Hot Chocolate for One

Lately since it seems to get cold and dark in the middle of the afternoon I've been really craving hot chocolate. :D

I looked up some recipes online for making hot chocolate for one and didn't have much luck - they mostly ended up like extra sweet milk.

I tested out different ratios every night until I figured it out. I am happy to announce that this is awesome and tastes much better than the packet stuff, and is much easier to make than heating up the milk on the stove like I used to do. :)

P.S. - This also makes coffee taste great! Pour coffee over the sugar and cocoa instead of milk for a "dirty mocha" - that's what we called it at the bookstore I worked at.

• 1 cup milk (more info below)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (more info below)
• pinch of salt (optional)
• pinch of cayenne (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Milk:
I use lactose free milk at home. Nut, rice and soy milks are just too watery. You might be able to get around the watery issue by using coconut milk, though! If you're feeling ridiculously decadent, I recommend using 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream. :D

Cocoa powder:
At home, I use Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder and that requires only a 1/2 tablespoon to taste really chocolatey. 
For regular Hershey's, Callebaut, and Ghirardelli, I think 1 full tablespoon works best. 

Add the sugar and cocoa powder into a cup with the cayenne and salt if you're using those. :D

Mix together with a fork.

Pour the milk into a measuring cup and heat in the microwave for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, or until nice and hot.

Pour the hot milk over and mix quickly with a fork. (If using vanilla, add it here) A fork will allow you to get into all the corners that a whisk will skip! :D

I've yet to make one where the cocoa powder was entirely clump free, but having really hot milk helps quite a bit.

(Note that if you pour the dry ingredients into the hot milk, it mixes up really badly. CLUMPS EVERYWHERE)