Vianne’s Spiced Hot Chocolate

Name: Vianne’s Spiced Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: ½ cinnamon stick; ½ vanilla pod, cut in half lengthways; 1 hot chilli, halved and deseeded; 400 ml full-fat milk; whipped cream, chocolate curls, cognac or Amaretto to serve; unrefined brown sugar to taste; 100 g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa)

Preparation info

Serves
2

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
25 min

Appears in

The French Kitchen

By Joanne Harris and Fran Warde

Published 2002

About

Chilli may have lost favour as an ingredient in chocolate dishes in Europe, but for me this sweet, spiced version of hot chocolate is the best morning drink: rich, dark and invigorating enough to keep me going until lunchtime.

Ingredients

400 ml full-fat milk
½ vanilla pod, cut in half lengthways
½ cinnamon stick

Europe
France
Mediterranean
Vegetarian
Gluten-free
Drinks

Method

Place the milk in a saucepan, add the vanilla pod, cinnamon stick and seedless chilli and gently bring it to a shivering simmer for 1 minute. Grate the chocolate and whisk it in until it melts. If you must, then add sugar, but do try it without. Take off the heat and allow it to infuse for 10 minutes, then remove the spices, return to the heat and bring gently back to simmering point. Serve in