Homemade Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream

It's so simple and delicious without the preservatives and extra chemicals.

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa.  I like the unprocessed cacao, but either one is fine. 
• 1/2 cup organic sugar cane or granulated sugar *
• 1 pinch of salt (about 1/8 of a teaspoon)
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 3 1/2 cups of milk
• 1 teaspoon of REAL vanilla extract*
• 1/2 cup half and half, however, I like to use organic evaporated milk.  Either one is good. 
• You can sprinkled some cinnamon too, but that's optional.  My daughter loves it this way, my sons, not so much. 

*Notes

*The person who gave me this recipe told me to put 3/4 cup of sugar.  That was way too sweet for us, so we cut it down to 1/2 cup of sugar.  However, since we are not big on a sugar high, we have chipped away at this serving as well, and make it with a little under 1/2 cup.  So taste and see...

Ha, if you are Catholic, you are probably now humming or singing "Taste and see, the goodness of the Lord," 

*When my mommy was over she made this with real vanilla bean and it was to die for! 

Directions:

1. Boil water
2. Combine the cocoa, sugar, and pinch of salt and put into the boiling water.  Stir until well incorporate.  If water starts to dry up, put more*
3. Simmer and continue to stir for about 2 minutes.  Make sure it doesn't scorch - that'll give you bad burned tasting cocoa ;)
4. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until hot, but do not boil.
5. Remove from heat. 
6. Add vanilla.
7. Divide between 4 or 5 mugs (depending on size).  
8. Add the half and half or evaporated milk to the mugs of cocoa.
9. Finish off with a dallop of homemade whipped cream! *

*Notes

* At the end of Directions #2 you can cool off and put in a container.  Now every time you want hot cocoa you can microwave a mug or milk with a little vanilla and put some of your cocoa mix into it.  Finish off with half and half/evaporated milk and whipped cream OR you can just have it with whipped cream OR just have it alone.  You may want to triple the recipe to have on hand.  

*Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe to Follow on a New Post...

*If you are used to the packaged stuff this will not taste like that.  This is creamy real hot cocoa.  Very delicious, but different.