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A Mexican hot chocolate recipe that requires you to just toss everything in a slow cooker and let it all cook up. This hot cocoa is made with melted chocolate, not just cocoa powder, spices like cinnamon and a hint of chili powder. The flavor is so rich and delicious, just the way hot chocolate should be!
Livin’ la vida hot chocolate.
Bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, condensed milk, and a hint of chili powder. How Ahh-mazing. <– I’m sure you’ve figured out that that is not the traditional shopping list for hot cocoa. That’s because we’re doing a twist of the traditional hot chocolate today!
Hot cocoa is the stuff that childhood dreams are made of. And if your childhood was anything like mine, then Swiss Miss hot chocolate was definitely a staple. Swiss Miss was perfect for my childhood, mainly because I didn’t know any better. I gave it a try a few years ago and honestly, I can’t figure out why I liked the stuff.It’s got the faintest hint of chocolate. I’m suspicious that I probably wasn’t a hot cocoa snob when I was 5. I don’t expect my hot chocolate to be a bar of chocolate in liquid form, but shouldn’t abeverage that’s got the word ‘chocolate’ in it’s title have a significant amount of chocolate in it’s contents? I think so.
Mexican hot chocolate is slightly different than the traditional stuff we’re used to. I find it to be a tad bit thicker, it’s spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of chili powder. Don’t worry the chili powder is no way strong enough to be spicy, it just adds a little heat. It’s comforting and cozy. The spices are meant to be subtle but add so much flavor to the chocolate.
Today’s recipe for hot cocoa is quick and easy to make. I added all the contents into a mini crockpotthat i’ve reserved for dips and drinks, like hot chocolate. It’s the perfect size for the task. I hate having to clean out my large crockpot when i’m making appetizers or hot beverages for just a few people.The ingredient list for this Mexican hot chocolate is simple:
- bittersweet chocolate
- cocoa powder
- sweetened condensed milk
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- chili powder
- milk
If you can toss everything in a crockpot and stir it twice every hour, you can make this recipe. Warm, comforting, and perfect for the holidays.
It’s kind of crazy that it wasn’t until recently that I tried to actually make homemade hot chocolate. And what’s crazier is that I didn’t even think good hot chocolate could come out of a crockpot. But, oh how I was wrong. The flavors have a chance to really sit and enhance as they are slow heated. I make this stuff all the time now.
A lot of recipes call for heavy cream or half and half, and although you can definitely add those in, I decided to go the old fashioned route and just use good ol’ whole milk. This recipe would also work with 2% or even skim. Grab a bar of your favorite bittersweet chocolate, even dark chocolate chips would work. It’s simple, clearly it’s easy to make, and way cheaper than purchasing store bought mixes. As a bonus, you skip out on all those preservatives too 🙂
Happy hot chocolating!
Yield: 4-6 servings
Mexican Hot Chocolate (Slow Cooker)
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
A Mexican hot chocolate recipe that requires you to just toss everything in a slow cooker and let it all cook up. This hot cocoa is made with melted chocolate, not just cocoa powder, spices like cinnamon and a hint of chili powder. The flavor is so rich and delicious, just the way hot chocolate should be!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup hot water
- 4 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1/2 can (7 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 stick cinnamon(optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 4 cups (1 quart) whole milk (2% or skim is also fine)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the hot water and the cocoa powder, stir until smooth.
- In the base of the slow cooker, add the bittersweet chocolate, condensed milk, cinnamon stick, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, chili powder, whole milk, along with the cocoa powder mixture. Heat on low for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so.
- Serve warm with marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or chocolate shavings.
Notes
- I've used chocolate chips in the past but this can really be a hit or a miss. For best results, I suggest using chopped chocolate.
Have you made this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!
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FAQs
Mexican hot chocolate contains spices like cinnamon and chili and chopped bittersweet chocolate to create a very rich but less sweet flavor. Whereas traditional American hot chocolate is usually made with a combination of cocoa powder and/or chocolate and tends to be more on the sweet side.
What tool did the Mexicans use to make hot chocolate? ›
The Aztecs used a Molinillo, which is a Mexican wooden whisk, to froth hot chocolate and other drinks such as atoles. It's a very old kitchen tool and very little historical records exist prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores to Mexico.
Why use a molinillo? ›
The molinillo, a wooden whisk native to Mexico, has just one (albeit important) purpose: helping people whip hot chocolate into foamy perfection. To use one, you'll need to do a little twist.
