It’s almost that time y’all! By now you’re either stressing out over the fact that you can’t find Junior’s Fortnight crap, or you’ve just wrapped the last perfect bow on your perfect gift- that your perfect self purchased in August. No matter which gifter you are, it’s time to sit back and relax with a mug of decadent Hot Truffle Chocolate. Yes, I said a hot “TRUFFLE” chocolate. That means we’re not messing around with no corn syrupy “chocolate-like” food product. Nor will we inhale the noxious powders of a cloud of “cocoa-product” mix. This is the real deal, my friend.
Real Hot Chocolate Starts with Ganache (Truffles)
I remember the first time I went to Paris. I sat at a cafe and had a bowl of chocolat chaud. Yo! It was like drinking a chocolate bar. Because, that’s pretty much what it was. That rich, velvety chocolate ganache was mixed with steamed milk and my life was never the same.
Later on, I introduced the twins to the chocolatey wonder and they, too, were hooked. My issue came when they would ask me to make it at the most random times. I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of making the ganache, heating the milk, dealing with the fact that I made too much ganache, making the hot chocolate, and the whipped cream that it, “JUST HAS TO HAVE, MOOOOOOOM!”
In the end, my solution was to create these Christmas Chocolate Truffles in a variety of flavors. Two of these bad boys melted in a cup and a half of milk and your day is made. Each version has a distinct flavor, and yet, with them, everyone in your family can have their very favorite mug of hot chocolate with little, to no, effort. You’ll first have to make the truffles, but once you have them, you’re set for a few mugs of Hot Truffle Chocolate.
Two Notes
Each of these should be topped with a healthy dollop of freshly whipped cream. Just whip together two cups of heavy whipping cream and a tablespoon of granulated sugar until the cream holds a peak. Keep this refrigerated until you’re ready to spoon on top of your Hot Truffle Chocolate.
In addition to these kid-friendly libations, I’m also throwing in versions for the adults in the room who need a little bit of excitement during this stressful time of year. If you opt for those 21 and over versions, do so responsibly, please. I want you around next year.
Candy Cane Hot Truffle Chocolate
My son’s favorite Hot Truffle Chocolate is the one I call the “Candy Cane”. The base is one and a half cups of whole milk, mixed with a half-teaspoon of peppermint extract. You can heat the milk in a small sauce pan just to a simmer, or heat the milk and the peppermint extract in a microwavable mug for a minute and 26 seconds (super random time, I know). Be sure to use PEPPERMINT extract and not “mint” extract. Mint extract tastes like spearmint which only tastes good in toothpaste.
While you’re waiting for your milk to heat, grab some of those candy canes your kids jacked from the mall Santa and crush them up. If you really want to get fancy, melt a 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips in the microwave and dip the rim of your mug into it. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes along the chocolate-dipped rim and bask in your bougieness.
Drop two of the Candy Cane/Peppermint Christmas Truffles into the glass, and pour the steaming milk over the truffles. Allow the milk to heat, and melt, the ganache; then stir to mix it all together.
Hot Chocolate for the Bill Payers
If you want to liven up that mug of mint-chocolate, pour in an ounce of peppermint schnapps- this Rumpleminze is perfect.
Scoop a generous heaping of whipped cream onto the top of your Candy Cane Hot Truffle Chocolate and garnish with some crushed peppermint and a candy cane!
Pin it!
Pin this minty-chocolatey drink for sharing with all of your friends. To me it just screams “Ho Ho Ho!!”
Mexican Hot Truffle Chocolate
The Soldier likes spice, so I created this Mexican Spiced Hot Truffle Chocolate just for him. Besides having the kick of an ancho chili infused in the milk, I’ve added the warm spice of ground cinnamon, and the physical pinch of cayenne. Of course, to start, we need to make our drinking mug cute and fancy. In a small prep bowl combine a teaspoon of sugar, a half-teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper together.
Pour the spice mixture onto a small plate. In a separate prep bowl whisk a very fresh egg white with a fork until it is frothy (you can also use light corn syrup that’s been heated until it’s runny). Use a pastry brush to brush the egg white onto the outer rim of the mug.
Dip the wet rim into the spice mixture, making sure the spice mixture fully coats the rim. Set this to the side to dry while you heat and infuse your milk.
Measure a cup and a half of milk into a small sauce pan. Add a dried ancho chili pepper and a cinnamon stick to the milk and bring the milk to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and allow the cinnamon and chili to infuse into the milk for five minutes. Keep an eye on the milk. Sometimes it likes to boil over.
Add two Mexican Spiced Christmas Truffles to your mug while the milk is heating.
The “Santa” Version (ie., the One for the Folks Who Paid for Gifts)
One of two liqueurs that you can add to make this a grown-person “drank” is this insanely good chili pepper liqueur called Ruby Blue. Just add a teaspoon of this.
