Check out this post, to enhance your chocolate drink.
No matter winter or summer, chocolate drink is always all time favourite. Especially in winter, chocolate drink could make this frosty season more bearable (You know this well! ). A favourite indulgence for me is a comforting mug of rich, creamy hot chocolate. While I typically use regular boxed cocoa mix (instant packet or 3-in-1), a simple trick elevates my hot chocolate to rival even the most luxurious café’s drinking chocolate: the addition of cornstarch.
Cornstarch is a versatile and as thickening agent that you can seamlessly integrate into your culinary arsenal. A small amount, usually a teaspoon or two, is sufficient to suspend ingredients, such as melted chocolate in low-fat milk or whisked eggs in egg drop soup. The only thing you have to be aware of is controlling when you activate the starch’s thickening properties.
Cornstarch is super fine powder that you could find in the baking aisle of most grocery stores. But you can’t just drop a spoonful (too many) into boiling soup or hot cocoa. Cornstarch will goes gelatinization at temperatures slightly below boiling (starting around 145°F / 60°C and reaching its full potential at approximately 203°F / 92°C). To prevent lumps, it’s crucial to either create a “slurry” by mixing the cornstarch with a cold liquid (as cold liquid won’t initiate the gelatinization process), or mix the dry cornstarch with another powder or granulated mix, like sugar, or hot chocolate mix.
How to make thicker hot chocolate from a store-bought mix
For powdered mix, add the cornstarch directly to the powdered ingredients, and whisk these dry ingredients for about 30 seconds. There should be no clumps of white cornstarch hiding anywhere. Then heat up your liquid of choice to boiling, or near boiling. I usually use a mixture of water and fresh milk, or you can use water alone and it still tastes perfect. I then heat up my electric kettle of water until boiling and immediately pour it into my cornstarch spiked powdered mixture. Whisk it in and the mixture will be smooth and chocolatey with that cafe-worthy silken consistency. I use between one to two teaspoons of cornstarch for every six ounces of liquid, depending on how luscious I want my drink.
Now, lay on sofa with your cup of hot / ice chocolate (add in ice cubes if you prefer cold drink at this time) with cookies and TV. To end your beautiful day 🙂 Enjoy !
Please share on below comment box, if you tried on this trick or you have recipe to share.