Italian Drinking Chocolate : A Gift from Barbie's Kitchen

Italian Drinking Chocolate 

It is warm, thick, slightly sweet and oh so chocolaty...we need this lovely, indulgent drink on these bitter cold days.... it will certainly warm you up on the inside. 

What makes this different from hot cocoa you ask? Well the addition of real dark chocolate and a touch of cornstarch which helps to make this extra thick.  The great thing is, if you have family who drink plant based milks, this works, the addition of cornstarch imakes any type of milk thick and luxurious. This would be wonderful to have on Christmas Eve watching movies or in the morning when everyone is opening gifts!

Ingredients (4 servings)

1 or 2 large bars of your favorite dark chocolate = 6-8 ounces finely chopped 

(reserve a teaspoon for topping the Drinking Chocolate.)

4 tablespoons granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon of vanilla 

8 tablespoons unsweetened  dutch processed cocoa powder-Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder is a great choice that is available at most stores, but any brand will do!

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

pinch of salt.

To make a gift 

Mix ingredients together. (except finely chopped chocolate) 

Put through a fine mesh strainer to remove any lumps. 

Mix in chocolate shavings

Put into a mason jar and tie with a ribbon, your friends will be delighted!

Preparation

Heat 4 cups of your favorite milk over medium heat, when warm to the touch,  add the mixture, turn up heat to medium high and whisk constantly for about 4 minutes, until the chocolate comes to a low boil and becomes thick. Dip a spoon in the mixture and run your finger on the back of the spoon, if it leaves a firm line it is done.

Serve in cups with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

To make individual servings,  use 2-3 tablespoons of mixture to 6-8 ounces of milk.