I am THE worst New Englander in the history of the world!
I cannot stand to be cold. Even air conditioning makes me cold. Kind of makes me wonder how in the blazes I survived my childhood really… winters on the coast of Maine aren’t exactly like a vacation in the tropics.
The weather here in Georgia has been like a gigantic tease lately. The grass is turning green again, the plants are beginning to bloom, and some days the sun beats down and is a welcome sign that spring and summer are coming quickly. If you blink, you might just miss its arrival.
And then there are days like yesterday, when it’s rainy and damp and so stinking cold it makes me wonder why the heck I left my beloved New England.
Why is it we always seem to want what we don’t have?
*Sigh*
Thank goodness for hot chocolate. That makes even the coldest and crappiest of days better!
Baby Its Cold Outside Cocoa
Yields: 4 – 6 oz. servings
1 ½ c. half and half
1 ½ c. whole or 2% milk
3 oz. milk chocolate*
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate
¼ c. malted milk powder
Pinch of salt
Whipped Cream
½ c. heavy whipping cream
1-2 tbs. confectioners’ sugar
Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for dusting
In a large saucepan, combine ½ c. of half and half, milk chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate and whisk over medium heat until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add remaining half and half, milk, malted milk powder and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer.
Meanwhile, beat heavy cream in a medium bowl. Once it starts to hold its shape, gradually add 1-2 tbs. powdered sugar, depending on how sweet you like it. Just remember you’re adding it to sweet hot chocolate, so go easy.
Ladle hot chocolate into mugs, top with a dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate shaving or dust with a little cocoa powder and serve.
*Notes: I prefer my hot chocolate not quite as sweet as my children, so I like dark chocolate in mine. That’s a little too bitter for my children – so I’ve found 3 oz. of Milk Chocolate and 3 oz. of Bittersweet Chocolate is a great balance and we’re all happy. Feel free to use 6 oz. total of which ever type you prefer though.
Do you share my Pinterest addiction? Feel free to head on over and link up your Pinterest account so that we can all have some cool stuff to check out on these chilly days!
Love that this cocoa is made with malted milk powder. Sounds so easy to make and delicious…I know it would hit the spot. I also hate to be cold. I need to wear gloves when it’s in the 60′s!
I hear you! My mouse hand is always freezing!!
What a lovely hot chocolate. I have to admit, even so I live in a very hot place (all year round hot) I still enjoy my hot chocolate from time to time. Thank you for sharing
With a little chocolate, it’s all good!
I know how you feel. Everytime I say I can’t stand the heat, people look at me bewildered and respond with, “But you grew up in Arkansas, right?”
I grew up in Mumbai India where it is hot and humid. I love that kind of weather and luckily I am settled the right place, Florida.
I love hot cocoa and yours looks so inviting. I love the cups you have used. So adorable!
I love hot and humid too!
I can’t stand being cold either – - and the funny thing is, I’m almost always cold!! I could do with a cup of this cocoa anytime — delicious recipe and such great pictures
Ooh, nothing like a nice cup of hot cocoa when it’s cold outside. I also hate being cold and I get cold easily. The advantage of living in New York is that you get the benefits of every season…but I hate one of them
I adore the coat of Maine where you grew up…but in summer 
Me too!
Oh yummy! I could take a nice big cup of hot cocoa right now! It’s damp and dreary in nyc and I hate being cold. Everyone always asks if I grew up in the south, nope! just would rather be warm.
This looks fantastic with the whipped cream on top. Yum!
But NYC has so many great things to trade for the cold! I’d love to go see Wicked and eat my way through the city.
I am a huge wuss about the cold as well. I am loving the CO winter. It is 50 and sunny today, now the February I am used to from the mid west. I still would love 70′s, but I will take 50′s…and hot chocolate to warm me up!
That’s my perfect winter too!
Jen, I have to agree with your kids – when I’ve made hot cocoa with all dark chocolate, I’ve found it to be a bit on a bitter side, just not quite enjoyable. I end up drinking half a mug and feeling…well…unsatisfied. I like your recommended mix of dark and milk chocolate to cut the bitter note…
It’s a pretty dang good balance if you ask me! Try Ghirardelli chocolate chips – that’s my favorite in this one.
Yummy! I love hot cocoa especially with dark chocolate! You would die here – we are in a snow storm right now! And its freezing!
I love snow when I’m all tucked up inside by a fire warm and cozy. And that’s about the limit of it!
Oooh, these look fantastic – love the malted milk in there!
And hey, I am suffering in Cleveland, too.
Cleveland!? Ouch – it must still be cold there!
Looks delicious, And theRe is nothing better in the cold new England weather than a hot chocolate drink!
So true!
Hot cocoa always makes me so happy. Maine is never fun in the winter. Too cold and snowy. I moved down to Connecticut and for the most part it suits me.
I loved it as a kid, but I also didn’t have to shovel or drive in it! We moved to Georgia from CT like 4 years ago…
Even though I’m in Phoenix, my husband complains he is cold a lot. I have never made homemade hot cocoa. I’m going to try this and surprise him.
Stephanie – It’s so easy. And once you make homemade – you’ll never want to go back to those little packages!
This looks so good! I too hate to be cold! This winter has been awesome though. Today was in the 60′s and it’s supposed to stay that way for a week or so. So odd! I would still drink this though. I like the blend of the two chocolates. So yummy!
The weather has been all over the place this year!
Jen – this looks absolutely delicious! I don’t normally indulge in chocolate, but when I was in Paris, it was SO cold that I had it everywhere…and I forgot what a treat it is! Beautiful photos!
I don’t do it often, but when I do I want homemade!
Our cold weather in Phoenix is mid-60′s and cloudy…but I’ve become a cold weather wuss and crave warm drinks like this on those days still! I love the malt flavor
found you from edible potential and love it here. everything you have is excellent, especially this cocoa
I get cold easily too! I would love to curl up with a big mug of this cocoa!
hehehe… I talked to my friend who lives near Boston (like 10 minutes from it) and he said he had snow. I told him it was near 70 here (something like 35 degrees above normal!). He asked me to send him our heat but I said only in exchange for his snow. We’ve gotten barely any not that we get a lot here in Btown but still we should get around 2 feet over the winter and temps in the 30s and low 40s for a few months.
Oh… love this idea! What a delicious way to warm-up. We’ve had the strangest winter here – the temperature keeps moving all over the place – spring weather, polar weather, snow, ice, rain… all over the map! Your warm cocoa is where it’s at
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Now THAT is a cup of hot chocolate! Isn’t the weather so weird this year? I am debating turning on the AC today, but who knows what next week will bring?! Maybe you could make an iced version of this treat for the hotter weather?
I’m just the opposite–I can’t handle heat anymore, and I used to live in New Orleans! This hot chocolate looks perfect for the cold days.
Malt in hot chocolate!! Why did I not think of this before?? My husband is a big malt fan (he spoons it over his ice cream). I’ll definitely have to give this a whirl.
I feel for you. I grew up in Idaho with pretty harsh winters as well and it only took 4 years of living in California to turn me into a pansy. Now that we’re in a cold-winter climate again (not quite as bad as Idaho) I’m freezing ALL the time. I can’t stand the heat, either, so I have, like, a 30 degree window of comfort. Thank you, Bay Area.
Keep warm!!
Malt on ice cream? Ooh I need to remember that!
Love hot chocolate! And what a creative recipe, incorporating malt
Hi Jen!
I hear you on the cold!
This hot chocolate looks so good and hot.
I’m on my way to make it now!