Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream


It seems like recently, my diet has consisted wholly of hot chocolate, soups and my any type of salad topped with my favorite new green apple vinaigrette (recipe soon)! Seriously though, I've been sipping on hot chocolate or some kind of homemade latte every other day, if not every day. This is probably because of my innate need for all things holiday to consume me. 

I'm the kind of girl who loves her winter weather. Although, you and I might have awful different ideas about what 'winter weather' means. As a born and raised Southern California girl, winter to me means: intermittent rains, 2 -3 layers of clothing tops, no sight of snow whatsoever and teeth chattering at the 70 degree mark. I know, I know, it's not much of a winter but it's what we've got!

Anyways, along with Christmas music, this red velvet hot chocolate is all I need to keep me warm on these cold Californian nights. The thing that makes this hot chocolate "red velvet" is merely coloring but the thought is cheerful in itself! You'd be surprised by how a little bit of color can make a cup of hot cocoa seem all the more merrier. The addition of cream cheese frosting though... purely decadent and the perfect pairing. I was always a firm believer that real red velvet deserves cream cheese frosting and not that vanilla buttercream nonsense. 



Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
Yields: 4 servings
Original recipe here.

4 cups whole milk
1 dash water
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. red food coloring
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 - 4 tbsn. whipped cream cheese, room temperature

In a stand mixer, combine the heavy cream and sugar. Whip on medium speed with the whisk attachment for 2 - 3 minutes. Just before peaks form, add the cream cheese and whisk for another 2 minutes. Taste and add more cream cheese to taste. Be careful not to over whip though, or else you'll have butter! In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently. When almost melted, add the red food coloring and stir. When the chocolate chips are thoroughly melted, pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with the whipped cream.

62 comments:

  1. oh my goodness . . . i am trying this immediately!

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  2. OH MY GOOODNESS I LOVE YOU, SERIOUSLY

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  3. This is a festive idea, Michelle. Lovely, really!

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  4. this is spectacular!!! what a great recipe, i cant wait to try it for christmas morning :-D

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  5. Wow. I have no words for how delicious this looks and how much I can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing this absolutely amazing drink idea!

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  6. lalalala LOVE this♥
    my seester is going to be so excited.

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  7. its not red velvet if it doesnt have vinegar

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    1. The vinegar in the cake recipe is to help it rise properly. There is no need for it in hot chocolate. :)

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    2. I have to disagree. Red Velvet is a distinct flavor, not just red chocolate. True Southern Red Velvet has the tang of vinegar, buttermilk & a small amount of cocoa.

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    3. so put some vinegar in yours then silly!

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  8. yummy! please do a homemade latte recipe!

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  9. What a creative treat. Perfect alongside a warm fire, and a snug rug :)

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  10. I just posted this as my wish list for today!

    www.passportsandprada.com

    Love! xoxo Summer

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  11. This is super creative and definitely perfect for the holiday season. I'm big on homemade hot chocolate so I'll definitely be trying this out!

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  12. You are just a goldmine of great ideas. Love the bokeeeeh!

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  13. I love this idea! Normally I don't like using food coloring, but this is just too pretty! i'm definitely going to try it next time I make hot chocolate

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  14. I really like this. What a fun way to make hot cocoa!

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  15. wow that sounds delicious. i love the cream cheese whipped cream. so decadent!

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  16. Try adding some raspberry ice cream topping or raspberry liqueur.

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  17. This is so brilliant.. I'm soooooo making this! Love it!

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  18. GENIUS!!!! One of my favorite cakes, hot!! Love it can't wait to make!

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  19. Oh...my....god...this is like the most amazing thing I have ever seen!! Now I can drink my favorite cake!

    Check out some of my stuff on my blog at www.thecollegecooker.com =)

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  20. why are there two sugar add-ons?

    1/4 cup of sugar and then at the end 1 tablespoon of sugar??

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  21. @ Anonymous: sorry, that was a mistake, it is now fixed :)

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  22. I've already commented on this but I just want to let you know that I've seen this reposted on so many blogs (you're always credited and it's on mine too!) and it's just wonderful. love it + your blog :) I'm trying the recipe this friday night, super excited!

    xoxo

    http://dragonfruit-samnegs.blogspot.com

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  23. holy crap... Definitely going in my recipe book. I've been really craving everything Red Velvet lately...

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  24. Mmmm this looks delicious!! It will go great with my chocolate peppermint cupcake recipe!

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  25. The holy grail of Red Velvets!!! Thank you.