And/or Goldschlager AKA “the Drink that’s Destroyed Many a Soldier’s Career”. This cinnamon-flavored liqueur is perfect when you combine it with the chili liqueur; or, you can use one without the other. Add two teaspoons of this if you’re making a spiked version of this hot chocolate.
After your milk has finished infusing, strain off the pepper and cinnamon stick, then add the milk to the mug with the truffles.
Allow the milk to melt the chocolate for a few seconds and give it a stir.
Top it, of course, with a generous amount of whipped cream, sprinkle a bit of the spice mixture on top, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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Pin this Mexican Spiced Hot Truffle Chocolate Recipe for your friends who like a bit of spice in their life.
Chocolate-Covered Orange Hot Truffle Chocolate
Chocolate-covered oranges are something my daughter likes. Why? I have no idea; I happen to think they’re disgusting. I love my kids, though, so I decided to make an Orange Hot Truffle Chocolate for my precious baby girl. She acted like I gave her a new Harry Potter book, so it was worth it.
Grab a small sauce pan because you’ll need to infuse the peel of one orange in a cup and a half of milk. Add the peel to the milk, then bring the milk up to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat and allow the peel to steep for five minutes.
To garnish this drink, I like to use the zest of an orange, or dried orange slices. I seem to always have dried orange slices on hand during the winter months. You can buy them or make your own. You can also do the chocolate-dipped rim move and sprinkle the orange zest onto the rim after dipping.
Drop two of the Orange Christmas Chocolate Truffles into your mug. Now, keep in mind, if you’re not a huge-chocolate fan, you can always scale down the truffles to one. You can even increase to three- but if you do that, you may have to reheat the hot chocolate due to a drop in temperature.
Strain the milk, discard the orange peel, and pour the hot milk over the truffles. Allow the milk to warm the chocolate and stir to blend.
The Adult Version
Amp up this Orange Hot Truffle Chocolate by adding an ounce of Grand Marnier liqueur. The orange cognac blend is the perfect shot of fun in this hot libation.
Don’t forget your dollop of whipped cream, a few sprinkles of orange zest, and that optional orange slice.
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Pin this for those cold winter months when you need a boost of sunshine.
Rich Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate
I will ALWAYS opt to have coffee in most of my drinks. That time I was in Paris I asked them to put a few shots of espresso in my chocolat chaud. They looked at me like I was crazy…and I am…but I was a caffeinated crazy.
This Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate is obviously my favorite of the five. To garnish my glass, I use the same method of brushing the rim of the glass with egg white, but this time I press instant coffee grounds onto it.
I set this aside to dry while I heat the milk.
Instead of plain milk, I add instant coffee granules to my one and half cups of milk, which I poured into the sauce pan. A tablespoon is usually enough for me, but you may add more or less. Bring the milk up to steaming.
While you’re waiting for your milk to steam, pop two Mocha Christmas Truffles into your mug.
the “Dealing with Your Nosey Aunt” Version
During the holidays, most of us have to deal with family that irks us. Sometimes it’s an aunt who needs to know our relationship status, other times it’s our drunk uncle that can’t keep his hands to himself. No matter what you need to run from, adding an ounce of Kahlúa to this Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate will help you do it without a care in the world. It’s a coffee-flavored liqueur that is perfect in this drink.
Once your milk is steaming, pour it over the truffles and allow it to melt the chocolate for a few seconds. Give it a good stir, top it with some whipped cream and a few more flakes of instant coffee and your ready to ping!
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Pin this Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate for later!
Dark Hot Truffle Chocolate
My Mami passed away in 2014. But ’til this day, I will include her in everything I do. The woman was a CHOCOLATE-FREAK!!! Towards the end of her life, the hospice nurse told me that she could have whatever she wanted to eat. Do you know what she wanted to eat? An entire chocolate ganache cake. I’m talking dark chocolate cake, filled with chocolate mousse, covered in dark chocolate ganache. She ate the whole thing. Naturally, this Dark Hot Truffle Chocolate was created with her in mind.
In a small sauce pan heat a cup and a half of milk along with a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
While you’re waiting for the milk to steam, drop two plain Dark Christmas Chocolate Truffles into your mug. Once the milk has come up to temp, go ahead and pour it over the truffles. Allow the milk to heat the chocolate and stir to combine.
Mom and Dad Version
The adultier version of this Dark Hot Truffle Chocolate has the added bonus of whipped cream flavored vodka (1/2 ounce) and dark chocolate liqueur (1/2 ounce). Stir these two in and the party’s on and poppin.
Garnish with a big ol’ spoonful of whipped cream and some dark chocolate shavings.
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You have to pin this one- it’s a classic.
Each of these recipes can also be made in the microwave- it’s just easier to photograph on the stove, ya know?
