I hope your weekend was filled with so much love, friends! We had a great one…that consisted of much needed time out with friends, a lot of QT with the kids, all things heart shaped, sledding and…the only thing that should ever proceed a sledding experience..hot cocoa!

It occurred to me that I haven’t shared this hardly-a-recipe recipe with you guys.  Mostly because I fear its not intriguing enough for you.  I mean, 3 ingredients, well, 4 if you count the salt.  And a little simmer on the stove.  Theres no fancy frothing.  No vanilla beans to strain and scrape.  This is the at-home-in-a-hurry-refuse-to-use-that-packaged-stuff-hot cocoa recipe that everyone needs embedded in their brain.

So yes, it’s hot cocoa for dummies-trust me, I’ve been called worse-but it tastes too good to keep from you.  And if there is anything on this earth that could make this stuff taste even more outstanding it would be a little coconut whipped cream right on top…with, of course, a little cocoa powder sifted over the whole she-bang.   Hellooooo gorgeous!

Both the big and little hands you’ve handed that warm mug over to will thank you, I can guarantee you that.

Simple Hot Cocoa

notes: coconut and almond milk can be substituted for the whole cows milk-but keep in mind the consistency will be different.  to make the coconut whipped cream, I just place 1 can of coconut cream in the bowl of my mixer and whisk on medium high speed until soft peaks form.  Dollop on top of cocoa, if desired.

Ingredients

2 Cups Whole Milk

2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

1/3 Cup Chopped Chocolate (semisweet, milk and dark all work great-use your favorite)

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

Place milk  in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook for 3 minutes or just shy of coming to a simmer.  Remove pan from heat and whisk in the vanilla, chocolate and salt until well combined and chocolate is melted.  Reheat on the stove over medium low heat and serve.  Serves 4