This delicious Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate recipe combines hot cocoa with chai spices into a super delicious beverage. It’s the perfect cozy treat for snuggling in blankets by the fireplace in the colder months.
Cool weather is (finally)here….
Now that the weather has cooled off for the year (and here in the south, “cool” means less than 70 degrees), I’ve got a craving for all things cozy. Flannel shirts, blankets, fireplaces, pumpkin muffins, and….hot chocolate. Nothing beats sipping some hot chocolate on the back porch, wrapped in a blanket, and admiring my pretty cover crops and fall/winter vegetables.
Now that my garden is filled with lots of goodies, I get to just sit back and enjoy the view. Fall season brings lots of rain down here in South Carolina, so my watering is pretty minimum. Pests aren’t as bad, nor are the weeds.
I’m still harvesting watermelon, kale, beans, and peppers from my spring/summer garden as well. Life is good. Hot chocolate is good. But you know what makes homemade hot chocolate even better? Spices. Now that gardening is slowing down, I can focus on getting more spices in my diet again.
This hot chocolate recipe is one of my ways to get more whole spices in my food/drinks. It includes both cinnamon and cardamom. Both cinnamon and cardamom should have a place in your kitchen, as they are both super tasty and full of medicinal benefits (read more about cinnamon’s benefits and cardamom’s benefits). Of course, as with most spices, both cardamom and cinnamon are best in the whole-form, not the ground old junk from the store.
The combination of cardamom and cinnamon in this hot chocolate gives it a tasty chai-like taste. So it satisfies cravings for both hot chocolate AND chai in one drink. Score!
Seriously, once you start adding spices to your hot chocolate, it’s hard to stop! I’ve got tons of spice-filled hot chocolate recipes floating around in my head, but this Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate recipe is still one of my favorites.
It is completely customizable, which I really love. So, if you are avoiding dairy, use coconut milk! Want to make ithealthy? Use cacao instead of cocoa. Don’t want to add sugar? Use maple syrup or honey! So grab yourself a blanket and flannel shirt, go snuggle up on your porch, and enjoy this super tasty chai-like hot chocolate. Make it super special with some homemade whipped cream on it too. Enjoy! 🙂
Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk (or for a thicker treat, use cream or half and half OR for dairy free, use full-fat coconut milk)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder OR cacao powder
- 2 tbsp. sweetener of choice (I prefer maple syrup, but sugar, honey, or coconut sugar work as well)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp. bruised cardamom pods (to bruise a pod, simply use a rolling pin over the pod or use the flat end of a butcher’s knife and gently push.)
- 1-2 sticks of cinnamon
- Optional: a few pinches of other spices like: nutmeg, ginger, and/or cloves
Directions:
- In a saucepan, whisk together all of the ingredients.
- Heat on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scalding (don’t use a higher heat to make this quickly: a low heat will simmer and blend the spices into the milk perfectly. While waiting, start the process of relaxing. Life should be slower, like making this drink. There’s probably a life lesson in here somewhere….)
- Allow your hot chocolate to simmer on low heat for at least 15 minutes. I like to let it simmer for about 30 minutes. Feel free to use your waiting time to make some homemade whipped cream.
- When ready, strain it into 2 coffee mugs (these ones are cute!). Or just one mug, drink it, and then come back for seconds. Enjoy. 🙂
Notes:
**If this beverage is too thick for you, simply add more milk. I often taste-test towards the end to decide it it’s too bitter (then add more sweetener) or if it needs more chocolate. I know it’s ready to drink when the scent of spices wafts my way. Mmmmm…..
What is YOUR favorite Hot Chocolate recipe?
If you’re usually in a hurry, try my Hot Cocoa Mix recipe. It’s perfect for just scooping into a mug and adding water or milk. That way, you can have this Cardamom Spiced Hot Chocolate on cozy, snuggly days and my hot cocoa mix on busy days. All days are now ready for some yummy hot chocolate. Mmm….
FAQs
In the world of flavors, some combinations are so perfect they seem destined to be together. One such match is the pairing of cardamom and dark chocolate. Cardamom, with its warm, spicy-sweet aroma and citrusy undertones, is a spice that has been prized for centuries.
What is the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate? ›
Marshmallows: The Unsung Hero
Believe it or not, the secret ingredient in gourmet hot chocolate is none other than marshmallows. These fluffy, sweet confections are the unsung heroes of the hot chocolate world, adding a delightful creaminess and hint of sweetness that takes the drink to a whole new level.