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Hot Truffle Chocolate
at Sense & EdibilityIngredients
Candy Cane Hot Truffle Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, optional
- 2 Candy Cane Christmas Chocolate Truffles link in post
- 1 ounce peppermint schnapps optional
- whipped cream, to garnish
- 1/4 cup melted dark chocolate, to garnish optional
- 1 candy cane, crushed, to garnish optional
Mexican Spiced Hot Truffle Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 dried ancho chili
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional
- 2 Mexican Spiced Christmas Chocolate Truffles link in post
- 1/2 ounce chili pepper liqueur optional
- 1/2 ounce cinnamon schnapps optional
- whipped cream, to garnish
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, to garnish optional
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, to garnish optional
- pinch cayenne pepper, to garnish optional
- 1 egg white, whisked until foamy optional
- cinnamon stick, to garnish optional
Orange Hot Truffle Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 medium orange, peel only
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional
- 2 Orange Christmas Chocolate Truffles link in post
- 1 ounce Grand Marnier liqueur optional
- whipped cream, to garnish
- zest of one orange, to garnish optional
Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee, plus more for garnishing
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional
- 2 Mocha Christmas Chocolate Truffles link in post
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur optional
- whipped cream, to garnish
- 1 egg white, whisked until foamy optional
Dark Hot Truffle Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional
- 2 Dark Christmas Chocolate Truffles link in post
- 1/2 ounce chocolate liqueur optional
- 1/2 ounce whipped cream-flavored vodka optional
- whipped cream, to garnish
- dark chocolate shavings, to garnish optional
Instructions
Candy Cane Hot Truffle Chocolate
- Heat the milk and the peppermint extract (and the sugar if using) in a small saucepan until steaming (about 5 minutes).
- Optional: While you're waiting for your milk to heat, dip the rim of your mug in the melted chocolate. Allow the chocolate to firm up for a minute, then dip the rim into the crushed candy canes. Set aside and allow the chocolate to harden.
- Add the Candy Cane Christmas Truffles to your glass and pour the steaming milk over the truffles. Allow the milk to heat, and melt, the ganache; then stir to mix it all together. Add the peppermint schnapps if desired.
- Top with whipped cream and garnish with more crushed candy canes.
Mexican Hot Truffle Chocolate
- Optional: Combine the sugar, ground cinnamon and the cayenne pepper together in a small bowl. Transfer this to a small plate. Use a pastry brush to brush the whisked egg white onto the rim of your mug. Dip the rim into the spice mixture to garnish it. Set this aside to dry.
- Heat the milk, along with the ancho chili pepper and a cinnamon stick (and the sugar if using) over low heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and allow the cinnamon and chili to infuse into the milk for 5 minutes.
- Add the Mexican Spiced Christmas Truffles to your mug while the milk is infusing. Once the milk has finished infusing, remove the pepper and cinnamon stick, then add the milk to the mug with the truffles. Allow the milk to melt the chocolate for a few seconds and give it a stir.
- If desired add the chili pepper liqueur and the cinnamon schnapps.
- Top with whipped cream, sprinkle a bit of the spice mixture on top, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Chocolate-Covered Orange Hot Truffle Chocolate
- Heat the milk, along with the orange peel until steaming. Reduce the heat and allow the peel to steep for five minutes.
- Place the Orange Christmas Chocolate Truffles into your mug. Strain the milk, discarding the orange peel, and pour the hot milk over the truffles. Allow the milk to warm the chocolate and stir to blend.
- Add the Grand Marnier liqueur, if desired. Top with whipped cream and a few sprinkles of orange zest, if you like.
Mocha Hot Truffle Chocolate
- Optional: Brush the rim of your glass with egg white then press instant coffee grounds onto it to garnish. Set this aside to dry while you heat the milk.
- Combine the milk and the instant coffee granules (and the sugar if using) and heat the milk until it's steaming.
- Add the Mocha Christmas Truffles to your mug. Once the milk is steaming, pour it over the truffles and allow it to melt the chocolate for a few seconds, as well as the coffee liqueur, if desired.
- Give it a good stir, then top with whipped cream and a few more flakes of instant coffee.
Dark Hot Truffle Chocolate
- In a small sauce pan heat the milk and the vanilla extract (and the sugar if using).
- Add the Dark Christmas Chocolate Truffles to your mug. Once the milk has come up to temp, pour it over the truffles. Allow the milk to heat the chocolate and stir to combine.
- Stir in the whipped cream flavored vodka and the dark chocolate liqueur, if desired.
- Garnish with whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings.
Notes
Classic Hot Toddy
Turmeric-Almond Milk Tea
The Dealing with Your Nosy Aunt version made me giggle because we ALL have one of those! All 5 of these look delicious though and well worth tucking into when said nosy aunt starts asking questions!
Right?!?! Some times we need a little tipple to get us through the “family time”.
I love all the variations here! My kids will really enjoy a few of these recipes. I am looking forward to try them!!!
You and your kiddos are going to love them. Let me know which is your favorite!
All of these look like a delicious way to celebrate the holidays! Delicious and festive.
I’m so glad you think so, Sharon!
Love all your clever titles and recipes! This is such a great resource for getting amazing recipes! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
It’s my pleasure! I’m glad you love them!