How to make hot cocoa :)

How to make hot cocoa :)

Step 1. Get some milk. Water works too just doesn't taste as good but is cheaper. I've used goat milk in the past growing up at home but now that I'm in college I use cow milk.

Step 2. Acquire a mug. I know I know it's a nightmare but you got this.

Step 3. Pour milk into mug. Make sure to either measure it with a measuring cup if you care about expenses like me or just don't either works but make sure you leave room in the mug to add and stir all ingredients. (Leave extra room if you want to add extra stuff like Marshmallows)

Step 4. You have quite a few options for how to add chocolate to your hot chocolate. You can use hershey's syrup, you can melt a chocolate piece or chocolate bar and mix it in, you can use cocoa powder with sugar (cocoa powder is bitter and can sometimes lead to clumps use a very small amount to avoid this usually half a table spoon stir well and strain out cocoa powder clumps with a strainer if necessary. Don't forget the sugar.), or my personal favorite method and the one I still use now in college. Buy a good hot cocoa mix you like. My personal favorites I use now are good and gather brand double chocolate hot cocoa mix or hershey's hot cocoa mix.

Step 5. Add a sprinkle of nutmeg. I have personally found that a small tiny sprinkle of nutmeg in hot chocolate pairs really well with it and gives it a richer flavor. Only use a tiny amount or you will ruin the drink and it won't taste good.

Step 6. Add a pinch of salt (optional) you can skip this step if you want. I don't even know why I do it. I guess I just like lightly salted chocolate I dunno. Just like Nutmeg only use a tiny amount or it will ruin the drink (For a good comparison on how much salt to nutmeg ratio if you are using nutmeg however much nutmeg you are using make sure you are using less salt than that)

Step 7. Heat up your hot cocoa (you can stir before hand but it stirs best after heating up if you're using sugar). I microwave my hot cocoa because I'm lazy but technically the best results come from cook time in a pot on a stove. I tend to heat my hot cocoa for one minute and thirty seconds in the microwave but this varies depending on the type of mug you are using and the type of the microwave. With stove I know less about this option but I imagine how long you let it sit depends on the serving size and the type of stove.

Step 8. ?siht fo evorppa ikustaN dluow

Step 9. Once you finish heating your hot cocoa mix all ingredients in well. If you don't like the taste when you taste test it add a little bit of sugar until satisfactory but keep it balanced.

Step 10. You're basically finished! Below I have added a few tips to make your hot cocoa a bit more fancy or add a little extra if you feel like it. (Back home I always used to add extra lol. Not so much in college sadly)

Bonus detail: While it isn't always cheap so I don't use it all the time i highly suggest putting a drop or two of vanilla extract in your hot cocoa. Vastly improves the flavor.

Extra stuff you can add (All optional):

1. Marshmallows are a classic make sure you have room for them at the top especially if they are big marshmallows. (If you have a butane lighter you can toast them lightly for peak mallows)
2. Add some whip cream.
3. Add some graham cracker crumbs. ( usually works best on the whip cream but doesn't need to be)
4. add some hershey's syrup on top of your whip cream. (Btw all this extra stuff I'm talking about was used in an example image of one of my hot cocoa's I made that I attached to this guide)
5. That's about all the tips I have! Enjoy it as you gently open the door. ;)

(If you're still reading this Step 8 is just a funny little thing I spelled backwards)