Wicked Wednesday: Favorite Cocoa Recipe

By Julie, winding up the semester in Somerville.

A few years ago (three or four) my friend Amy and I went up to the Peabody Essex Museum. Afterwards we wandered around and went into a small shop, where we ordered Mexican hot chocolate. It was made to order, and I didn’t pay enough attention to what they added to the pot. It was sublime. I went back a few months later, and the shop is gone. I can’t recreate it, though I’ve been trying. So, Wickeds, what is your favorite cocoa recipe? Or hot drink?

Edith: I go simple with hot chocolate when Miss B or Mr. J comes over. Heat milk in the microwave, add a spoonful of Hershey’s chocolate syrup and tiny marshmallows to match their age plus one. They’ve never complained, mostly because they get neither hot chocolate nor marshmallows at home. But for an adult hot beverage, I like to mull local cider slowly with a cinnamon stick and a few whole cloves, and then add a couple of glugs of locally distilled rum. Mmmm!

Sherry: Years ago I lived in Grand Junction, Colorado. One of my favorite places to go (anytime of year) was Aspen, Colorado. It was only a two hour drive. I don’t ski so while my friends were, I’d wander around the shops or admire the Victorian houses in the various neighborhoods. When I tired of that I’d find a restaurant or bar with a view of the slopes and people watch. That’s where I discovered the delights of hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and a dollop of whipped cream. Yum. So just take your favorite cocoa and add the schnapps and whipped cream and dream about your favorite winter spot.

Edith: I like the sound of that, Sherry! Must acquire some peppermint schnapps ASAP…

Barb: I was in high school when a friend introduced me to frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 in New York City. It tasted amazing, frozen yet not supersweet–with a real kick like cocoa and lots of whipped cream on top. We thought we were so sophisticated roaming the city on our own. Very World of Henry Orient. Sadly, most of my hot chocolate today comes from a decidedly less glamorous souce–Dunkin Donuts in my Keurig.

Liz: I don’t remember where I first tried it, but butterscotch hot chocolate is absolutely amazing! I drink nut milk instead of regular milk, and it’s delicious with almond milk. I bet it would be even better with cashew milk – I’ll have to try and report back.

Jessie: I feel like such a downer! I absolutely do not like anything milky with chocolate. Not hot cocoa, not chocolate milk, never, ever, chocolate ice cream. As a child I didn’t even eat the chocolate bunnies in my Easter baskets. In fact, I actively disliked chocolate until I was pregnant with my second child. I love eggnog though! And tea and coffee!

Julie: Jessie, one of my holiday favorites are eggnog lattes. YUM. Aside from the elusive Mexican hot chocolate (readers, any ideas?) I like Hershey’s powder, sugar, milk. A dash of vanilla. If I am going the marshmallow route, I go with Fluff.

Readers, any recipes to share? What is your favorite oh-so-cozy hot drink?

Save