As temperatures rise, cool off with easy and tasty chocolate treats.
Decadent Frozen Hot Chocolate:
The cinnamon in this recipe percolates the flavors back to the earliest versions of hot chocolate.
4.5 ounces of good quality of your favorite chocolate,
2 teaspoons of your preferred quality hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
1/2 -1 tsp cinnamon
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings and cinnamon
Break the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a glass bowl over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted.
Add the cocoa, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and cinnamon. Stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In a blender place the remaining cup of milk (or alternative if lactose intolerant), the room temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Or divide into smaller glasses for more manageable portions. Top with whipped cream, shavings and cinnamon.
Enjoy with a spoon or a straw.
Makes 2 to 2 1/2 cups, enough for 1 to 8 persons, depending on the size of the portions.
Cayenne Kicks AKA Wake Up Chunks:
Created by hiker Steve Rock to "kick you down the trail a bit." Great for dessert or a snack on a hike.
1 pound dark chocolate, chips or broken into pieces
1 cup peanuts, or nut
1⁄2 cup raisins, dates, or other dried fruit
1⁄8 cup coffee beans
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, to taste
1⁄2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Granola, dry cereal, or oatmeal (optional)
Instructions:
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, aluminum foil or waxed paper. Melt the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; remove from the heat. In a food processor with the chop blade, combine the peanuts, raisins, coffee beans and cayenne. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Stir the cocoa into the melted chocolate. Once the mixture is even and getting stiff, add the chopped nuts and fruits; keep stirring. Taste to check the spice level.
If the mixture is too moist and sticky, add more nuts, granola, or chopped cereal, or wait until firm enough to handle. (Cooling in the refrigerator will firm the mixture faster.) Roll the mixture into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Remove from the baking sheet and store in a covered container.
Quantity: Approximately 20 chunks
Chocolate Spread:
Use chocolate spread on cookies, on fruit, or practically anything.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
3 large eggs (pasteurized or egg substitute)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5-6 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Cut the butter into small pieces and put in a blender. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla, and blend well. Add the cocoa powder and blend well again. Put in a container and refrigerate. Serve on bread or toast, with fruit, or in a sandwich.
Quantity: About 11⁄2 cups
Chocolate Medallions:
An easy-to-make confection.
4 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
1⁄4 cup cocoa nibs, almonds, or hazelnuts
1⁄4 cup dried blueberries, raisins or other dried fruit
1⁄4 cup candied orange peel
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. In a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stir the chocolate until melted.
Remove the chocolate from the heat. Drop tablespoonfuls of chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet, using the back of the spoon to flatten into disks. Place one of each of the four toppings onto each circle. Work a few at a time; they will harden as they cool. Cool on the baking sheet until hardened. Store in a cool place in a covered container.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.