Ciccolata Calda or Italian Hot Chocolate is my absolutest favouritest version of hot chocolate and boy, was I over the moon when I discovered it.
A few years ago, I visited Italy with a friend in late October. While winter had not set in completely (or so we were told), it was quite chilly. Even 10°C seemed quite cold considering we flew in from a country that was more than warm and toasty at 30°C.
While I loved the pastas, pizzas, risottos, paninis, gnocchis, and gelatos (yes, yes, we complained about the cold and had gelatos by the ton), I fell in love with Ciccolata Calda. If you look carefully, you will find hot chocolate everywhere in Italy; at breakfast buffets, in corner shops, in coffee shops, on food carts, absolutely everywhere!
Why do I love Ciccolata Calda so much? Well, it is very different from any hot chocolate I ever had. It is thick (you could almost eat it with a spoon), not too sweet, chocolatey, warm, and absolutely yummmmm. If there is one drink that can warm the cockles of your heart, it is this, it is this!
Because it was cold and rainy by the time we got to Venice, I was drinking the Italian Hot Chocolate by the gallon, if it is possible! And because it is so thick, it becomes thicker and almost solidifies as it cools. I was quite in the danger of having a chocolate mouche! 😀
I thought this was the perfect post to kick-off the New Year! Happy New Year!
Ingredients
- Milk – 1.5 Cups
- Sugar – 2 tbsp
- Dark Chocolate (>70% Cocoa Solids) – 100 gms
- Corn Starch – 2 tsp
Method
- Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 cup milk.
- Set aside.
- Break the chocolate into small pieces.
- To a saucepan, add 1 cup milk and all the chocolate.
- Over a low flame, heat the saucepan.
- Stir constantly till all the chocolate melts.
- Add the sugar and stir till the sugar melts.
- Add the milk + corn starch mix.
- Over medium flame, heat the chocolate till it thickens.
- Pour into cups.
- Garnish with whipped cream, if required.
- Enjoy!
Related articles
- Cioccolata calda. In Alberobello. (frozencalgarians.wordpress.com)
- Italian Hot Chocolate (theateam13.wordpress.com)
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- ch ch ch chocolate (chisforchocolate.wordpress.com)
Wishing you and your family a happy New Year, Aruna!
Happy New Year, Ahila! May you and all of yours be blessed with the best life has to offer. 🙂
I am happy to have for to know you in 2013. Looking forward to many more years to sharing our common passion.
Yum yum yum
Have a gorgeous 2014 Aruna!
Oh wow! This looks delicious. I love hot chocolate and will definitely try it with the cornstarch 🙂
Happy New Year, Upasna!
Lovely!!! Simply delicious…
Happy New Year!! I’ve had italian hot chocolate before and its incredibly delicious! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Happy, happy new year, Namrata! May it bubble over with good cheer!
Oh, this is what I need today! We are in a deep freeze (-28C,last time I checked the weather page), and a rich, thick, hot chocolate is perfect!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I’m very glad i discovered yours!
Beverlee
Ooooooo….. that is cold. Have a nice hour chocolate, and stay safe and warm. Happy New Year
Looks so yummy. Great for winters 🙂
Absolutely…..
This is just what we need now…with the cold winds and rains in Dubai!!!!
So thick and smooth! I love chocolate but with due respect to my waistline avoiding it. But this is too tempting!
One only lives once. … 🙂
This looks wonderful! I am such a big fan of hot chocolate but I can never make the perfect hot chocolate! Might have to give this a try 🙂
Do try it, Bhavika! You won’t regret it. And you will probably never have hot chocolate any other way.
Haha I’m running to get the ingredients right now! hehe
Italian hot chocolate wow nectarous Aruna. .. Apt for the weather. ..:) 🙂
Merry Christmas and happy New year Aruna….