Peppermint Hot Cocoa

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for hot cocoa. My mom used to make it for us on cold winter nights, and would always tell us how when she was a teenager, her dad (my grandpa), would get up with her before school and make her hot cocoa and cornbread on cold winter mornings. I think the world would be a better place if more dads made hot cocoa for their kids on cold mornings, don't you?

This delicious hot cocoa is not the recipe my grandpa used, but it is rich and sweet, with a light peppermint flavor to make it a little extra special for the Holiday season. It will be perfect for Santa on Christmas Eve, a holiday party or a cold winter morning with your family.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp granulated sugar*
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips*
2 drops of Simply Organic peppermint flavor
2 1/2 cups milk*

*Creative Green Living recommends purchasing these ingredients as organic where available to avoid GMOs, pervasive pesticides and/or questionable farming practices.

Directions

STEP 1

Put the water in a small pot on the stove. Heat to a boil. Add the granulated sugar, turn the heat to medium, and stir until it has dissolved.

STEP 2

Remove the pot from heat and let it cool for about a minute, then add the chocolate chips and stir until they are melted.

STEP 3

Add the peppermint oil and stir.

STEP 4

Add the milk in a slow steady stream, stirring all the while.

STEP 5

Put the pot back on the stove and heat over low until the cocoa is warm. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

About the Author:

Landen runs Measure and Whisk, a cooking blog with a focus on real food. She is a firm believer that quality is superior to quantity, and prefers small amounts of good food over large quantities of cheap food. Deeply disappointed in cheap bacon, she prefers to buy $6 bacon less frequently. Because of this, she typically cooks vegetarian meals for her family.

Her blog also features photos of her baby, Fox, and suggestions on how to live an eco-friendly and minimalist life, both in and out of the kitchen. Follow her on Pinterest and Instagram for beautiful food photos and pictures of baby Fox.