I came up with this recipe when I wanted some hot cocoa but ran out of mix. My kids and husband love it. It is very rich and chocolate-y. Try it once and tweak it to your own taste. If it is too rich, dilute with some more milk. Too sweet? Decrease sugar. Too chocolate-y. Reduce cocoa powder. I run this through my blender because it blends the cocoa powder and sugar in so that it is creamy. Otherwise cocoa powder has more of a gritty mouth feel. Unavoidable to some extent but using the blender helps tremendously.

This makes 4 nice sized mugs of hot cocoa. We like to top with mini marshmallows AND whipped cream. The cocoa itself is very lowfat- so feel free to leave off the toppings to keep calories down.

Amy's Rich & Creamy Hot Cocoa

into blender:

32 ounces milk

1/2 cup sugar (1/3 cup will make it taste like dark chocolate mmm!)

1/2 cup powdered milk

1/2 cup cocoa

Blend for about 1 to 2 minutes on high. Pour into 4 mugs. Heat in microwave for about 1 minute each mug. Remove mug and stir and check temp. If you want it hotter after stirring, nuke for 30 more seconds. That should do it! You can heat this on the stove too. Just pour in small saucepan and heat over low heat for a little bit, stirring almost constantly. Too long in the microwave or too high heat or too long on the stove could cause the milk to curdle- so just watch it.

*Psssst....this also is delicious as a creamy chocolate milk. When made in the blender, this becomes thick and creamy like the kind you buy at the store but without all the calories and unpronouncable extras. A very good kid friendly treat!

YUMMY!!