Love cozy drinks? We also have Mexican Hot Chocolate, Low Carb Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate, Frozen Hot Chocolate and Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix.
The creamiest hot cocoa!
If you haven’t cozied up with a mug of hot cocoa on a cold day, you are not living your best life! And, for me, nothing beats the richness of our Brazilian version. What makes it Brazilian, you might be asking yourself. I’ll give you one shot! If you’re familiar with Brazilian cuisine, I bet you got it right. Sweetened condensed milk, of course. Our favorite ingredient for all things sweet! The condensed milk brings this hot cocoa to a whole new level. Thick, velvety, sweet and oh so luscious! If you’re a fan of drinking chocolate, you’ll want to give our Chocolate Quente a try. It’s especially delicious by the fire, after a day out in the snow.
What’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
Both terms are often used interchangeably, so you might think they are the same thing. And while they’re both delicious, there is a main difference. Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder and hot chocolate is made with melted hot chocolate. That sometimes means that hot cocoa is lighter in body than hot chocolate, but not in this case! Brazilian Chocolate Quente is made with cocoa powder but is rich and thick like hot chocolate.
Chocolate Quente Ingredients
The basic ingredients to make this hot cocoa recipe are:
Whole Milk Sweet Condensed Milk Unsweetened Cocoa Powder Cornstarch
I also like to add a pinch of cinnamon (or a cinnamon stick) and a splash of vanilla extract. And if I’m feeling naughty, a little dose of bourbon or cachaça!
How to make Brazilian Hot Cocoa recipe
Making this recipe is easy and straight-forward. The only important thing to remember is that you must whisk the cornstarch in the milk before you bring your pot to the stove, or it might clump up. This recipe is also easily halved or doubled, and very customizable! Recommended tools: Saucepan, whisk and mugs. Here’s how I make Chocolate Quente:
How long will hot cocoa last in the fridge?
This drink will last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. It will get quite thick, almost like pudding or mousse, so when ready to reheat, you should bring it back to the stove and reheat on medium-low heat, adding some more milk as needed!
Serving suggestions
You have your hot cocoa, now what? Well, you could just… drink it! But why not spice things up a bit? Here are a few ideas:
Whipped cream – a must in my house! A splash of booze – for grown-ups only, obviously. A sprinkle of cinnamon Chocolate shavings Toasted coconut Marshmallows – regular, mini or those big fun ones that are everywhere during the Christmas season. Crushed peppermint sticks Candy cane Caramel or hot fudge sauce.
And as I said earlier, you can customize the recipe by adding fun ingredients, like vanilla extract, chili powder, coconut extract, nutmeg and even coffee!
More Brazilian treats:
BrigadeirosPaçoca (Peanut Candy)Queijadinha (Coconut Tarts)Pão de Mel (Honey Cakes)
Consistency: Brazilian Hot Cocoa is best enjoyed right after you make it. It will get thicker as it cools, so drink up! :)Leftovers: You can refrigerate the hot cocoa after it cools down. It will get very thick in the fridge, so reheat on the stove, over medium-low heat, and be prepared to add some more milk if needed.Booze: If you want to spike it, bourbon and cachaça are my favorites!
Mugs Sweetened Condensed Milk Saucepan
