Mexican Hot Chocolate - Lactose Free

I decided to make this unbelievably soothing and warming Mexican Hot Chocolate (Cinnamon Hot Chocolate) after watching a little tid bit from the Weather Channel this morning.  Although San Diego is sitting pretty at 72 degrees F, it looks like the mid section of our nation is going to be bracing for some record breaking lows over the next few days. Chicago will be -1 F, Minneapolis -11 F, Nashville 1 F and Atlanta 6 F.  It actually makes me feel guilty for living in SoCal!

However, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good cup of hot chocolate – especially Mexican hot chocolate with zesty cinnamon and a pinch of spicy cayenne.  I’ve put in some lactose free options since I’ve had to follow a lactose free diet since my early twenties.  But don’t get me wrong – I still enjoy ooey, gooey cheese dishes like the rest!  I just pop a lactaid pill when faced with any dish dairy.

In this Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe I give the option of  2% Lactaid milk or almond milk.  I love the 2% Lactaid milk because they also have the option of calcium fortified.  This 40+ gal needs all the calcium she can get so it’s the perfect choice for my cereal, hot chocolate, etc. 

It’s also incredibly easy to put together a batch of homemade hot chocolate when you have cocoa and sugar lying around.  You can forget the instant packets!  Just store this homemade mixture in an airtight container and you are set for the winter months.

Stay warm and drink Mexican hot chocolate to keep winter fun and delicious!

Mexican Hot Chocolate Lactose Free

Recipe by Liz Hughes - Virtually Homemade

Cook time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 mugs
Ingredients

• 2 cups 2% Lactaid milk or almond milk
• 4 tablespoons homemade hot chocolate mix (recipe below)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon simple syrup
• Pinch cayenne
• Marshmallows (optional)

Cooking Directions

1. In a medium saucepan heat milk on medium low. Be sure that milk does not boil. As milk heats, whisk in hot chocolate mix, simple syrup and cayenne.
2. Pour hot chocolate into mugs and top with marshmallows.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Recipe by Liz Hughes - Virtually Homemade

Yield: 5 1/2 cups dry mix
Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 1/4 cups cocoa
• 1 tablespoon salt

Cooking Directions

1. Mix ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container.