Making The Perfect Hot Chocolate

Mar 18, 2024 by Chef David

By Chef David

Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of hot chocolate? Especially on a chilly night. This decadent delicious beverage has a long history which began about 500 BC in the regions of Mexico and Central America. Called cacahuatl by the Aztecs and xocōlātl by the Myans.  It was a bitter, spicy drink made of cocoa paste, cornmeal, chili peppers, and spices, and served cold. Cortés and Columbus are credited with bringing cocoa beans to Spain in the 1500s. In the 1700s chocolate houses were popular with the London elite, serving a sweet warm beverage made with milk.

Health Benefits of Cocoa

Cocoa powder is nutrient-rich, containing magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and copper.  It is a source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenolic compounds associated with feelings of pleasure and enjoyment. They protect your cells from inflammation, improve brain function, and boost immunity.

Cocoa also contains theobromine which has an effect similar to caffeine boosting energy. Both the Mayans and the Aztecs drank cocoa before going into battle. In the Revolutionary War medics gave it to wounded and dying soldiers.

The Way to Prepare ‘Hot Cocoa’

The difference between ‘hot chocolate’ and ‘hot cocoa’ is cocoa butter. Hot chocolate contains cocoa butter which makes it a richer beverage.

Hot cocoa requires only 3 ingredients sugar, cocoa powder, and water or milk (or milk substitute). Using milk gives it a creamier texture. Unsweetened cocoa powder can be bitter, consider adding about 2 spoons of sugar for every tablespoon of cocoa powder.

Instructions:

1. 1. Combine unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar.
   2. Blend with water or milk until the mixture is smooth.
   3. Place in a saucepan over medium heat or use a microwave to heat milk or water just below the boiling point.
   4. Slowly stir in the remaining milk and serve!

Kosher Hot Cocoa Brands

Hot cocoa is typically parve many store brands are either dairy or do not have kosher supervision. We tasted four high-quality kosher brands: Castle Kitchen certified by the COR, and Lake Champlain, Scharffen Berger, and Guittard all certified by the OU.

Each chocolate company has a unique blend of dark chocolate. They are all luxurious with a deep robust flavor profile.

Scharffen Berger

This brand was created by a doctor-turned-chocolatier. In 1989 after Dr. Robert Steinberg was diagnosed with lymphoma, he devoted his career to producing fine French chocolate. He partnered with winemaker John Scharffenberger and developed the first American craft chocolate company using traditional methods on vintage machines.

Steinberg began working in his kitchen practicing the roasting, winnowing, and grinding processes. Their first factory was in San Francisco with a vintage German mélangeur – a grinder that makes one small batch of chocolate at a time. They produced an intensely flavorful blend using eight different types of beans. Jacques Pepin said the chocolate reminded him of his childhood in France. Julia Child told them it was the best American chocolate she’d ever tasted.

Scharffen Berger is still committed to the craft tradition and making high-quality, flavorful chocolate. Hershey purchased the company in 2005 and owned it until late 2019 – when Scharffen Berger returned to private ownership.

We felt that Scharffen Berger was delicious, with a deep rich flavor. It was unsweetened, letting us control the amount of sugar. 100% unsweetened cocoa powder has 60 calories in each two-tablespoon serving size.

They produce an amazing array of baking chocolates and chocolate bars including 62% Cacao Semisweet Dark Chocolate, 70% Cacao Bittersweet Dark Chocolate, and 99% Cacao Unsweetened Dark Chocolate.

Scharffen Berger chocolates can be purchased online or use the store locator.

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Lake Champlain is a multi-generational, locally owned, Vermont company family business that started with a dare in 1983 In the kitchen of the Ice House Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont. Every year Jim Lampman would buy his staff fancy chocolates as holiday gifts. One year his pastry chef confessed that those chocolates were mediocre. So, Jim dared him to make something better. Together they began making high-quality hand-rolled truffles. 

Lake Champlain hot cocoa is simple, pure, and delicious. Containing organic cocoa powder and sugar, making a rich hot chocolate.

Certified by the OU their hot chocolate flavors include marshmallow, mocha, spicy Aztec, traditional, and dark. All pareve, and come in a 16-ounce container, each 2-tablespoon serving contains 100 calories, with 2 grams of fiber and iron. We found them to be warm and wonderful.

Lake Champlain also sells kosher chocolates, certified by Star K including bars, boxes, truffles, milk, and dark chocolate. We sampled the bars, and they were all delightful.

Lake Champlain Chocolates can be ordered online.

Guittard

Guittard has been making high-quality chocolate for five generations, over 150 years. In the mid-1800s, Etienne Guittard left Tournus, France hoping to strike it rich during the California Gold Rush. He brought chocolate from his uncle’s factory to trade for mining supplies but soon discovered that wealthy miners were willing to pay a premium for his chocolate. In the 1900s they introduced sweet ground cocoa.

Certified by the OU the Premium Collection Etienne chocolate is 53% Cacao with an intense full-bodied flavor, creamy texture, rich color, and a baked chocolate aroma. Two tablespoons contain 80 calories.

They also sell Organic Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder and Cocoa Rouge Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 100% produced for professional pastry chefs.

We were delighted to discover their even wider selections of baking chips, We sampled their semisweet baking chips. They offer a wide variety of flavors, each is interesting and exciting.

You can purchase Guittard chocolates online or use their store locator.

Castle Kitchen Foods

Advertised as decadent hot chocolate, Castle Kitchen Foods was inspired when founder, Ken was shopping for pancakes with his 4-year-old son and was unable to find a healthy, natural option with kid-friendly flavors. Ken decided to make great-tasting, healthy, food that friends and family can enjoy in their castle.

Their hot chocolate offerings include Double Dutch Dark, Marvelous Mint Dark, Classic Carmel Dark, and Memorable Maple Dark. 2 tablespoons containing 140 calories. We thoroughly enjoyed the Marvelous Mint, as well as the more traditional Double Dutch Dark They were rich, dark, and delicious.

Castle Kitchen sells pancake and waffle mix and Kids’ Chocolate Milk Mix which you can just add milk or milk substitute for a quick and tasty dairy-free treat) and Sugar-Free Fruity Fruit Fruit Punch all pareve, certified by the COR.

Castle Kitchen can be purchased online and in local stores.

The Ultimate Clear Mug

Lys Clear Stackable Mug, manufactured in France by Duralex, is a good mug for sipping and savoring your hot chocolate (or just about any beverage). This simple yet elegantly designed 10 3/8-ounce mug looks delicate but is deceptively strong (2.5 times stronger than ordinary glass). It is made to handle temperatures from -4°F to 212°F.

Lys mugs are microwave and dishwasher-safe, impact and chip-resistant, unlike ceramic mugs, Lys is designed to last, providing enjoyment down to the very last drop.

Dreamy Dark Chocolate

The rich taste of dark chocolate can bring back memories of winter days. There is something magic about the warmth and richness of this iconic beverage. These pareve cocoa mixes bring the complex robust flavors of cocoa. Snuggle up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa.