Let me show you how to make hot chocolate using cocoa and a wonderful combination of spices for a lovely comforting drink. Chocolate con leche espeso (traditional Dominican hot cocoa) is an easy, flavorful drink perfect to warm our bones during these colder days.
By - Reviewed: . Original: Dec 1, 2016
Why we ❤️ it
This thick, spicy Dominican milk cocoa was a favorite in my parents' home. Many times mami would serve it for breakfast, or dinner, and it was always a comforting drink. It is perfect on the cooler days of the year.
"Ya se siente la brisa" (we can feel the breeze) is the Dominican phrase we use to signal the change in the season and the atmosphere of the holidays. Not having much of a winter, we still enjoy cooler temperatures, shorter days, and general merriment. Time to dust off baking utensils, hot drinks, and long cooking, and make this homemade hot chocolate recipe.
Variations
Each home may have different touches to their own recipe for this milk chocolate drink, so you can try to adapt it to your own preferences.
Vegan hot chocolate
Although not a traditional way of making this, you can substitute milk for soy, rice or almond milk for a dairy-free vegan version. Bear in mind the taste will differ from the traditional one.
Coconut milk, however, just doesn't go well in this drink, in my opinion.
Low carb cocoa
For lower carbohydrates content, you may try it with your preferred sweetener instead of sugar.
Chocolate espeso (creamy spiced hot cocoa).
Serving suggestions
My grandmother used to serve everyone a cup of hot chocolate with Batata asada for breakfast, and my mom with Pan de agua or Pan sobao, which we dipped in the chocolate.
This recipe also goes great with Arepa or Pan de maíz (cornmeal cakes), perfect as breakfast or snack.
Top tips
- Picking the right chocolate: You can make this recipe with either semi-sweet chocolate bars, dark chocolate bars, or unsweetened cocoa powder; you may need to adapt the quantity depending on the brand you use and your preferred level of chocolate flavor.
- Adding vanilla: You can add a tablespoon of vanilla extract if you want. Some people do.
- Adding cinnamon: We typically make this with cinnamon sticks, but you can use a teaspoon of cinnamon powder instead if you so prefer.
About this recipe
My mom didn't add ginger to her chocolate con leche espeso; this is something I tried myself and liked. It's quite subtle, nothing like ginger tea, but this being the holiday season, you know ginger has to be part of it. It works.
If you have a secret tip that makes your hot chocolate great, please share in the comments.
Video
Recipe
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Chocolate con Leche [Video+Recipe] Hot Chocolate Dominicano
Ingredients
- 3 cup evaporated milk
- 6 cloves
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch, (maicena)
- ½ cup sugar (white, granulated)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 slices fresh ginger root
- ½ cup chopped chocolate bar, or cocoa powder
- 1½ cup water
Instructions
1. Mixing ingredients
In a medium saucepan or small pot combine milk, cloves, cornstarch, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, chocolate, and 1½ cups of water.Whisk to combine.
2. Boiling
- Heat over low heat and simmer, stir constantly until the chocolate melts (or the cocoa dissolves) and the hot cocoa mix starts to thicken a bit (about 10 mins, from the time it breaks a boil). Sieve and pour into 4 mugs and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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More chocolate recipes
Although our country is world-renowned for its high-quality cocoa production, we do not have as many recipes with chocolate as you would expect. Chocolate is used in Dominican beverages, such as Chocolate de agua and this Chocolate con leche. In our blog, you will also find a Chocolate flan and a Ponche de chocolate eggnog that you will love.
If you are looking for non-traditional chocolate desserts, you will love this Sugar-free and gluten-free chocolate cake and these creamy Chocolate popsicles.
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