Rainy Day Hot Chocolate

One of the pleasures of a cold, rainy day is being able to snuggle up to a warm cup of hot chocolate. So, the next time it rains, and you’re in the mood for hot chocolate, you should make one of these. A serving of warm hot chocolate mixed with raindrops and rainbows, topped with a thunderous cotton candy cloud; this cup of hot chocolate is the perfect storm.

• 1 cup milk (or cream)
• 2 oz. (approx. ¼ cup) white chocolate chips or chocolate pieces
• 1 small piece of cotton candy or whipped topping
• Wafer Paper/ Obleas:
  • Colors: white, blue, yellow
• Marshmallows (rainbow to colored ones)
• Water

• Clear/Glass cup
• Scissors
• Saucepan
• Whisk or fork

I was able to find these colorful wafers/obleas in the candy section of a small Mexican grocery store. The wafers I got where the mini ones, and right next to them was another package with wafers that were much larger (probably 6” in diameter). If you can, get a pack of the larger ones (because you’ll be needing a piece that is large enough to cover the top of the cup). Try and get the colors: white, blue and yellow. Or get whatever colors, it’s your hot chocolate, you can do what you want.

The colorful obleas I used might be hard to find. If you can’t find them, you might be able to find something similar at a store that sells cake decorating supplies. Look for wafer paper. It’s more flexible than the obleas and should come in white sheets, similar to printer paper. Since they’re white you can color them with food coloring or edible marker. I haven’t tried this method myself so I’m not sure of the color will bleed when it makes contact with the hot chocolate- it might, and if it does it could look really pretty.

1. With scissors, cut a blue wafer in half to create two pieces.
2. Cut each half in half to create four pieces.
3. Cut those quarter pieces in half to create into eight pieces. You should now have a small pieces that are shaped like pizza slices.Don’t worry if you break the wafers, I broke a bunch and ended up with a huge mess. You shouldn’t be trying to cut each wafer perfectly, your goal should be to get a bunch of small pie-shaped pieces that are cut at a 45 degree angle.
4. Cut the slice into a diamond shape.
5. Slowly cut away the point of the diamond to create a curved edge and round it into a teardrop shape.
6. Be creative with the thunderbolt, just try cutting a jagged shape and eventually you'll end up with something good.

I only added the wafer lid because I wanted to add a cotton candy cloud on top. Without it the cotton candy would dissolve upon contact with the hot chocolate. Whipped cream is a simple alternative to cotton candy and you can skip this step if you decide to use whipped cream.

1. Turn your cup upside down over a piece of wafer.
2. Trace the around the rim of the cup.
3. Cut out the wafer circle. It will be used as a lid for the cotton candy cloud to sit on.

I used edible marker to trace and tried to cut inside the line so that I didn't end up with ink on the wafer.

1. Dip your finger into some water and run it along the inside of the cup to get it wet.
2. Press a raindrop onto the inside of the moistened cup. It should stick and absorb some of the water.
3. Attach as many raindrops as you want
4. Let it dry. When the drops are dry, they'll harden up and be stuck like glue to the inside of the cup. If they're super soggy they'll probably fall off when you pour the hot chocolate in.

Making the actual drink is super easy and it only takes a few minutes.

1. Place 2 oz. of chocolate into a saucepan. It can be chocolate chips or chocolate that you’ve shaved or broken off from a bar of chocolate. Just make sure that you chop your chocolate into small pieces if you’re getting it from a bar.
2. Pour the 1 cup of milk into the saucepan. For richer hot chocolate, use cream or half and half.
3. Cook over low/ medium-low, whisking occasionally until chocolate is melted and the mixture begins to simmer.

Fill your cup with hot chocolate and throw some colorful marshmallows in.

For whipped cream:

1. Add a generous amount of whipped cream.
2. Decorate with raindrops and a thunderbolt or two

For cotton candy:

1. Moisten the rim of the cup with some water and press the wafer onto the rim. Make sure there is enough water for the wafer to adhere.
2. Wait a couple of minutes for the rim to dry.
3. Decorate the top with a few raindrops, a cotton candy cloud and a thunderbolt or two.
4. To get to your drink you can eat the toppings and peel the wafer away to reveal your drink. Or you can push the wafer down into the hot chocolate and drink it as it dissolves.

Enjoy!