This hot chocolate is so sweet and adorable - inspired by the very stylish Minnie Mouse - how could it not be?
Whilst the white chocolate is necessary to ensure your drink is a smooth, light pink colour - the flavour doesn't come through overwhelmingly. So if you're not a fan of white chocolate, or just looking for some bolder polka dots - you can easily substitute the decorative white chocolate chips for dark or milk chocolate without ruining the overall effect.
Polka-Dot Strawberry White Hot Chocolate
makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
450g fresh Strawberries
½ cup White Sugar
6 cups Milk (you can use whatever kind of milk you'd like)
200g White Chocolate Chips
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
(for the topping/decorations) - this is all optional
Handful White Chocolate Chips
50g Pearl Sprinkles
Marshmallows (mini or large - it's up to you!)
Strawberries
Whipped Cream
Pink food colouring
Method:
Sprinkle the sugar over the strawberries and leave it to the side for ten minutes so the juices can absorb the sugar. Blend the strawberries and sieve the puree so that you wind up with unseeded strawberry juice. (I also sometimes just mash the strawberries with the back of a spoon before sieving when I'm feeling particularly lazy!!!)
Bring the milk to a simmer over a low heat, whisking constantly. When it starts to bubble just around the edges of the pot, remove it from the heat and stir in the white chocolate chips until they have fully melted.
Add the strawberry juice and vanilla extract to the milk and stir through. Enjoy!
(decorating - optional)
Warm up a plate in the microwave for 20 seconds (it should be just above room temperature). Press a single white chocolate chip onto the plate for a second, and then press it onto the inside walls of the mug - holding it for a second so it sticks. Repeat this as many times as necessary - placing them in a diamond pattern all over the inside of the glass - until you are happy with the result. You may need to melt any chocolate chips that are going to be pressed into the corners of the glass (if your glass has corners) for a little longer so that they don't crack. Place the glass in the fridge so that they fully harden.
Meanwhile, melt the remainder of the white chocolate chips in the microwave - 10 seconds at a time and stirring in between to that they don't burn. Drip the melted chocolate around the edge of the glass with a spoon, holding the glass upright so that the drips fall down the sides evenly. Before the chocolate cools, shake the sprinkles over the chocolate evenly. Place the glass back into the fridge.
If you would like - put a few drops of food colouring into the hot chocolate (it should be a light pink shade naturally because of the strawberries).
Make sure the glass is completely cool before pouring in the hot chocolate - that way the polka-dots won't melt into your drink. Top with marshmallows, whipped cream, strawberries or anything else you would like.
Enjoy!
As always, if you do make this for yourself - feel free to let me know how delicious it was, or if you put your own spin on it - or even share a picture!
And if you have any comments, feedback or ideas for future posts please drop a comment down below or send me a message! I'd love to hear from you!
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Until next time!