How to make your own gourmet hot and cold drinking chocolate

A delicious recipe recommendation from the Master Chocolatier at Santa Barbara Chocolate Company:

Thick and Creamy Hot Chocolate

Thick and creamy hot chocolate is so comforting on a cold night or a crisp morning. With just a dollop of whip cream on top it is a real joy. I love drinking it as a light after dinner dessert too. It is easy to make and very satisfying.

An Icy Chocolate Mix

I always make extra hot chocolate and then put the rest in the refrigerator so I can have ice cold chocolate milk during the day. It separates a little while in the refrigerator because it doesn't have the fillers and artificial ingredients, but just shake it up and it mixes easily and is ready to drink. The kids LOVE it! The drinking chocolate powder works great in ice cold smoothies as well. In the blender you add: 4 tbsp your home-made gourmet drinking chocolate powder, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup of milk, a hand full of ice and (optional) a big spoon of peanut butter. Strawberries, blueberries and acai berry blend very nicely with the Home-made Gourmet Drinking Chocolate.

Red Cocoa Powder - The Real Deal

Using Rainforest Red Cocoa Powder to make Gourmet Dark Drinking Chocolate will result in a natural purple red hue because of our chosen blend of exotic ground cacao. The masterfully crafted blend melts in your cup to create the most tantalizing chocolate sensation. Not too sweet with a very smooth full bodied chocolate flavor. Follow my Drinking Chocolate Recipe to make a home-made hot chocolate everyone will love. In the afternoon it is a welcome escape to enjoy a relaxing cup. Try it with a shot of brandy as an elegant apéritif or a tablespoon in your espresso.

Ultimate Chocolate Drink

For the ultimate chocolate drink: Whisk 3 Tablespoons of Unsweetened Gourmet Drinking Chocolate with 4 oz of hot milk and top with whipped cream.