Leading off our first of two celebratory drinks is our first posted mocktail. Both cocktails will feature chocolate and strawberries, so you’ll be able to use the Strawberry Simple here for both drinks. Inspired by a chocolate covered strawberry, this hot chocolate is a great way to warm up with the frigid February temps. With no alcohol, it’s also versatile for both those avoiding alcohol and for kids.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hot Chocolate
The play between the slight nuttiness and creamy rich hot chocolate accentuates wonderfully against the cold, vibrant strawberry whipped cream. Like all hot chocolate, the flavors slowly meld together as the whipped cream melts, leaving behind an increasingly fresh strawberry flavored hot chocolate.
Strawberry Whipped Cream
- 8 oz Heavy Cream, chilled
- 8 oz Strawberry Simple Syrup, chilled
Chill your bowl and whisking attachments in a freezer for at least 15 minutes. Once chilled, add heavy cream, and whip on the highest setting until peaks become visible. Working in at least 2 batches (4 oz and 4 oz), slowly drizzle in the Strawberry Simple Syrup on high. Allow the cream to form peaks again before adding subsequent batches. Once all syrup is combined, continued to beat until light and fluffy. Set aside and reserve.
Strawberry Simple Syrup:
Deliciously fresh and unadulterated, this strawberry syrup is thick, fast, and fragrant. It’s uses aren’t limited to cocktails, feel free to try it on pancakes.
- 250 g Strawberries, cleaned and hulled
- 250 g White Sugar
In a blender, combine equal weights cleaned and hulled strawberries with white sugar. Blend until smooth. Pour into a sealed container, refrigerate, and use within 1 – 2 weeks.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hot Chocolate Drink Notes & Recommendations:
Don’t you hate it when you have to make an ingredient for only one drink? I know that I do, but thankfully the strawberry simple syrup listed above is used in both the hot chocolate and our adult offering – the Chocolate Covered Strawberry cocktail.
While there are a number of steps to making this hot chocolate, you shouldn’t run into too many issues. I’ve tried to highlight some of the most common ones below.
- Strawberry Simple – Use fresh strawberries here for the best results. Since no heat is applied, the flavor will be extraordinarily natural.
- Strawberry Whipped Cream –
- The most obvious enemy here is warmth. Failure to keep the cream cold will result in the fat structure not setting up sufficiently for the cream to whip. For this reason, make sure both your cream and your syrup are cold.
- When you start, resist the urge to immediately dump your syrup in. This can result in a grainy whipped cream that may not set correctly. Finally, if the syrup accumulates on the side of the bowl, it is ok to stop and scrape down the sides and continue whisking.
- I used my Kitchen Aid* to make this whipped cream, and at the ratios you see, you will end up with a large quantity of whipped cream. If you Kitchen Aid or mixer can accommodate, feel free to use less, but keep the ratio even (example, 4oz cream to 4oz syrup). Extra can also be used on other desserts (like chocolate cake) or wherever you happen to like to apply whipped cream.
- Milk – We used Whole Milk here, but feel free to use what you prefer.
- Hot Chocolate – The fact is Swiss Miss* is no fuss, but feel free to swap out your favorite brand or recipe – adding in the almond extract at the same point.
- Almond Extract – We used McCormick for this recipe and a straw as a dropper. If you happen to have pipettes*, they work wonderfully as well.
Looking for another Valentine’s Day Cocktail? Check out our 2020 featured cocktail, the Love Potions!
* – This post contains affiliate links that my grant us a commission, and help us keep finding new bottles for you try and testing out new cocktails. We appreciate your help!
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