Another summer has come and gone, leaving us with nothing more than the promise of flurries, bundling up and another long, harsh winter. Those of us who live in Canada are no strangers to the arctic chill, but when the time comes to break out the bulky boots and puffy coats, many of us find ourselves less-than-excited.
But even though the weather is cold and the days are short, winter is jam-packed with things to be excited for. Of course, there’s the holiday season to look forward to for those of us who participate, but on a more day-to-day level, now is the time to indulge in all of your cold-weather favourites. And topping that list is, of course, hot chocolate.
Creamy, rich, and oh-so-decadent, breaking out the hot chocolate is something that we look forward to every year. Top with a handful of marshmallows, a dash of cinnamon, and Irish cream (if that’s your style), and there’s truly nothing like it. And even though the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” works well in this instance, we have to ask: have you ever tried making hot chocolate from scratch? Because although there is a plethora of really amazing hot chocolates on the market, there’s nothing like adding your own personal touch.
A cursory web search will have cocoa powder as the primary ingredient in a home creation. Still, we’re here to advocate for making hot chocolate out of chocolate bars like Alter Eco. Alter Eco’s products are grown in thriving ecosystems by small-scale, fair trade farmers, resulting in their incredible taste. Thanks to the sheer versatility of their line of chocolate bars, they leave so much room to get creative with it.
With flavours including Super Blackout, Brown Butter, Burnt Caramel, Seasalt, Mint Blackout, and more, there’s a lot to experiment with. Instead of having to go out to find the extra ingredients you’d need to produce these flavours, Alter Eco makes it easy for you.
Not to mention, it’s simple to make, too! When making hot chocolate with chocolate bars as the main ingredient, there is only ONE more ingredient you’ll need: milk! Of course, it’s all up to your own personal tastes whether you would like to add more than that, but this really is a two-ingredient recipe. Depending on the chocolate bar you choose, you may want to add something to sweeten the pot, but it’s in no way necessary.
And finally, making your own hot chocolate from scratch is simply worth a try. There are so many foods that we forgo making in place of something that we can just pick up at the store, but hot chocolate doesn’t have to be one of them. Sure, it takes a few more minutes than simply using an instant mix, but it’s still quick and simple enough, but with the added possibility of major personalization. It’s something that the whole family can have fun making and drinking, and best of all, it provides us with a temporary shield to the soon-to-come blustery weather.
You can shop Alter Eco chocolate bars in-store at our Junction location and soon at our Bayview-Leaside location, or online through our Instacart. Happy sipping!