20 Special Recipes for Christmas

Makes about 4 (1-cup) servings

2 cups milk (anything from fat-free to whole milk)
1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk, light or regular
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk (about 1/2 of a 14-ounce can)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate shavings (optional)

In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk, whisking well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally so the mixture doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan. Once simmering, whisk in the cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Serve the hot chocolate in mugs topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings*, marshmallows, or whatever.

*Throw some chocolate chips in a bowl. Add a small dollop of butter. (Or don’t). Melt it in the microwave. Scrape it onto a plate, or anything flat, like a baking sheet. Throw it in the freezer for 5 minutes. Then use a metal spatula to “shave” it off. Viola!