American
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Cocoa, milk, and a cinnamon stick warm into a smooth mug drink. It is a straightforward stovetop cocoa for dessert or a late snack.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
Photo: Theo Crazzolara (CC BY). Source
Why you’ll love it
- Pantry cocoa makes a full batch fast
- Cinnamon stick infuses without grit
- Stovetop control keeps milk from scorching
- Serves two without leftover powder mix
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
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Instructions
- 1
Whisk the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan until combined.
- 2
Pour in 1/4 cup of the milk and whisk into a smooth paste.
- 3
Add the remaining milk and the cinnamon stick.
- 4
Warm over medium-low heat, stirring often, until steaming and hot, about 8 minutes. Do not boil.
- 5
Remove the cinnamon stick and stir in the vanilla.
- 6
Pour into two mugs and serve warm.
Pro tips
- Make a paste first so cocoa does not clump.
- Keep the heat moderate to avoid a skin on the milk.
- Whisk once more right before pouring for a light foam.
Easy substitutions
- milk
- oat milk
- sugar
- maple syrup
- cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Storage and reheating
Storage
Cool and refrigerate in a jar up to 2 days.
Reheating
Warm on the stovetop over low heat, stirring, until hot.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 170
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Budget friendly · Stovetop · Vegetarian
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A half-sheet pan
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Dry cups and a liquid cup
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An instant-read thermometer
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