Make your own decadent, gourmet Valencia Orange Hot Chocolate from scratch in under 10 minutes! This easy recipe makes 2 servings, and is packed with flavor!
Place the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, a dash of salt, and 1/4 cup of the milk (save the rest for later) into a medium saucepan. Whisk ingredients together. There will be lumps while the milk is still cold! Heat on medium high heat, continuing to whisk. As it cooks and the milk gets hot, the lumps will dissolve.
Continue to cook (and whisk) until ingredients are fully blended, and sugar dissolves. Cook until chocolate begins to boil. Once it begins to boil, add remaining 2 cups of milk. Stir, then add the orange zest, orange extract and 2 heaping Tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips. Turn the heat down to low. Continue cooking, stirring often, until hot chocolate is heated through, and all chocolate chips have melted.
Ladle or pour the hot chocolate into two mugs. Garnish each mug of steaming hot chocolate with whipped cream, then sprinkle with orange zest and grated (or zested) chocolate. Serve, and enjoy!
NOTE: The caloric calculation per serving does NOT include the optional whipped cream, or chocolate garnishes. Also, this recipe is calculated using 1% low-fat milk. Full fat milk will make a creamier hot chocolate, but with additional calories.
Valencia Orange Hot Chocolate https://www.thegratefulgirlcooks.com/valencia-orange-hot-chocolate/