Best Hot Chocolate (but a simple one)

[Todaynotalways]

Hi there,

I'm not in the market for a velvetiser, or that (lovely) Spanish hot chocolate that you heat and stir for ages like a chocolate custard.

I'm just looking for a great chocolate powder, that I can stir into hot milk - something delicious, but easy to make, nicely packaged, and giftable.

Thanks in advance!

Rococo and Charbonnel et Walker are the flakes you stir in to hot milk, both nicely packaged.

Does it have to be a powder? You can get those stir-in blocks on sticks that can come nicely packaged.

I bought this for my eds stocking one year and she said it was delicious

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/sloanes-of-london-ravishing-rich-dark-hot-chocolate-pearls/784907-689562-689563?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PPCGShopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw166aBhDEARIsAMEyZh4k9sL5LmebSkx7eR06FtTZaUmc-2-M8U4R-gmycJvY7f3suJVnARsaAjc3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It doesn't come in a fancy package, but Frys Hot Chocolate is delicious, it's a powder that you stir into hot milk. It comes in a blue and white bag that looks similar to a Frys chocolate cream bar, you can buy it at Home Bargains. I suppose you could decant it into a nice jar or cellophane bag to make it more giftable.

Lindt have their own hot chocolate powder, it’s really good! Bonus that it’s fairly cheap too!

What is this Spanish hot chocolate?

Ds was saying today that nothing compares to the hot chocolate he had when skiing in France. I might need to try some of these.

This one brindisa.com/products/el-barco-delice-drinking-chocolate-450g

It's delicious, but a bit of a performance when you want a quick cup (making a paste, stirring the until it starts to bubble, waiting for it to cook out) it's a lovely chocolate sauce/custard type consistency, and so delicious... but not a 2 minute job.

Whittards? I love their hot chocolates. Nice packaging, good quality and doesn’t break the bank.

www.whittard.co.uk/hot-chocolate/discover-hot-chocolate/all-hot-chocolate

We just use Cadbury chocolate powder into hot milk but use this shaker which is amazing. Not a drop of a leak, despite making HC almost every day for my two for nearly a year with it (stocking fillers last Christmas). Quick bit of squirty cream and marshmallows and a perfect hot chocolate.

www.chococo.co.uk/hot-chocolate-shaker.html

Whittled hot chocolate is nice.

Twinnings it is AMAZING

We normally just have Cadbury's but I'm thinking about trying Whittards this year as I've heard it's really nice. My dh loves white hot chocolate 🤢 but we've never actually bought it to make ourselves. I was looking for a nice one to put in his stocking so was considering a tub of Whittards, but if anyone has any other suggestions?

Green & Black's is really nice.

Charbonell and Walker (Waitrose and Lakeland) and if you are feeling it, a slug of Baileys.

It got me through some dark nights after my mum died this year. Now granted I am retired and don't have to get up in the morning, two of those did the trick at two in the morning , but if you have to get up in the morning, possibly approach with caution 😂

Tesco do a lovely Santo Domingo hot chocolate which is great for making mochas with. I think it's their best range

Knoops is a small retailer of a few hot chocolate shops and they sell their flakes online- they make lovely gifts and it really is amazing stuff.

You need this: www.chocolate.co.uk/collections/hot-chocolate/products/hot-chocolate-shaker-new

Hear me out. It’s no more complicated than hotting up your milk and stirring powder in.
You microwave your milk till hot, and you put your fav hot choc flakes - or any chocolate drops, or a smashed up orange twirl, or just a powder - into the bottom of the shaker. Pour the milk on top, add the lid, shake for 20 seconds, and pour out beautiful frothy blended hot choc. I buy 70% Belgian choc drops from Amazon and use them, or Pendragon flakes ( pendragondrinks.co.uk/real-hot-chocolate-flakes/ ) or anything.

The shaking action is basically what a velvetiser does, but much cheaper. The shaker is designed to be safe and doesn’t burn your hand or explode (DON’T try this with a jam jar!!).

I use mine all the time; the kids use it too. Dead easy. And if you’re making lots, heat up all the milk you need then shake up one cup at a time.

Seconding Knoops.
knoops.co.uk

Meant to add - I particularly love it because you can use really great quality chocolate in it. I don’t like mine tooo sweet, so I use dark choc drops, the type they sell for chocolatiers to make stuff with eg Callebaut ones. It’s basically melted choc and milk, perfectly blended.

Just signed up and you get )5 off your first order, so might try that shaker.

Sloanes of London Dark is the best by far IMO

Not a 2 minute job but doesn't take long we warm the milk through on the stove and mix in chopped up kinder bars the ones you get 8 in a pack for £1 any other chocolate will
Work to . I have mine just like that but my kids loads there's up with whipped cream sprinkles and marshmallow x

I agree with this. I have a velvetiser and love Hotel Chocolat but

Just make cocoa, it's delicious