By Camille 9 Comments
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There is just nothing better during the holidays than a little bit of peppermint. This peppermint hot chocolate recipe is so rich and creamy and it's got just the right amount of peppermint.
“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Hood Cream. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”
My husband and I aren't coffee drinkers, so to get our warm-drink-fix, we've become hot chocolate fiends. We're always comparing our favorites from different chains, making our own, and ordering it everywhere we go. The best and richest hot chocolates we've tasted have been in fine restaurants, and I've often thought, "How can I get my hands on whatever they put in this?" Much to my utter delight, I recreated a recipe from theHood Cream E-Cookbookthis weekend that is every bit as wonderful as the if it had come from a restaurant kitchen, and the best part is that all of the premium quality ingredients (primarily the high-quality Hood cream) areso easily accessible at my local grocery store.
Ever since the Chef Creations Hood Cream E-Cookbook came out a few weeks ago, I've been regularly opening it up on my computer and browsing the pictures. They're just so mouth-watering! I was having such a hard time deciding which would be my first recipe to try until I came across this Peppermint Hot Chocolate, and then I knew it was over. It may seem like a small and simple recipe, but believe me when I say that it far exceeds anyother hot chocolate I have ever had. Honestly. Check out the ingredient list:
- 1 cup Hood Light Cream
- ½ cup Hood Heavy Cream
- 3 Tbsp. sugar
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips (70% dark chocolate recommended)
- 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp. peppermint extract
Hood Cream is the main attraction in all of these eCookbook recipes, since HP Hood has teamed up with renowned Boston Chef Chris Coombs (who actually has a long history with HP Hood) to create over 25 recipes that are free for download at Hood.com/ecookbook. Top chefs like Chris use Hood Cream in their recipes because it is the highest quality cream and they can trust that it won't be separating at high temperatures or offer unreliable results. The interactive eCookbook will also soon be available on iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.com and easy-to-use social media sharing buttons on each recipe make it easy to share and save on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
The directions are to first combine the creams and sugar and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and whisk in the dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt until fully dissolved.
Add in the Peppermint extract at the end, and then pour into cups and enjoy!
I smashed up some peppermint candies in their individual wrappers and sprinkled them on top.
I used the rest of the cream in the cartons to make some whipped cream and dolloped it on top.
Do these pictures adequately display how rich it is?! Its like liquid chocolate. Like all the elements of the richest molten lava chocolate cake you've ever had, but in liquid form. My husband and I typically have no problem finishing off a large hot chocolate in one sitting, but we could barely drink even an INCH of this before we had to stop and set it down! It isrich beyond reason and so deliciously thick with real chocolate and cream that a few swigs are enough to satisfy. I know this is just a drink, but itreally could be your guest's favorite item on the menu, especially if it came at the end of a holiday spread. Chef Coombs, the official chef and spokesperson of Hood Cream this year, has actually specially-designed two seasonal menus from the eCookbook that are perfect for entertaining, and this Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the selected drink on the holiday celebration menu, but really, its so rich, I'd categorize it as a dessert, hands down.
Sprinkle those broken peppermint pieces on top, grab a straw, and get ready for the best hot chocolate of your life. And wasn't that easy? The beauty of these recipes are that they're designed for at-home cooks to create chef-quality meals. Each recipe has a step-by-step "cook view" mode for easy assembly, alongside notes from the Chef like special tips for cooking with the cream. The beauty of the eCookbook is that you can take it wherever you go -- like when you want to recreate this hot chocolate at your in-laws this year!
Based on the dishes I've tasted from theHood Cream E-Cookbook already, and in addition to this out-of-the-park hot chocolate, I'm banking on every single recipe from the E-Cookbook to be a show-stopper. Whether for a special occasion or an everyday meal, from soups to appetizers to steak dishes and drinks, I'd be willing to put my trust in any recipe in the book for these upcoming holidays.
Connect: Follow Hood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Get it: You can download the eCookbook for free at Hood.com/ecookbook! Be sure to download it and start planning your Thanksgiving menu and of course, make this Peppermint Hot Chocolate pronto!
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