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
Cardamom shines when paired with chocolate, such as chocolate chip cookies or a cake with a dash of cocoa powder. Cardamom features a complex flavor that is difficult to describe with hints of menthol, floral, and honey.
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.
What is the history of spiced hot chocolate? ›
It Started in Mexico
As early as 500 BC, the Mayans were drinking chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds mixed with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers (as well as other ingredients)—a much different version from the hot chocolate we know today.
How do you make hot chocolate more flavorful? ›
The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
- Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
- Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
- Mix in Nutella. ...
- Swirl in caramel. ...
- Spike it. ...
- Infuse it with orange. ...
- Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
- Add a shot (of coffee)
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? ›
Creamy 70% cacao, with a citrusy, fruity, sweet, flavor from a hint of cardamom.
How do you amplify hot chocolate? ›
Add: Orange Extract or Zest
This citrus fruit actually brings out the sweetness in chocolate and at the same time its acidity helps to balance the richness, says Cheney. Add ⅛ teaspoon of extract or the zest of half an orange, per cup.
What adds extra heat to hot chocolate? ›
Add a small amount of jalapeno (habanero or cayenne if you're brave) to your next cup of hot cocoa for a little heat and bite. Just make sure to go easy on the pepper: the heat of the hot cocoa will warm the spice, making it a little hotter than you might expect.
Why is spicy chocolate so good? ›
The combination of chocolate's intoxicating richness with the exhilarating heat of chilli creates a flavour explosion that captivates the palate. The enticing taste, combined with the health benefits of the ingredients, contributes to a sense of well-being after indulging in this delightful treat.
What was the first country to drink hot chocolate? ›
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.
The roots of hot chocolate can be traced back to the ancient Mayan civilisation in the regions of present-day Mexico and Central America. Around 500 BC, the Mayans began cultivating cacao trees and discovered the pleasure of a drink made from its beans.
Which is better for you coffee or hot chocolate? ›
Overall, while both chocolate and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation, hot chocolate may offer more satisfying and potentially heart-healthy benefits. However, if you need a quick caffeine fix, coffee may be the better option.
How do you spice up hot cocoa? ›
Though we think of hot chocolate as a simple chocolate drink, hot cocoa originates from Mayan and Aztec cultures where it was enjoyed with a little bit of spice. To give your hot cocoa a kick and depth of flavor, add 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon chipotle or chili powder.
What kind of alcohol do you put in hot chocolate? ›
When it's robust sweetness I'm in the mood for, I reach for OM chocolate liqueur or Cointreau or a cream liqueur such as Marigot Bay chocolate coffee rum cream or Five Farms Irish cream. And for added complexity in a dark hot chocolate, I typically add toasted baking spices—plus a small splash of spiced rum or Cognac.
What pairs well with cardamom? ›
Cardamom Sweet, bitter apples, oranges, pears, legumes, sweet potatoes and other root vegetables, yogurt caraway, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger Seed pods will keep for a year or more in an airtight jar.
What spices complement chocolate? ›
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.
What does cardamom go best with? ›
Cardamom harmonizes beautifully with warming spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, to infuse dishes with captivating essence.
What blends well with cardamom? ›
Whether you are creating your own essential oil diffuser blend, or looking for the best companion for Cardamom, consider using Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Fennel, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, or citrus essential oils.
