How to properly brew cocoa with milk from cocoa powder: recipes for making a flavorful tonic drink

Today is another delicious page on my website - I’ll tell you how to make cocoa powder using milk or water at home and share recipes for a great drink. There is an immutable truth: a hearty breakfast is the key to a successful day. And if it’s also delicious, then it won’t come at a price! And of course, when we hear the word breakfast, the first thing that comes to mind is coffee. But even, even the most delicious, sometimes you want to replace it with something. And a miracle comes to our aid - the cocoa drink.

The history of preparing this delicious drink is so old that it boggles the imagination. Even before our era, 1500 years ago, the Indians of Central America prepared a thick, spicy drink from cocoa beans. It was a ritual drink of the Mayan and Aztec Indians, which they believed helped them gain wisdom, longevity and strength.

The Indians made cocoa thick and not sweet, and they valued its beneficial qualities rather than its taste. By the way, they always drank it cold. They added hot pepper and maize grains, and then poured the drink from one bowl to another for a long time until it whipped into foam.

Among the Europeans, Columbus was the first to try the drink, but his fellow countrymen did not appreciate the taste. And only in 1519, the conquistador Hernando Cortes was able to convince the Spanish nobility of the benefits of cocoa and the nobility of taste. At first they began to brew the drink and drink it hot; soon the chili pepper disappeared, but sugar, cinnamon and nuts were added instead.

By the way, thanks to the experiments of European chefs with the preparation of cocoa drink, we now have chocolate, chocolate-filled candies and a variety of drink options.

How to properly brew cocoa powder

To brew cocoa powder at home, you must first learn how to choose the right powder. In our stores, the most popular is instant cocoa powder. To prepare, just throw a spoon into hot water and the drink is ready. But you can often find a substitute for a natural product, so be vigilant and carefully read the composition of the powder.

• Sometimes you can find natural cocoa powder, but, unlike instant cocoa, it requires mandatory cooking.
• A high-quality powder, if rubbed with your fingers, does not fall off with dust, completely, and some remains on your fingers.
• The grinding should be very fine, into powder, without the slightest grains.
• Choose any vessel for cooking. You can cook it in a saucepan or in a Turk, it does not affect the taste, and the process will not change.

Some cocoa connoisseurs will tell you that the drink is good on its own, without any decorations. They may be right, but I'm a sucker for new taste sensations.

Additives to the drink:

The classic cooking recipe does not require additives. But no one will forbid us to diversify the taste of our favorite drink. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanillin are appropriate in cocoa - they will give joy to the soul and vigor to the body. Gourmets add finely chopped bananas or peaches to the ready-made drink and decorate it with whipped cream .
(be sure to read the recipes in another article). There are options for preparing it using cocoa powder with the addition of coffee and fruit infusion.

Beneficial properties of cocoa for children and adults

The main thing is that this drink is not only tasty and liked by all children (we do not take into account the foam), but also very healthy, and for the whole family. Did you know that one cup of cocoa can replace a second breakfast? Scientists around the world unanimously agreed in the opinions and conclusions of the studies that the most useful property of cocoa is improving brain function and mood, as well as stimulating the activity of the cardiovascular system.

Cocoa is mainly consumed in the form of chocolate, a delicacy that is obtained after a long and complex process. If there was no cocoa, we wouldn't have pills, cookies, ice cream, cakes, drinks or chocolate snacks. The main ingredients of chocolate are cocoa paste, which gives the main flavor, cocoa butter, which gives the typical palate sensation, sugar and any flavorings. Milk or milk powder is used to make milk chocolate.

Each country sets different types of chocolate based on ingredients, such as cocoa content. In general, you need to know what the main ingredients of chocolate are. Pasta or cocoa liqueur: This is the result of a process made from cocoa beans that are dried, ground, pasteurized, roasted and then ground.

For nursing mothers, cocoa is no less useful than for children and adults, because it promotes the retention of milk. If a child in your family already goes to school, then cocoa is again necessary for consumption - after all, it promotes concentration, activates mental activity, invigorates and, again, activates the “happiness hormone”. It is also known that one cup of cocoa contains three times more antioxidants than the same cup.

Cocoa paste is almost entirely cocoa based because most of the cocoa butter is extracted under intense pressure. Thus, chocolate consists of cocoa powder and a small percentage of cocoa butter. No sugar or flavors are added. Also known as chocolate "cookie" or "cookie" chocolate, this chocolate contains no sugar or other flavors and is therefore ideal for richly flavored cocoa recipes. It is used in tastings because it allows you to perceive the flavor of the original cocoa and ice cream because it has less fat.

