Baby it's cold outside or it's 100 percent chance of rain - the perfect time for a cup of chocolate! Who doesn't love a cup of this traditional favorite on a gloomy day. It's so much better than that dry mix stuff.
3 cups whole milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup good quality Dutch process cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar or Splenda
Pinch salt
Pinch cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnish - Mini-Marshmallows,Whipped Cream or Marshmallow Cream
Place milk and half-and-half in a saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium heat.
Meanwhile, stir together the cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. A few teaspoons at a time, stir the hot milk into the cocoa mixture to make a smooth paste. Scrape the cocoa mixture into the saucepan with the milk and simmer 2 minutes; do not let it boil. Stir in the vanilla.
Pour into small serving cups and top with a few mini-marshmallows, spritz with whipped cream, or add a dollop of marshmallow cream. Serve immediately.
