Ever wondered how to make Mexican Hot Chocolate? I’ve got the best Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe ever for you! Lot’s of spices and mixable with ANY kind of milk.
The best part about this Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe is probably that it is water based and thus perfect for literally anybody. Dairy-intolerant? No problem! Coconut milk fan? Awesome!
Instead of cooking one cup of hot chocolate you prepare a syrup-like chocolate base that you can then mix with whichever hot milk you like best. Similar concept to the Homemade Chai Latte already on the blog.
How To Make Mexican Hot Chocolate
The “abuelita hot chocolate” is very very popular in Mexico these days but that’s basically a commercialized version of the traditional hot chocolate.
The traditional hot chocolate wasn’t even sweetened. People would drink it rather like a cup of black coffee.
Needless to say, it’s pretty bitter without sweetener so this recipe is rather for the sweet drink that can be enjoyed around Christmas or literally all winter long.
You add plenty of delicious spices like vanilla, cinnamon, anis, clove and then most importantly “raw sugar”.
In Mexico they call this raw sugar piloncillo. Almost every Latin American has a different name for the same kind of sugar though so if you go to a Latin American store to look for this sugar make sure you ask for one or all of these names: piloncillo, chancaca, panela, rapadura, raspadura, tapa de dulce, papelón. I hope I’m not forgetting any.
Then, because we don’t have raw cacao beans easily available we will rely on raw cacao powder. It’s the unsweetened stuff you’ll find in the baking isle.
Mix that all with water and simmer it uncovered until it reaches a syrup-like consistency and that’s it. Mix it with hot milk of your choice and voilá the BEST Mexican Hot Chocolate EVER!
Is Mexican Hot Chocolate Healthy?
The word “healthy” can be defined in sooo many ways so this will depend entirely on your definition. Since it does have quite a bit of sugar in it (yes raw, but still sugar) I definitely recommend enjoying it in moderation.
My family and I typically enjoy a cup or two on the Day of the Dead (día de los muertos) and around Christmas and then maybe once a month throughout winter.
Compared to most ready made hot chocolate mixes this Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe is VERY healthy. It’s all about what you compare it with and what else your nutrition consists of.
There is plenty of article listing the benefits of drinking hot chocolate. And I’m sure there is just as many listing the risks.
I’m camp “everything in moderation” :)
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
- 3.5 oz piloncillo - (100g)
- 2 cloves - (or 1/8 tsp ground clove)
- 1 anis star - (or 1/4 tsp ground anis)
- 2 sticks cinnamon - (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
- 1 tsp vanilla bean - (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)
- 4 cups any kind of milk
- ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut open vanilla bean lengthwise so the seeds have an easy way out add vanilla bean, piloncillo, raw cacao powder, cloves, anis star and cinnamon sticks to a saucepan and cover with 2 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover the pot for about 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolved. Then remove the lid and let simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until syrup-like consistency.
- Fish out spices or strain using a sieve.
- Heat 1 cup of milk of choice (froth if you like) and mix 1/4 cup of syrup with 1 cup hot milk. Sprinkle with a little ground cinnamon and enjoy!
- The chocolate syrup can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days.
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Frances says
How do you reheat the syrup if it’s been refrigerated?
Lorena Grater says
I don’t. By adding boiling hot milk it’s usually enough to warm it.
Wendy says
Made this tonight, but the piloncilloI bought was harder than the rock of Gibraltar, I finally managed to shave enough off, so of course spatter that workout I deserved a cup almost all whole milk with about 2 Tbsp cream for a real treat, going to try Rice milk next for lower fat version,it was fantastic all the spices blended so nicely they were not over powering at all, I did use vanilla extract as Vanilla beans have become extremely expensive recently.
Lorena says
Hahaha, you just made me laugh Wendy! Yes, piloncillo is super hard. I like buying the one that is divided into squares like a chocolate bar because it’s much easier to break apart. I’m glad you were able to shave it off. Rice milk sounds wonderful with this! YUM!
Aysegul Sanford says
Such a great recipe and superb video.
Lorena says
Thank you Aysegul :)
Espresso Tune says
wow-i love a good quality cup of hot chocolate, but haven’t been able to make a good one myself at home….is this bitter or sweet? i usually prefer to sweet, but bitter is good on a sick tummy….
Lorena says
Hi Espresso Tune. The hot chocolate is pretty sweet. You can always sweeten it more by using more piloncillo or make it more bitter by adding more cacao.
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
literally the most perfect holiday drink ever!
Lorena says
Right? Thank you :D
Heather Mason @NuttyNutrition says
mmm, this looks beautiful Lorena! It’s been raining all day here and I think this would be great!
Lorena says
Thank you Heather! Absolutely, this is a crap weather drink :)
Rebecca@Figs and Pigs says
Wow what stunning photos and the hot chocolate sounds heavenly.
Lorena says
Thank you Rebecca :D