Hot Chocolate Drinks

Irish Chocolate
Serves 4 - You've heard of Irish coffee, so why not Irish chocolate? Try it and see what you think.

Ingredients
400ml/8fl oz milk
115g/4oz plain chocolate
250ml/8fl oz whipping (double) cream
30ml/2tbs cocoa powder
60ml/4tbs Irish whiskey

Method
1. Whip about half the cream until thick. Put to one side for now.

2. Put all the milk and chocolate into a saucepan and heat gently, stirring all the time, until the chocolate has melted.

3. Beat in the cocoa powder and then bring to the boil. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the unwhipped cream and the Irish whiskey.

4. Pour the mixture into heatproof glasses and divide the whipped cream between them. You can decorate with a little drinking chocolate or chocolate curls. Serve immediately.

Irish Mocha
Serves 4 - I always find it surprising how well chocolate and coffee go together. Try this variation on Irish coffee and I am sure you will agree.

Ingredients
1/2 cup of whipping (double) cream
2tbs confectioners (icing) sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1oz semi-sweet (plain) grated chocolate
2 cups of hot strong coffee
8tbs Irish whiskey

Method
1. Whip about the cream, sugar and vanilla until thick.

2. Fold in the grated chocolate.

3. Divide the coffee between four mugs or heat resistant glasses and add 2 tbs of whiskey to each.

4. Carefully add the cream mixture to the top of each mug or glass. Decorate with grated chocolate or chocolate curls.

Mocha Chocolate
Serves 4 - Here's another variation on coffee and chocolate.

Ingredients
400ml/14fl oz milk
4oz plain chocolate
170 ml/5 fl oz strong hot coffee
250ml/8fl oz whipping (double) cream
Sugar to taste

Method
1. Whip the cream until thick and then put to one side.

2. Put the milk and chocolate in a saucepan and stir continuously until melted. Bring almost to the boil.
2. Stir in coffee and sugar to taste. Pour into heatproof glasses.

3. Divide the whipped cream between the glasses. Decorate with a little drink chocolate powder or chocolate curls.

Copyright © 2002 by Katherine Charles. All Rights Reserved