How do you use a Mexican hot chocolate maker? ›
Rather than stir the hot chocolate, like you might with a spoon, you place the end of the molinillo in a pot of hot water (or milk) and chocolate, then rub the handle between your palms, creating a small whirlpool that not only incorporates the cocoa but also oxygenates the mixture.
How is Abuelita hot chocolate different? ›
How is Mexican hot chocolate different from other hot chocolates? Mexican hot chocolate has a different taste than other hot chocolates, as it has a bold chocolate taste and incorporates spices and flavors like cinnamon.
Why is my Abuelita hot chocolate grainy? ›
It has a noticeably grainy texture because it's processed only to the “liquor” stage, before it's poured into the disk-shaped molds to cool and harden. Classically, it's flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. To make the drink, this solid chocolate is broken into pieces, then just melted into a pot of hot milk.
Why is Mexican hot chocolate spicy? ›
Mexican hot chocolate includes various spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and ancho chili pepper. These ingredients give it a unique flavor that is sweet and slightly spicy. The chocolate used in Mexican hot chocolate is typically dark chocolate, which has a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate or white chocolate.
How did the Aztecs drink hot chocolate? ›
Their drinking chocolate cup of choice? Large vessels with spouts, coveted, yet not so practical. To create a foam they would pour liquid back and forth between bowls from a height – like ancient baristas.
What is Mayan hot chocolate made from? ›
Mayan Origins of Hot Chocolate
They would make chocolate into a drink by fermenting, roasting, and grinding cacao and then mixing it with water, cornmeal, chili peppers, and other spices (source). The drink didn't have any added sweetener so it was much more bitter than any hot chocolate you've probably tried.
What is chocolate molinillo in english? ›
A 'molinillo' (mill) is a little whisk used for stirring chocolate milk.
A molinillo is a traditional turned wood whisk used in Latin America, as well as the Philippines, where it is also called a batirol or batidor. Its use is principally for the preparation of hot beverages such as hot chocolate, atole, cacao, and champurrado.
What tool is used to mix hot chocolate in hispanic countries? ›
This Mixing tool, more commonly and traditional called “Molinillo" in Mexico, is a practical hand-held mixing utensil that was invented in the 1700's in response to the Spanish colonists' admiration for Mexico's inventive Hot Chocolate and Cocoa.
Why is it called Mexican hot chocolate? ›
It Started in Mexico
As early as 500 BC, the Mayans were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers (as well as other ingredients)—a much different version from the hot chocolate we know today.
What can I use instead of Mexican hot chocolate? ›
Replace the Mexican chocolate called for in your recipe with an equal amount of semisweet chocolate or cocoa powder. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and, if you like, a drop of almond extract for every ounce of chocolate.
What makes Mexican chocolate different? ›
Mexican chocolate is made with cacao, sugar, and cinnamon. It boasts a grainier texture than other types of chocolate thanks to all of the extra added sugar. While cacao nibs, sugar, and cinnamon form the base of traditional Mexican chocolate, you may also see it made with almonds, vanilla, or even chiles.
Why does Mexican hot sauce taste different? ›
Typically, the combination is made up of habanero, chipotle, pequin, and jalapeno chilies, as Taste of Home notes. Arbol pepper is also used in Cholula's original hot sauce blend. Mexican-style hot sauce frequently has a thinner consistency than some other sauce brands, and they do not ferment their peppers.
Why does Mexican chocolate taste better? ›
And that's about it. In the tradition of Mexican chocolate, there is no conching (long, thorough mixing), no intensive refining, no addition of cocoa butter. What you end up with is a chocolate that feels and tastes truer to the bean than its velvety counterparts on the other side of the pond.
What's the difference between Mexican chocolate and American chocolate? ›
Mexican chocolate is a paste made from cacao nibs, sugar and cinnamon. Its texture is very grainy compared to normal baking or milk chocolate due to the high sugar content. Very often, other flavors are mixed in to create an even more complex flavor.
Livin’ la vida hot chocolate.
Mexican hot chocolate is slightly different than the traditional stuff we’re used to. I find it to be a tad bit thicker, it’s spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of chili powder. Don’t worry the chili powder is no way strong enough to be spicy, it just adds a little heat. It’s comforting and cozy. The spices are meant to be subtle but add so much flavor to the chocolate.
The ingredient list for this Mexican hot chocolate is simple:
It’s kind of crazy that it wasn’t until recently that I tried to actually make homemade hot chocolate. And what’s crazier is that I didn’t even think good hot chocolate could come out of a crockpot. But, oh how I was wrong. The flavors have a chance to really sit and enhance as they are slow heated. I make this stuff all the time now.
