Foodie Friday: How To Make an Aztec Hot Chocolate (Dairy-Free/Vegan recipe)

Despite Spring being on its way, the evenings and nights are still quite chilly so I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe for a delicious, warming hot chocolate with a difference. This is the perfect drink to wrap your hands around when it's cold and raining outside.

I've been having some serious chocolate and chillies cravings recently (don't worry, this is normal for me as I love them both anyway!), so what could be more satisfying than something which has the two flavours combined? It may sound strange at first, but the Aztec Hot Chocolate was one of the favoured luxury drinks of Mayan royalty and their traditional recipe involved mixing ground up cocoa beans with an assortment of spices including chilli pepper, and whisking it all together with some water until it became frothy. This ancient method is how Hot Chocolate is thought to have been first invented, though the version that we all know and love nowadays seems like a million miles away from the bitter, spicy chocolate drink that the Mayans enjoyed.

So I wanted to have a go at making my own Aztec Hot Chocolate at home; one that retained most of the traditional chocolate bitterness and had a spicy kick, but was made with organic almond milk instead of water for a creamier, more indulgent drink. 

Ingredients for one cup:-

• 250ml unsweetened organic Almond Milk
• 20g unsweetened organic & fairtrade Cocoa Powder
• Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
• 1tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Dark Chocolate (optional topping)
• 1tsp Maple Syrup (optional as a sweetener)

Method:-

1. In a small pan, heat the almond milk over a medium temperature and add the rest of the ingredients.
2. Whisk until everything is thoroughly combined and the cocoa powder has fully dissolved.
3. Remove from the heat when the mixture is hot but not boiling.
4. Pour into your favourite mug, add some shaved dark chocolate if desired and enjoy! You can serve it with a cinnamon stick or two to swirl into the hot chocolate for extra flavour and some squares of dark chocolate on the side.

Have you ever tried an Aztec Hot Chocolate?

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