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  26. I am planning on attempting a low fat version of this one! I know it's like sin, but I had the original one and I don't think I'll be able to stay away from it for long periods!

    Loved it :)

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  27. oh my god, this is going in my blog soon!!

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  28. Yes, Please!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!

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  29. Just found this via Pinterest. It is so lovely! I am pinning it for this coming winter holiday. Gorgeous.

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  30. I also got here via Pinterest. Love the idea (and the cake) and will definitely try this out as a treat!

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  31. Pinterest!! This sounds so yummy!

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  32. I made this....not sure what I did wrong but it didn't turn out right. The milk which never got to a boiling point seemed to be to hot and turning colors and the choc chips didn't melt all the way. I may try again because sounds yummy

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  33. I love you too! Thank you! Merry Christmas!

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  34. What do you think about mixing whipped topping and whipped cream cheese together?

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  35. I made this for my kids today, since we are having a snow day... They loved it! We will definitely make it again. :)

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  36. donna98274@yahoo.comMarch 13, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    Sounds so delicious, I can't wait til I plan a special gathering with my sisters and serve them this instead of coffee.... won't they be delighted and surprised!

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  37. As a fellow latte lover (even in HOT weather)and chocoholic, I can't wait to try this!

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  38. Came to blog because I saw this red velvet hot chocolate on pinterest. I must say as a red velvet fanatic I am a lil bummed there is nothing red velvet flavored in it. With that said, I am more intrigued by this green apple vinaigrette you mentioned. Sounds delicious! I looked in the recipe index but didn't find anything.

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    Replies
    1. http://une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com/2011/02/granny-smith-gouda-salad.html

      For the green apple vinaigrette:
      1/2 Granny Smith apple, cored and coarsely chopped
      1/3 cup sherry vinegar
      1/4 cup apple juice
      1 tbsn. Dijon mustard
      3 tbsn. honey
      3 tbsn. minced shallot
      2 tsp. salt
      1 tsp. pepper
      2/3 cup vegetable oil

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  39. OMG this looks delish!! Awesome for the fall and winter! YUM
    www.lilmsadventures.blogspot.com

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  40. I'm going to substitute almond milk. I'll let you know how it is!!

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  41. Your third paragraph starts with
    "Anyways, along with Christmas music, this red velvet hot chocolate is all I need to keep me warm on these cold Californian nights."

    AND THEN you go on to state that the "Red Velvet" is only food coloring.

    AND YOU STILL get all these positive comments?

    Oh, wow... the power of bloggers to hold sway over such shallow readers.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jason,

      The hot chocolate still keeps me warm during the winter, because it's still hot, regardless of the food coloring in it. I think because people enjoy the novelty of this beverage, it doesn't make them shallow or give me power over them.

      Have a lovely day.

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  42. For all those lovers of food of the nutty sort, chopped Macadamia nuts can give you that ultimate breakfast table high! Roasted Macadamia nuts with maple syrup or honey on your waffle can make any breakfast time an hour to look forward to. Amazing way to kick start your day!

    Chocolate waffle topping

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  43. I can not wait to make this for my husband tonight. This is his favorite cake. We have some cold weather coming tonight and what a great surprise he will have with this! Thanks so much for this wonderful recipe.

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  44. This might just be the best kind of hot chocolate ever!

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  45. I have just two words: YUM OH!

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  46. Mmmm this looks amaaaazing!

    http://cafecraftea.blogspot.com/

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  47. I know this is an old post, but it's still floating around pinterest so just wanted to share an idea to give this a more 'authentic' red velvet flavor.. Instead of using the red food coloring, try Lorann Oil's Red Velvet Bakery Emulsion.. It supposedly adds red velvet flavor along with red color.. I haven't tried it but I've heard great things about alot of their other emulsions.

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  48. Top best chococlate and cocoa recipes go here chocolateandcocoarecipe.com

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  49. Red velvet cake is basically a white cake with only a touch of cocoa. Then comes the buttermilk and the vinegar. The vinegar is used in order to enhance the red food coloring as much as possible (it reacts with the baking soda). In my opinion, hot chocolate can never be red velvet because it's too chocolaty. And of course there's the lack of buttermilk, too. This is simply red hot chocolate. But many people taste what they want to taste, and if someone truly believes this is red velvet and thinks that red food coloring will change the whole taste, then it probably will.

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  50. Definitely just red hot chocolate, NOT red velvet.

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  51. Could this be made in a crockpot? Or would it need constant stirring still?

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