Rescue Roast® Chilli Hot Chocolate

Rich, smooth, chocolatey — with a warm little kick at the end.

Chocolate and chilli may sound like an unusual combination if you have never tried it before.

But they work brilliantly together.

The chilli does not need to make the drink painfully hot. Used carefully, it adds a gentle warmth that develops after the chocolate and makes the whole cup taste deeper, richer and a little more interesting.

This Rescue Roast® Chilli Hot Chocolate is perfect for cold evenings, after-dinner drinks, fireside weekends or anyone who likes their chocolate with a bit of attitude.

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons Rescue Roast® Hot Chocolate powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A tiny pinch of chilli powder or cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
• Pinch of salt
• 30 g dark chocolate, chopped, optional

For Serving

• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings
• A light dusting of Rescue Roast® Hot Chocolate powder
• A tiny sprinkle of chilli powder
• Cinnamon

Method

1. Add the milk to a small saucepan and place it over medium-low heat.

2. Add the Rescue Roast® Hot Chocolate powder, cinnamon, vanilla essence and salt.

3. Add a very small pinch of chilli powder or cayenne pepper.

Start cautiously.

You can always add more chilli later.

Removing it again is considerably more difficult.

4. Whisk gently while heating until the Hot Chocolate powder has completely dissolved.

5. If you are using the dark chocolate, add it now and continue stirring until melted.

6. Heat until steaming and completely smooth, but do not allow the milk to boil vigorously.

7. Taste carefully.

If you would like a little more warmth, add another tiny pinch of chilli and stir again.

8. Pour into mugs and serve immediately.

The Secret Is the Chilli

The goal is not to turn your Hot Chocolate into a fire-breathing challenge.

You should taste the chocolate first.

Then, a moment later, a gentle warmth should begin to appear.

That is where the magic happens.

Make It Extra Indulgent

Top your Chilli Hot Chocolate with:

• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings
• A dusting of Rescue Roast® Hot Chocolate powder
• A tiny pinch of cinnamon
• One or two mini marshmallows

If you are feeling brave, finish with the smallest sprinkle of chilli powder over the whipped cream.

Rescue Roast® Chilli Mocha

Coffee lovers can take this in another direction entirely.

Add approximately ½ cup of strong brewed Rescue Roast® coffee and reduce the milk by the same amount.

You now have chocolate, coffee and chilli working together in one cup.

The coffee deepens the chocolate flavour while the chilli adds warmth at the finish.

This one is especially good after dinner.

Orange & Chilli Hot Chocolate

For another delicious variation, add a small strip of orange peel to the milk while it heats.

Remove the peel before serving.

Orange, chocolate and chilli work beautifully together and create a slightly more grown-up version of Hot Chocolate.

Cinnamon & Chilli Version

If you enjoy warm spices, increase the cinnamon slightly and add the tiniest pinch of nutmeg.

The result is fragrant, warming and perfect for a cold evening.

Turn It Into a Chilli Chocolate Dessert Sauce

This flavour combination does not have to stay in a mug either.

Use less milk and additional chopped chocolate to create a thicker sauce.

Then drizzle it over:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Brownies
• Chocolate cake
• Waffles
• Crêpes
• Fresh strawberries

A warm Rescue Roast® chilli chocolate sauce over vanilla ice cream is particularly good.

How Much Chilli?

There is no single correct answer because chilli powders vary enormously in strength.

Start with only a tiny pinch for two cups of Hot Chocolate.

Taste.

Then increase gradually until you get the level of warmth you enjoy.

Chocolate should still be the star.

250 g or 500 g?

Rescue Roast® Hot Chocolate is available in both 250 g and 500 g bags.

The 250 g bag is perfect for your favourite mugs of Hot Chocolate and experimenting with recipes from the Rescue Roast® Academy.

But if you have now started turning Hot Chocolate into waffles, cakes, truffles, desserts and spicy chocolate drinks...

The 500 g bag is probably going to be much safer.

Sweet Meets Heat

Rich chocolate.

Warm cinnamon.

A tiny kick of chilli.

Sometimes your favourite Hot Chocolate just needs a little attitude.