Description
Warm, comforting Honey Chai Hot Chocolate. Infused with aromatic chai spices, this rich, chocolatey drink is perfect for cozy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Pinch of salt
- 2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy, your preference!)
- 1 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 chai tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose leaf chai tea)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream, for topping (optional)
- Cinnamon sticks, for garnish (optional)
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, pour in the milk and heavy cream (if using).
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Warm the milk and cream, but be careful not to let it boil.
- Once the milk is warm (steaming, but not boiling), add the chai tea bags or loose leaf tea. If using tea bags, make sure they are fully submerged in the milk. If using loose leaf tea, you might want to use a tea infuser or a fine-mesh sieve later to strain out the tea leaves.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the tea steep in the milk for about 5-7 minutes. Taste it after 5 minutes and then decide if you want to steep it longer.
- After steeping, remove the tea bags or strain the loose leaf tea from the milk. Be sure to squeeze the tea bags gently to extract as much flavor as possible. If you used loose leaf tea and a sieve, discard the tea leaves.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and salt.
- Gradually add about 1/4 cup of the chai-infused milk to the dry ingredients, whisking constantly until you form a smooth paste.
- Pour the cocoa paste into the saucepan with the remaining chai-infused milk. Whisk constantly over medium heat until the hot chocolate is smooth and heated through.
- Once the hot chocolate is heated through, remove it from the heat and stir in the honey and vanilla extract. Adjust the amount of honey to your liking, depending on how sweet you prefer your hot chocolate.
- Carefully pour the Honey Chai Hot Chocolate into your favorite mugs.
- If you’re feeling fancy, top each mug with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
- For an extra touch of elegance, garnish with a cinnamon stick and chocolate shavings. You can also sprinkle a little extra cocoa powder or cinnamon on top.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
- Make it Vegan: Use non-dairy milk (like almond, soy, or oat milk) and vegan whipped cream.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in a handful of chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white) for an even richer chocolate flavor.
- Use Different Tea: Experiment with different types of chai tea, such as masala chai or rooibos chai.
- Make it Boozy: Add a shot of your favorite liqueur, such as rum, Kahlua, or Baileys Irish Cream.
- Peppermint Twist: Add a drop or two of peppermint extract for a festive holiday flavor.
- Marshmallow Magic: Top with mini marshmallows for a classic hot chocolate treat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes