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Gently seasoned with a touch of chile powder, cinnamon and vanilla, this fragrant hot chocolate recipe is not too sweet and very complex. Using both cocoa powder and chocolate gives the roundest, deepest chocolate flavor while a mix of whole milk and cream makes it wonderfully rich and thick.
TOTAL TIME10 minutes plus 1 hour steeping
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INGREDIENTS

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
3/8 teaspoon ancho chile powder, or to taste
1 3/4 cups whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Marshmallows or whipped cream, optional
PREPARATION

1.
In a medium pot, whisk together chocolate, cocoa, sugar and chile. Place pan over medium-low heat and whisk until chocolate begins to melt. Slowly whisk in milk, then cream. Drop in cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer.
2.
Remove pot from heat. Cover pot tightly and steep 1 hour. Whisk in vanilla and taste for sweetness, adding more sugar if you like. Warm over low heat before straining and serving hot, with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.
YIELD 4 servings