How to spice up hot chocolate? ›
The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
- Sprinkle in warm spices. Take inspiration from the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate, and add warm spices like cinnamon, cayenne, and chile powder to your hot chocolate for a delightfully spicy drink. ...
- Mix in Nutella. ...
- Spike it. ...
- Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
- Add a rim.
In the 18th century, chocolate was only served as a drink. It was grated into water or milk and flavored with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, allspice, and ginger. Some people even used hot peppers, like the recipe I am sharing today!
Who should not use cardamom? ›
People with gallstones should not take cardamom except to flavor food. We also need more research to determine the effects of large amounts of cardamom on women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What does cardamom chocolate taste like? ›
The warm, slightly spicy flavor of cardamom complements the rich, sweet taste of chocolate perfectly. This unique pairing can be found in various desserts and drinks, such as cardamom-infused hot chocolate or chocolate cardamom cookies. Can you suggest some spices that pair well with chocolate? Certainly!
What can you add to hot chocolate to make it taste better? ›
Sweet add-ins include marshmallows, whipped cream, caramel, flavored spreads, and maple syrup. To transform cocoa into a co*cktail, add flavored liqueurs or traditional spirits. Other unique ways to liven up hot chocolate include adding coffee, spices, and extracts.
What do McDonald's use for their hot chocolate? ›
Chocolatey Syrup
Sugar, Allergen Ingredient: Skimmed MILK, 10% Fat Reduced Cocoa, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Whey Powder (Allergen Ingredient: MILK), Salt, Stabiliser (Trisodium Citrate), Flavouring, Emulsifier (Allergen Ingredient: SOYA Lecithin).
What is the most expensive hot chocolate mix? ›
Serendipity3's Diamond Frrrozen Hot Chocolate costs $250,000 and will only be available on Valentine's Day. This is one Valentine's Day date you might want to split the bill for.
How to doctor up hot chocolate mix? ›
An easy way to add extra flavor to any cup of cocoa—be it out of the box or homemade—is to add a touch of your favorite spices. A sprinkle of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg or even cayenne can all be welcome warming additions.
In my opinion, the best hot chocolate is simple to make, with just a few quality ingredients. Milk: You can use dairy or dairy-free milk, including cashew milk, almond milk, or oat milk. The creamier the better! And since this recipe has sugar in it, I'd choose unsweetened milks (if you're buying them from the store).
How do you doctor up powdered hot chocolate? ›
- You can use milk instead of water, or half hot water and half milk. ...
- Use a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg to give it a punch, with or without whipped cream.
- Stir it with a candy cane for a bit of peppermint goodness.
- Add a bit of real chocolate, like mini chips, to give it a boost of flavor.
The first chocolate drink is believed to have been created at least 5,300 years starting with the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in what is present-day Ecuador and later consumed by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago. A cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as xocōlātl.
What country is known for hot chocolate? ›
It makes sense to start with the country of origin for hot chocolate: Mexico. Mayans were the first culture to make a drink out of chocolate. However, it was much different than the beverage you're familiar with today. It was served cold and brewed like a beer for celebrations.
What country invented hot chocolate? ›
It's believed that the origins of hot chocolate, or rather its earliest version, can be traced back to around 500 BC in the regions of present-day Mexico. The ancient Mayans, a civilisation with an advanced understanding of agriculture and astronomy, were one of the first to cultivate the cacao tree.
What pairs well with cardamom? ›
Cardamom harmonizes beautifully with warming spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, to infuse dishes with captivating essence. Bringing forth a medley of flavor, this remarkable spice can elevate a variety of dishes, like stews, soups and curries, baked goods, desserts, and beverages such as coffee or tea.
What spices complement chocolate? ›
The best spices to pair with chocolate
- Chocolate and chili: an aphrodisiac pairing.
- Ginger and chocolate.
- Chocolate and cinnamon.
- Vanilla and chocolate: an iconic partnership.
- How to pair spices and white chocolate.
Chocolate types
Try combining dark chocolate with coffee, ginger, cloves, sea salt or even smoky spices such as chipotle peppers. On the other hand, milk chocolate has a creamy texture and can harmonize well with spices that have a softer profile such as vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.
