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    Home » Christmas

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    Spiced Hot Chocolate

    When you need a treat, try a mug of Spiced Hot Chocolate - warm and restorative. Add some rum or brandy for extra fortification.

    Jump to Recipe
    Spiced hot chocolate in a mug with a jar of chocolate mix

    Spiced Hot Chocolate

    Spiced Hot Chocolate uses the Mixed Spice recipe that I keep in my spice cupboard - mostly for fruitcakes, but ideal for this. Add it to cocoa powder with a little sugar for a hot chocolate mix to use for yourself, or give away as presents.

    Key ingredients in Spiced Hot Chocolate

    Mixed Spice

    I make a batch of Mixed Spice every few months because I use it quite a bit - mostly in fruit cakes - and because I'm not very keen on cloves, which can be overpowering in readymade mixes, so I don't add any to mine.

    If you buy mixed spice, rather than making it, you may want to start with a little less and see how you go.

    Cocoa

    The better the brand, the nicer it tastes, as a rule. I like Green & Blacks or Menier, but any good brand is fine. Don't use drinking chocolate because it's mostly sugar and milk powder.

    Sugar

    I err on the side of caution, so add more sugar if you like a sweeter drink. You could use Xylitol if you're looking for a low-sugar alternative.

    Spiced hot chocolate in a Christmas mug. Nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger in a strong cocoa drink with cream.

    How do you make the mix into a drink?

    Put the hot chocolate mix into a mug and add a little hot water from the kettle - just enough to mix to a paste. Add hot milk gradually and stir. I do like some cream on top and, if I can be bothered, a little grated nutmeg.

    If you want a real winter warmer, add a nip of the tipple of your choice - brandy is mine.

    A mug of Spiced Hot Chocolate

    What else do you need to make Spiced Hot Chocolate?

    Mini Spice Jars are perfect for holding just enough spice mix for two mugs of hot chocolate. If you want to give a friend, daughter, or your mum a little fortification at Christmas, you could mix up a batch of Spiced Hot Chocolate mix and give it as a present.

    A China Mug - A luxurious drink always tastes better in a china mug!

    If you like this...

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    Cranberry and Hazelnut Biscotti are perfect with a cup of tea or coffee and they aren’t overly sweet. Biscotti are easy to make and will keep for at least a couple of weeks.
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    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

    Mulled wine is Christmas in a glass. This easy slow cooker version will keep hot and won’t spoil – however long you leave it.
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    Christmas Shortbread

    Cranberry and orange Christmas Shortbread dipped in white chocolate. Quick and easy to make.

    Stockists

    5 mini spice jars with clip lids containing herbs and spices

    Mini Spice Jars

    Buy Now →
    4 William Morris design china mugs of various colours

    China Mugs

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    Recipe

    Spiced hot chocolate in a mug with a jar of chocolate mix
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    Spiced Hot Chocolate

    When you need a treat, try a mug of Spiced Hot Chocolate - warm and restorative.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: British
    Servings: 1 mug
    Author: Susie@Everyday Cooks

    Ingredients

    • 200 ml milk
    • 2 heaped teaspoons cocoa powder (30ml). See note
    • ½ teaspoon sugar - you may want more later (2.5ml)
    • ½ teaspoon mixed spice (2.5ml)
    • 1 tablespoon rum or brandy - optional. See note (15ml)
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    Instructions

    For the Spiced Hot Chocolate:

    • Heat the milk in a saucepan or the microwave. About 2 minutes in the microwave
      Don't let it boil over
    • Mix the cocoa, sugar and spice in a mug
    • Add a little very hot water and mix to a thick cream
      Not too much water but enough so it's easy to mix in the milk
    • Gradually add the hot milk, stirring as you go
    • If you like, add brandy and/or cream to finish
    • Grate a little nutmeg on top

    Notes

    Everyday Cooks tips:

    • Cocoa powder: Use the darkest cocoa powder you can find. Don't use hot chocolate powder because it has sugar and milk powder in it, so you won't get a strong enough flavour
    • Brandy/rum : 15ml is a little over half a unit of alcohol
    • Make a batch of cocoa/spice/sugar mix and package in little jars as gifts and write the instructions on  the gift tag

    More Christmas Recipes

    • Sherry Trifle decorated with cream and raspberries in a crystal bowl on a dark worktop
      Sherry Trifle
    • Small Christmas Loaf Cake decorated with marzipan, icing and marzipan stars. Two mugs of tea and a Christmas decorations in the background.
      Easy Christmas Loaf Cake
    • 4 pieces of Christmas Shortbread part coated in white chocolate, on a china plate.
      Christmas Shortbread
    • A ball of marzipan on a wooden board
      Marzipan

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    Hi, I'm Susie. Mostly I love cooking and baking, but combining work and home life often leaves me feeling that providing healthy, tasty food for my family is a chore. On those days I am decidedly an Everyday Cook...

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    A mug of Spiced Hot Chocolate
    A mug of Spiced Hot Chocolate
    Spiced hot chocolate mix in a glass jar
    Spiced hot chocolate in a mug with a jar of chocolate mix
    Spiced hot chocolate in a mug with a jar of chocolate mix
    Spiced hot chocolate mix in a glass jar

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