However, it is necessary to remember and observe: an adult should not consume more than two cups of cocoa per day, therefore, one will be enough for a child. And it is best to drink it in the morning, or at least before lunch.

Cocoa with milk - a classic recipe

Of course, product powder and milk are the most common duo! The recipe I proposed is considered a classic. Watch your figure - be sure to dilute the milk with water.

You will need:

• Powder - 2 tsp.
• Sugar - to taste.
• Milk - 250 ml.

Step by step recipe:

1. 1. Take a small saucepan or Turk and pour milk into it. Heat milk until boiling.
2. 2. Pour the powder into the milk and stir everything thoroughly, leaving no lumps.
3. If you want to add ground cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg to your cocoa, now is the time and don't forget about sugar.
4. 5. Bring the resulting drink to a boil.
5. Your favorite drink is ready.

Composition and properties of the product

Cocoa is one of the most famous childhood drinks. It has not only excellent taste, but also high nutritional value. Calorie content per 100 g of dry product is about 230 kcal. The share of proteins of plant origin is at least 19 g, fats - 14 g, carbohydrates - 58 g. The rest is ash and water. As a result of this combination, the drink can quickly satisfy hunger and provide energy for a long time. In terms of zinc content, cocoa powder is second only to pumpkin seeds, and iron - to meat. The ratio of nutrients and valuable microelements is ideal for a child who is not allergic to the product. The finished drink contains a lot of dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, theophylline, which helps strengthen the nervous system, and melanin, which protects against harmful ultraviolet rays.

In addition, cocoa contains folic acid, theobromine, the antioxidant flavonol, and vitamins A, E, B, and PP. Among the minerals, magnesium, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, and potassium occupy a special place.

The main properties include the following:

• strengthening the immune system;
• formation of teeth and bone tissue;
• increased mental performance;
• rapid recovery after physical activity;
• improved mood;
• protection against free radicals;
• normalization of hematopoietic functions.

The benefits of a chocolate drink for schoolchildren include improving memory, stress resistance, and providing them with energy for the whole day. Cocoa helps with dry coughs and quickly restores strength after a cold.

How to make cocoa powder with condensed milk - recipe

Recipe for gourmets. First, dilute the condensed milk with boiling water, and then proceed in the usual way. Don’t add sugar right away, try it first and add if it’s not enough.

Cocoa recipe - mocha

An option for preparing a delicious drink brewed with milk or water.

• Mix a tablespoon of powder with a teaspoon of instant coffee, plus a pinch of nutmeg. Pour in a glass of cold water and stir the ingredients.
• Let it boil very slowly. You can add cream here, or cook with milk instead of water.

Cocoa recipe with whipped cream

Again, the classic recipe for cocoa with milk is the basis of other recipes. And cocoa with whipped cream is no exception.

Prepare and pour it into glasses, pour up to half a glass. Then decorate with a large layer of whipped cream, and sprinkle the whole thing with powdered sugar.

Looks beautiful and very tasty.

How to make delicious cocoa with soy milk

Soy milk is a wonderful alternative to making cocoa powder without milk. Cook according to the traditional recipe, but with small nuances:

• Place the sugar immediately in cold milk.
• Heat the milk very slowly.
• When it boils, remove from heat.

Recipe for cocoa with ice cream (cold cocoa)

You probably already guessed that this recipe will begin with the fact that you need to prepare cocoa with milk. Cook and cool it.

Then place one neat scoop of your favorite ice cream into a glass and pour cooled cocoa on top. If you want, decorate the whole thing with whipped cream, it will be very tasty and beautiful. And if you wish, you can decorate with berries.

You will love this recipe. Simply delicious and affordable.

Recipe for making cocoa with water from powder

You can brew a magical drink using water, just take into account some of the preparation nuances. The drink is usually brewed with water to reduce calories. But to make it a little tastier, you can dilute the milk with water in a ratio of 1 to 1.

There are two options for preparing cocoa with water.

The first is when cocoa is added to cold water, and the second when the powder is added to boiling water. The method involves lumps. Everyone gets rid of them in their own way. But the first method is not correct - with prolonged heat treatment, the drink turns out not so aromatic, and it has much less benefits.

But if you add the powder directly to boiling water, lumps will not form. The main thing is to stir quickly and thoroughly.

And, of course, pay attention to the quality of cocoa. Much higher demands are placed on cocoa powder prepared with water. It must be fresh, completely natural - without the addition of foreign additives.

Necessary:

• Powder - 2-3 tsp.
• Sugar - to taste.
• Water - 250 ml.

Cook:

1. Boil water in a small saucepan or pot.
2. Add powder and sugar there. Stir well.
3. Bring to a boil and turn off.
4. You can add a little milk and cream to the cup.

