I know, I know, why do I make hot cocoa on the stove top when I could just heat the milk in microwave? To be honest I like the taste far better and so do the kids of old fashion cocoa made on the stove top. It reminds me of childhood days out playing in the snow drifts or skating on the pond and coming in to a steaming cup waiting to be ladled up. Granted I will take short cuts of premixing the ingredients into little baggies just waiting for those special treat times, and sometimes I don’t bother and make it one scoop at a time from scratch. Tonight with two sick children unable to fall asleep due to coughing and running noses was one such occasion.
My son named this Hot Cocoa when after he and his father tried it first time, both exclaimed “Oh-OH!” in shock and delight to it’s hinted flavors that seems to just melt together perfectly.
“Oh-OH” Hot Cocoa
4 cups milk
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 – 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Pour milk into sauce pan on stove and heat to medium warm, stir and use care to not scald. Add cocoa, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir with whisk to mix and melt the sugar while heating to near boiling, again do not let it boil and scald. Add vanilla and stir to distribute. Pour into cups and serve.
**You can add mini marshmallows if you wish**
***1/4 tsp – 1/2 tsp Peppermint extract is also a delicious alternative***
****1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp ground cloves, 1 tsp molasses makes a wonderful gingerbread flavor****
A Little Slice.... 