Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Base
- 2 cups whole milk (480mL)
- 2 bags Earl Grey tea
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (113g, finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or extract)
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
Honey Whipped Cream
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Heat Milk and Steep Tea: Add 2 cups of whole milk to a medium saucepan and bring it to a low simmer over medium heat. Remove the saucepan from heat, add 2 bags of Earl Grey tea, and let them steep for 5 minutes to infuse the milk with fragrant bergamot notes.
- Prepare Honey Whipped Cream: While the tea steeps, make the honey whipped cream by placing ½ cup heavy cream, ½ tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, and a pinch of salt into a metal mixing bowl. Whip vigorously with a hand mixer until the cream is thick, fluffy, and holds soft peaks. Set aside refrigerated until ready to use.
- Combine and Melt Chocolate: After steeping, remove the tea bags from the milk mixture and return the saucepan to medium heat. Add 4 ounces of finely chopped bittersweet chocolate, 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, and ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt. Whisk constantly until the chocolate melts completely and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Serve: Pour the rich Earl Grey hot chocolate evenly into two mugs. Top each serving generously with the prepared honey whipped cream. Serve immediately and enjoy the comforting flavors.
Notes
- Use high-quality bittersweet chocolate for the best flavor and smooth texture.
- Adjust powdered sugar according to your preferred sweetness level.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute whole milk and heavy cream with plant-based alternatives like oat milk and coconut cream, but note this may slightly alter flavor and texture.
- Steeping the tea for longer than 5 minutes may result in a more bitter taste.
- Vanilla bean paste adds richer flavor than vanilla extract but either can be used.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