In Romanian (coffee with cocoa in Turkish)

A classic version of coffee with cocoa, which is prepared in a Turk and without milk. It invigorates perfectly and can replace your morning dose of regular coffee.

Ingredients:

• ground coffee – 6 g (1 heaped teaspoon);
• cocoa – 2 g (0.5 level teaspoon);
• water – 100 ml;
• salt – 1 pinch;
• sugar (including vanilla) - to taste.

Recipe

1. Pour coffee and cocoa into a dry cezve, add sugar (regular) and salt. Mix.

2. Pour in 2 tablespoons of cold water. Boil the rest of the water in a separate container.

3. Grind the mixture in a turk into a homogeneous paste; small bubbles should appear on the surface.

4. Add boiling water and stir. Place on the stove over low heat.

5. As soon as the foam begins to rise, remove the Turk from the heat, do not bring to a boil.

6. Infuse the coffee and cocoa in the Turk for 3-4 minutes (until the grounds settle at the bottom), then add vanilla sugar if desired and pour the drink into a cup.

7. Serve with a dessert spoon, as this will make it easier to enjoy the cocoa foam.

With cinnamon and vanilla

Cocoa can even be safely called a food and not a drink, especially if it is brewed with cream and a cinnamon stick, with the addition of aromatic vanilla.

For 3 servings you will need:

• 3 tbsp. l. cocoa
• 300 ml milk
• 350 ml 10% cream
• 3 tbsp. l. Sahara
• cinnamon stick
• a pinch of vanilla
• coconut flakes

Mix milk and sugar in a small saucepan and heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved.

Pour cocoa into a separate bowl, add warmed milk in small portions, grinding the cocoa. The result should be a liquid mixture without lumps. It will take about 1/2 of the milk.

Add cream to the remaining milk, add a cinnamon stick and add vanilla. Mix both mixtures. Bring to a boil and remove.

Pouring hot cocoa into cups, garnish with coconut flakes.

Orange cocoa recipe

Now there is no need to buy ready-made mixtures in stores, because you can prepare a flavorful drink yourself. You only need a few ingredients:

• cocoa powder - ¼ cup;
• sugar - ½ cup;
• milk - 4 tbsp.;
• orange liqueur - 3 tbsp. l.;
• a pinch of salt.

Here's how to make cocoa in a non-standard way:

1. Mix cocoa, sugar and salt in a container.
2. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring.
3. Remove the container from the stove, pour in the orange liqueur.

All that remains is to pour the aromatic drink into cups and serve until it cools down.

Points to pay attention to

It is not enough to read the recommendations on the label to understand how to brew cocoa correctly. It will take a little time and patience to develop the necessary skills, but the results will be worth it. First of all, you need to remember the following:

• Before preparing the drink, you need to ensure the quality of the powder. If the mass contains lumps, this indicates that it was stored under unfavorable conditions and it will not be possible to cook a tasty product from it. It is recommended to rub the powder a little between your fingers, after which greasy, oily spots should remain on the skin. If the composition is absolutely dry, it is based not on cocoa, but on something else.
• Contrary to popular belief, cocoa can be prepared in any container. The type of material does not affect the quality of the product.
• Cocoa dissolves very poorly in water, milk and other liquids, so it must be added in small portions and stirred constantly during the boiling process.

Advice: Don’t believe the advertising and buy a semi-finished product that contains at least something other than cocoa powder and vanilla. Such preparations are high in calories and contain a lot of sugar, dyes, stabilizers and flavors. The benefit from them is minimal, but they can cause significant harm to the body.

• The calorie content of the drink is very low (provided you avoid sugar and other sweeteners), so it can be introduced into the diet of people on a diet.

The finished drink should have a pronounced taste and aroma of chocolate. If this is not observed, there is a high risk that the mass used is of poor quality or has expired.

Features of preparing cocoa for a child aged 1, 2 and 3 years

At 1 and 2 years

Cocoa for a 1-year-old child can harm a fragile body, as it is a strong allergen. Due to other features of the composition (presence of tannins, tonic effect), pediatricians do not recommend including the powder in the menu of a one-year-old baby. Starting from 2 years of age, in the absence of contraindications, a child can prepare a drink, but under certain conditions. The base should be water. Only after some time, when the body has become accustomed to the new chocolate product, is milk added. It should not be taken fatty or low-fat. In the first case, it will create a load on the digestive tract, in the second it will not bring any benefit. The optimal option is from 1.5 to 2.5% fat content.

