Fudgy Hot Chocolate

Aunt Noni’s Christmas Fudge makes a great base for a steamy cup of Fudgy Hot Chocolate. Just add hot milk, and marshmallows if you like. You can even add a shot of espresso for an invigorating mocha flavor.

Craving Hot Chocolate

It seems I’m running late again. I have been thinking about this post ever since I made Aunt Noni’s Christmas Fudge back in December. When the weather was colder, and then it snowed just before Christmas, I found myself craving hot chocolate. A quick check in the pantry confirmed that I was out of pre-packaged hot chocolate mix. The roads were treacherous so there was no chance I would be getting any from the market. But then, remembering my post about Peanut Butter Fudge Lattes, I thought how that Christmas Fudge might make a good base for a warm cup of Hot Chocolate, or maybe even a Mocha.

A quick glance at the list of ingredients suggests that Fudge and Hot Chocolate are the closest of kin. Aunt Noni’s recipe relies on sugar, milk, chocolate, and marshmallow cream to create a no-fail Christmas Fudge classic. It is perfect for a Holiday Cookie Tray or a dessert buffet. It is fun to make with the family and it is a thoughtful homemade gift to share with friends. Would it make a good cup of Hot Chocolate too?

Ingredients in Common: Fudge and Hot Chocolate

To make a quick comparison, I looked up my recipes for cinnamon and chili warmed Mexican Hot Chocolate, vanilla and almond flavored Spiced Hot Chocolate, and super thick Spanish Hot Chocolate. I found that, aside from the flavor embellishments, Aunt Noni’s Fudge and the hot chocolate recipes were made from the same ingredients.

A basic cup of Hot Chocolate is composed of sugar, milk and chocolate. Add whipped cream or marshmallows for a sweet topping. Embellish with a variety of spices, a shot of espresso or some sprinkles, if you like. The result is an inviting hot beverage. Fudge begins much the same way. Combine sugar and milk, then adds chocolate and other flavors as the heat transforms the mixture to a firmer consistency. If you make your fudge without nuts, it serves as a suitable base for making Hot Chocolate.

Fudgy Hot Chocolate for Single Servings

Making Hot Chocolate from our Christmas fudge seemed like an even better idea after the holidays. In the new year those once tempting Christmas treats had grown all too familiar and lost their luster. Making something different from those holiday leftovers was now even more appealing. Plus I had more time to experiment in the kitchen after my holiday calendar cleared.

Putting away the Christmas surplus I gathered several of the sweet little jars from my Bonne Maman Advent calendar. They were the perfect size for assembling a small kit of ingredients to make a single cup of Fudgy Hot Chocolate. So I took my few cubes of leftover fudge, added one to each jar, and topped it with some white and milk chocolate chips, and enough mini marshmallows to fill the jars. Then I set them out on our beverage bar.

A Valentine’s Day Surprise

Today Valentine’s Day arrived with a fresh pallet of winter surprises. This morning the rooftops were dusted with snow. Downstairs the air held an icy edge to its early morning chill. Over the next few hours snowflakes continued to fall intermittently adding a charming ambiance to this special day.

While Portland has its share of flaws one of the wonders of our regional climate is its ability to offer unexpected delights. With the chill and the snowflakes on this February morning I found myself craving another taste of that seasonal magic inherent in Aunt Noni’s Christmas Fudge. It seemed like the perfect day to enjoy the last of my Fudgy Hot Chocolate kits as I cherish my St. Valentine’s Day blessings.

Fudgy Hot Chocolate

Course: BeverageDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Total time

10

minutes

No-Fail Fudge makes a great base for a steamy cup of Hot Chocolate. Just add hot milk, and marshmallows if you like. You can even add a shot of espresso for an invigorating mocha flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 1-inch cubes of Aunt Noni’s Christmas Fudge (without nuts)

• Several marshmallows

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 2 shots espresso (optional)

Directions

• Place each cube of fudge (approximately 1 Tablespoon each) in an 8-10 oz cup. Add several marshmallows, miniature or large, to each cup.
• Heat the milk. Using a small saucepan, warm the milk gently over low heat, stirring frequently, to roughly 150-160F, or until hot but not boiling. When hot, whisk the milk vigorously until frothy, if desired. (I often use an Aeroccino milk frothing appliance for this step.)
• Pour the hot milk over the fudge and stir until dissolved. Spoon any foam milk foam on top, if desired.
• Carefully pour a single shot of espresso over the top, if desired.
• To garnish: sprinkle a bit of finely chopped or grated fudge on top, or add additional marshmallows.

Notes

• To give the fudge a head start on dissolving in the hot milk, you might want to warm the fudge first, by placing it in the microwave for a few seconds (about ten), before adding the hot milk.