Sipping on hot chocolate by the fire on a cold winter day is the ultimate way to warm up (I am pretty sure this is scientific fact). It's been really cold in Chicago lately, therefore, I have been drinking lots of hot chocolate. Recently I put an adult spin on my favorite wintertime drink by adding bourbon and butterscotch. It's hot, it's sweet, and it's slightly boozy.
Bourbon Butterscotch Hot Chocolate can be made in just 5 minutes. I think that the secret to making a great hot chocolate is to use chocolate chips instead of cocoa powder. The result is richer and creamier, and it is easier to prepare. The combination of milk chocolate and butterscotch is quite sweet, if you want something a little less sweet you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate. I just happen to have a pretty demanding sweet tooth.
The bourbon is optional. The hot chocolate is great without it, but I think adding it turns a drink from childhood into a special happy hour treat on a cold night. As you know, Charles loves whisky and bourbon, but since in this case the bourbon is being added to a recipe, you can use a less expensive brand. I always use Four Roses in recipes because it goes well with sweet recipes, and is inexpensive.
Ingredients
- 1 cup 1% Milk
- 2 tablespoons Milk Chocolate Chips
- 2 tablespoons Butterscotch Chips
- 1 shot Bourbon such as Four Roses
- Garnishes: Whipped Cream and extra chocolate and butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Combine the milk, milk chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk frequently until the chips have all melted and the hot chocolate is steaming.
- Pour the bourbon into a mug and pour the hot chocolate over.
- Top with whipped cream and additional milk chocolate and butterscotch chips. Sip slowly while you warm up from the cold.
In case you are curious, I highly recommend reading Devil in the White City, and Water for Elephants.
