Brandied Hot Chocolate
A rich and luxurious hot chocolate made with fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, enhanced with heavy cream and optionally flavored with brandy. This decadent drink features a perfectly thickened consistency thanks to a touch of cornstarch.
Ingredients
- •2 teaspoons cornstarch
- •1½ cups whole milk
- •½ cup water
- •10 oz bittersweet chocolate
- •½ cup heavy cream
- •1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- •2 tablespoons brandy
- •
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons milk.
2 min
- 2.
Bring water to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat to moderately low and add chopped chocolate and a pinch of salt, whisking until smooth.
5 min
- 3.
Add cream and remaining milk (1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons) and increase heat to moderate, then cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture is smooth and heated through. Taste; for a deeper chocolate flavor, whisk in cocoa.
5 min
- 4.
Whisk cornstarch mixture, then add half to chocolate mixture and simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add brandy (if using) and remaining cornstarch mixture to thicken if desired, then simmer, whisking, 1 minute.
3 min
