Skip to main content
Epicurious
Cookbooks

Chocolate Español

Montezuma introduced Cortés to chocolate in the sixteenth century, and the Spaniards immediately began messing around with it. The original Mexican beverage (preceding recipe) was tweaked to suit the tastes of the Spaniards, and their associated versions of hot chocolate remain different to this day. Spanish hot chocolate is incredibly rich and thick—almost like loose pudding—and perfect for dunking Churros (page 655). Some people use cornstarch (or eggs) to thicken their chocolate, but I prefer the natural thickness that comes from melting chocolate into milk.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 pound good-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
1 quart milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the chocolate, milk, and sugar in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Whisk slowly until the chocolate melts and the sugar dissolves.

    Step 2

    When the mixture is smooth and steamy, transfer to mugs, top with a dusting of cinnamon, and serve.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
TagsHot ChocolateBeveragesSpanishEuropeanChocolate5 Ingredients or FewerSimmerCookbooks
Read More
Essential Easter Recipes for Brunch, Dinner, and Dessert
Grab your Easter basket and hop in—you’ll want to collect each and every one of these fun and easy Easter recipes.
Apple-Walnut Charoset
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
31 Easter Desserts, Each One Better Than a Chocolate Egg
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
The Only Frittata Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App in March
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
31 Spring Cocktails for Warmer Days Ahead
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.
Caramelized Onion Pasta
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Our Favorite French Onion Soup
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.