Particular attention should be paid to additional ingredients that improve the taste of cocoa. Honey is a strong allergen, so before adding it to a drink you should make sure there is no negative reaction. Brewed cocoa must be cooled slightly; it should not be given hot to small children to avoid burns. An adult must monitor the child’s reaction throughout the day.

At 3 years old

At 3 years old, a child can consume classic cocoa, in which the dose of powder does not exceed 1 teaspoon. The drink should be brewed in small portions - about 100 ml. You should not add untested components to which you may be intolerant: vanilla, heavy cream, cinnamon, etc. To reduce calorie content, it is recommended to replace a third of the milk with clean water. For older children, you can prepare a vitamin cocktail in which cocoa powder is mixed with rosehip syrup and berries to taste.

Hot chocolate made from cocoa powder

You can quickly make your own real hot chocolate from cocoa powder. Therefore, using the classic recipe, you can easily prepare real hot chocolate in your kitchen.

For 2 cups you will need the following ingredients:

• 300 ml 10% cream
• 1 tsp. corn starch
• 2 tbsp. l. cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp. l. Sahara

Recipe step by step:

1. Gently mix all dry products and thoroughly grind with a spoon or whisk in a small ladle, add a little boiled water and grind again.
2. Heat the cream separately, but do not bring it to a boil. In a thin stream, very slowly add to the chocolate-sugar mixture.
3. Heat the almost ready drink over low heat, but do not let it boil. As soon as the chocolate starts to boil, remove it.
4. The hot chocolate should sit for 5 minutes before it can be poured and served at home.

You can decorate your aromatic drink with grated white chocolate and aerosol whipped cream.

How to cook in a slow cooker and microwave

According to reviews on the Internet, cocoa prepared in a slow cooker is an incredibly tasty, rich drink.

It is cooked in the “stewing” mode for 45 minutes to one hour. For a liter of milk, 5 tablespoons of cocoa are consumed, and a little less of sugar. You will also need vanillin.

The mixed ingredients are sent cold into the multicooker bowl, and since it is very difficult to dissolve the powder in a cold liquid, it is better to do this in advance using a blender or mixer.

By the way, the whipped mixture allows you to make a particularly tasty drink.

You can also prepare cocoa in the microwave. The ingredients are the same as in the classic recipe, but the technology is different.

First, the thick liquid, in which half of the milk required in the recipe is used, is placed in the microwave for half a minute (power - 750).

Then you can choose one of two options for completing the preparation of the drink: dilute it with milk, which was boiled in the traditional way, on the stove, or add milk to a container that has been removed from the microwave, mix and send it there until the process is completed.

Kindergarten cocoa recipe

• Cooking time: 20 minutes.
• Number of servings: 6 persons.
• Calorie content of the dish: 93 kcal.
• Purpose: for breakfast, dessert.
• Cuisine: European.
• Difficulty of preparation: easy.

This kindergarten-style cocoa recipe is an easy way to make a chocolate drink. Its amazing delicate taste can take you back to childhood. Making a sweet drink is easy, because you only need 3 ingredients. The simple composition will provide a unique taste and aroma that will delight adults and children. The liquid dessert should be served hot. The drink is suitable for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:

• granulated sugar – 30 g;
• cocoa powder – 1-2 tablespoons;
• milk – 0.5 liters.

Cooking method:

1. Take a small saucepan or ladle, pour in the milk and put on fire.
2. Add cocoa and sugar to the liquid and whisk everything together.
3. Let the drink boil, stirring occasionally, and cook for about 1 minute.
4. Remove the finished drink from the stove and pour into cups.

Cocoa without milk

• Cooking time: 20 minutes.
• Number of servings: 4-5 persons.
• Calorie content of the dish: 115 kcal.
• Purpose: dessert.
• Cuisine: European.
• Difficulty of preparation: easy.

If you want to please your guests or family with a tasty and aromatic drink, make cocoa without milk. Sour cream, spices and butter in the composition will turn your usual drink into an original dessert. The ease of preparing the drink will help the hostess quickly get a treat. Hot chocolate should be served hot, poured into mugs. Whipped cream is suitable for decoration and should be squeezed on top.

Ingredients:

• sour cream – 5 tablespoons;
• cinnamon;
• cocoa powder – 50 g;
• sugar – 100 g;
• butter – 20 g;
• vanilla.

Cooking method:

1. Place the sour cream in a small container, put it on the fire, wait until it boils. Add a small piece of butter to give the dessert elasticity.
2. Combine cocoa with granulated sugar. Pour the mixture into the sour cream in a thin stream.
3. Boil the cocoa drink for a few minutes until thickened.
4. Remove the finished product from the stove, add a little cinnamon and vanilla. When serving, decorate the dessert with whipped cream.