Todays post is brought to you by Cat Morrow from Neo-homesteading. I stumbled upon her website one day, saw her photos and knew I had to have her guest post. She hit a home run with this one. Hot Chocolate and alcohol, SERIOUSLY, Woot woot. Well go check out her site and you can follow her on all her social media channels linked on the bottom of the post. Any questions about this recipe can be left in the comments or ask her on her Facebook page and she will gladly respond.
With Valentine’s day coming up many people are planning on sweet indulgences for the special occasion. In my house chocolate is an M-V-P. I will admit I am not near as infatuated with it as my husband or youngest son, but I can really appreciate well made chocolate. Following any unprocessed diet can leave you in the chocolate isle just ready to cry… well that’s if you have the inner fat kid like I do. I really dislike unnecessary additives in any food but corn and soy are particularly annoying when it comes to chocolate shopping. Even the finest brands use soy emulsifiers and corn syrup. What if you are looking for white chocolate? Forget it!
With chilly winter weather lurking, hot beverages are a must have. A cup of hot cocoa is always soothing, it’s like a big hug in a cup! Like every other kid in the universe my kids love hot chocolate after a romp in the snow. Today I’m sharing a hot chocolate duo, these two great recipes are better suited for the big kids in your life.
Be Sure to Sweeten these recipes to your own tastes. I provided measurements for the very bare minimum. Use a sweetener alternative if you’d like. Use canned (Native Forest) or homemade coconut milk for the best results, it has the best consistency and richness.
Zesty White Chocolate & Tangerine Hot Chocolate
Finding white chocolate without soy is impossible. I have not loved white chocolate in the past however, I have realized that prepared just the right way it can be great. For me the key is to not think of it as “chocolate” but as a totally different creature. This recipe uses raw organic cocoa butter which can be purchased at a really well stocked grocer or online.
Seductive Hot Chocolate with Merlot and Cayenne
This hot chocolate is a hybrid of Mexican hot chocolate and chocolate pudding. When I make the man folk pudding I just melt chocolate chips in a pot with coconut milk. Adding a touch of cayenne and merlot bring out the savory qualities of chocolate, and make it boozy too… Mmm boozy. I think the savory qualities of chocolate are under appreciated, with that said this recipe is especially bitter without added sweetener. Use soy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips (Enjoy Life) instead of pure chocolate or add more honey to sweeten it as you like.
Seductive Hot Chocolate with Merlot and Cayenne
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 4 ounces pure dark chocolate chopped (ghiradelli unsweetened chocolate bars for baking)
- 3-4 tablespoons honey more to taste
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- just a pinch of: ground cloves & cayenne pepper
- 1/3 cup merlot or other rich red wine such as burgundy optional
Instructions
- Place a medium sized sauce pot onto medium heat.
- Warm Coconut milk to a simmer. (Not quite boiling)
- Remove from heat
- Add chocolate and whisk until smooth
- Add honey, vanilla sea salt, cloves and cayenne
- While warm but not boiling add Merlot , add additional sweetener to taste
- Serve warm, garnish with chocolate shavings or even bacon salt if you'd like.
Notes
Cat Morrow from Neo-Homesteading is a twenty something stay at home, homeschooling mother of two boys. Neo-Homesteading shares a realistic view of a family living as self-sufficiently and eco-friendly as possible. Real food and homemade wine are on the table, dishes are in the sink and this is the view from a humble chaotic home in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania.
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Chocolate Bacon Almond Butter Bananas
I tried the merlot one and I actually didn’t find it that good. If I did it again, I would not add the vanilla I think…or at least not 1 Tablespoon. The flavor is a bit overpowering. Maybe 1 tsp. Was hoping to like the wine addition but I guess I am a hot chocolate purist. Thanks for the recipe though!
Ah Michelle I am sorry to hear that. I wish it was better :(
If you will melt your chocolate and honey together and then add the warmed coconut milk slowly to it, you will avoid clumping :)
Good tip Christa
Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum!!!! I love orange and chocolate anything!!!! What a fantabulous recipe! And the one with merlot? Amazeballs.
Hope you love it when you try them
Your so welcome
I love how the white chocolate one sounds! When we went primal I was afraid it meant never having my white chocolate again unless I was “cheating.” Must make that one tomorrow! Today is the last day of my Whole 30!
Hope you love it Monique :)
I just made the tangerine version and, oh man, it is LUSH! Love it! Thanks! Is the 4 servings correct? I halved the recipe but didn’t dare to reduce it further because the coconut milk would be less than 1/2 a cup. Half of the recipe gave me one rich full cup that I usually make my cappuccino in.
So glad you love it and I am not sure of the ounces in the servings cause it’s a guest post
Woohoo let me know what you think :)
MAKING THESE! Both of these. Thanks for posting the recipes!
Your welcome, enjoy
I love the flavor combos. The depth of cocoa and red wine with an awakening touch of cayenne. Genius! Not that I know what wine tastes like. :P
Haha Joshua you got a few years buddy
Whoa. Thanks, George. The merlot one is what I usually do (but without measurements, so thanks for working those out!), but adding merlot is genius. Can’t wait to try it.
Looks great! Thanks for hosting.