Ghiradelli Hot Cocoa Treats

…Yum
Dawn Bonner

Brrr…it’s getting cold outside.  And, just in the Nick of time for cold, wet weather and Christmas, Ghirardelli’s, one of the most famous Chocolatier’s in San Francisco, Calif., whips up some scrumptious treats for us mere mortals to enjoy.  The saying, mere mortals, is used because their confections must surely be one of the foods of the Gods.

Each year, during the Christmas season, Ghirardelli brings out specialty chocolates and cocoa mixes.  One of these specialty items is Ghirardelli Chocolate Peppermint Hot Cocoa and it is delicious.  Another delicious treat is Ghirardelli White Chocolate Cocoa and Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Cocoa

One our my children’s favorite traditions at Christmas is to have hot cocoa together beside a warm and crackling fire in our fireplace. This tradition is heartwarming for us and one we look forward to when we are together.

 

A New Tradition and Healthy Treat

Serve up your family, friends, and/or Santa one of these…and everyone will be in a holiday mood.  For variety, there are two recipes which will add a couple of great drinks to your repertoire. The recipes are fun and healthy.  Your specialty drinks will soon become favorites and family traditions for years to come.

Children love these drinks.  They are easy to make and fun to share.  They make a great dessert drink or even a ‘good morning’ breakfast drink

We couldn’t share these recipes too easily a few years ago, as these were primarily San Francisco treats.  With the advent of the Internet and expansion, even if you live in Timbuktu, you can now enjoy Ghirardelli chocolates (pronounced Gee-r-deli) by ordering from Amazon.  Just click on the images and you will find the best prices on the delicious confections.

Velvety Hot Peppermint Cocoa

The directions on the tin say to mix eight ounces of milk to three tablespoons of cocoa mix. Instead, add three to four tablespoons of Ghirardelli Chocolate Peppermint Hot Cocoa mix to a cup of water, stir and warm.  You can heat the water before adding the cocoa mix or put the cocoa mix in a sauce pan to heat, or the microwave.

When the cocoa drink is steaming hot, add a half-cup of low-fat milk or vanilla yogurt or ice cream and one raspberry flavor powdered vitamin C packet, such as Emergen-C, or the kind you get from Costco.  Other delicious additions are a cinnamon stick, a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and a cherry. End result, a steaming mug of peppermint chocolate cocoa with healthy vitamins and antioxidants.

This is a wonderful drink to share beside a fire on a rainy day or a cold evening. It is also a great Christmas Eve and/or Christmas morning drink.  The recipe is enough for two people to share.

Delicious Milk Shake

Again, instead of using milk, use water and three to four tablespoons of Ghirardelli Chocolate Peppermint Hot Cocoa mix.  The chocolate in the cocoa mix is rich–which is what makes it sooo good, so add cocoa mix to your taste preferences. Stir, then heat up the solution.  The chocolate comes out smoother after being heated, instead of just mixing it and leaving it cold.

Next, add ice cubes (enough for one half cup of fluids) and pour the steaming cocoa in a blender, add a half cup of low-fat milk or vanilla yogurt or ice cream and one packet of vitamin C powder or one vitamin C raspberry powder packet.  Then, blend it up and you have one of the best peppermint chocolate shakes around.

There are less calories and sugar than ordering shakes out.  Plus, it is healthier, too, as the vitamin C packets also have other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in them.

Children will love these drinks.  They are easy to make and fun to share.  They make a great dessert drink or even a ‘good morning’ breakfast surprise.

An Adult Party Drink

For the grown-ups, you can pour a bit of peppermint Schnapps or Bailey’s Irish Cream or Kahlua to add some pop to the evening.  And, putting in the traditional cinnamon stick makes it a beautiful drink and/or a dollop of whipped cream with a cherry on top and you have a celebration in a mug.  The recipe above makes a drink for two, so add or subtract according to drinkers.

The variations of using vanilla yogurt, low-fat milk or ice cream are dependent on your taste buds and caloric intake. This allows you control of your diet and also makes the drink flexible as to what you have on hand.

A Special Holiday Package

Another holiday specialty Ghiradelli also has is a peppermint canister with two cocoa mixes that are fun to experiment with, too.  They have a white chocolate cocoa mix and a double chocolate cocoa mix.  The same recipes above will work for these cocoa mixes, as well.  Or, try experimenting with one of your own and let us know what you come up with.

Both cocoa mixes come together in a special peppermint canister package.  These make wonderful gifts.  Add a few mugs and some specialty spoons and you have a beautiful gift bag.  Below is a copy of each of the recipes in a nice border, so you can copy and print them out to include in the gift package or file it in your recipe box.

Tagged Ghiradelli, gifts, hot cocoa, peppermint