Hot Chocolate with Cayenne
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
This hot chocolate gets a quiet kick from a dash of cayenne pepper stirred into melted dark chocolate. Using a bar between 60% and 80% cocoa keeps the flavor deep without turning bitter, and the marshmallows melt in to add body and sweetness. Building the drink over a bowl set on a pan of steaming water, then adding the milk a little at a time, keeps the texture smooth. It makes one generous mug.
Instructions
Pour about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of water into a saucepan and set it over high heat. Rest a heatproof bowl on top to make a makeshift double boiler, then break the chocolate into pieces and drop them into the bowl so the steam melts them.
Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Add a dash of cayenne and keep stirring until no red specks are visible.
Stir in a handful of marshmallows until they have melted completely. Add a few more if you want a sweeter cup.
When the mixture is smooth, stir in a small amount of the milk and mix until smooth again. Repeat, adding the milk bit by bit over about 4 minutes, until all of it is used. Add a splash of vanilla extract as you go.
Turn off the heat and carefully pour the drink into a large mug right away. Top with a few more marshmallows and serve hot.
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