Ingredients
Method
- Place a saucepan over medium heat and add the dark chocolate and almond milk. Stir gently as the chocolate melts into silky submission — no rushing, no scorching, just smooth, glossy magic forming in front of you.
- Once everything is melted and velvety, lower the heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder, cane sugar, vanilla, fresh orange juice, and those fragrant strips of orange peel. The aroma alone? Ridiculous.
- Let the mixture gently simmer on low for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then, allowing the citrus to infuse and the flavours to deepen into something truly indulgent.
- Remove from the heat and strain out the peel if you like a smoother finish. Pour into your favourite mug.
- Top with a cloud of whipped cream, a sprinkle of dark chocolate shavings, or even a little extra orange zest if you’re feeling dramatic.
- Then wrap your hands around it, take that first sip, and try not to make an audible “mmm.” No promises though.
Notes
Choose a high-quality dark chocolate for the best results. The better the chocolate, the deeper and silkier your hot chocolate will taste. Lower-quality varieties often contain extra stabilisers that can melt poorly and leave a slightly waxy texture.
This is one of those recipes where the chocolate really is the star — so it’s worth picking one you’d happily eat straight from the bar. Your mug will taste noticeably richer for it.