this hot chocolate recipe last winter. But this autumn, I’ve been testing a few Moroccan recipes, so I changed it up a bit. It’s a little exotic and is definitely indulgent-tasting, but of course dark chocolate is lower in calories than many desserts. And since this is made with low-fat milk, it can and should be enjoyed often! (No I usually don’t whip up a batch of whipped cream just for myself – but I suggest you do so if you serve it to guests…or kids!)
Spicy Moroccan Hot Chocolate
Description
Spice up your mug of hot chocolate with cardamom, orange and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 3 cups lowfat milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (or ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 3-inch piece orange peel, peeled with vegetable peeler
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bring milk to a simmer. Remove from heat and add sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel. Steep for 15 minutes. Strain out spices. Add chocolate to milk and reheat to a very low heat, stirring occasionally fro 3-5 minutes until chocolate melts. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Serve; garnish with cinnamon sticks, whipped cream and zest of orange peel, if desired.
I am absolutely smitten with this hot chocolate. I love the addition of cardamom and orange peel. Stunning. Thanks so much for linking this recipe up in the Holiday Recipe Exchange.
Wow, that means a lot coming from an treat expert like you, Jamie! (: I adore cardamom...and hot chocolate...maybe because I attended college in frigid Minnesota where cardamom-rich Swedish bakeries abound! Thanks for hosting the fun Holiday Recipe Exchange! We're already planning to enter often!