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This Lavender Hot Chocolate features rich, creamy homemade hot chocolate with the delicate flavor of lavender. It’s divine!
One of the best things about being an adult is getting to make and eat whatever the heck you want. When I was younger, I imagined that once I got to actually choose what I could eat, I would have a lot of doughnut breakfasts, cookie lunches, and pizza dinners.
It only took about two weeks in college for me to realize the flaws in that plan, but I still love the freedom of cooking for myself, to suit my own tastes. Cooking for myself means: lots and lots of cheese. Roasted vegetables. A heavy hand with the spices. Polenta everywhere. No mushrooms, hold the eggplant, and don’t even mention the word olive.
It means chocolate on a daily basis, spinach smoothies to counteract the chocolate, and sometimes, just a few quick slices of turkey in one hand while running out the door. It also means I add lavender to my hot chocolate, because I’m an adult now, and I do what I want.
If you’re a weirdo like me and dig lavender, you need to try it in hot chocolate. I infused the milk and cream with dried lavender for about 30 minutes, to give it a noticeable but not overpowering flavor. Or, if coffee is your pleasure, try my Lavender Latte!
For the chocolate portion, I mainly used milk chocolate, which brings a richness and sweetness without the strength or bitterness of dark chocolate that might overwhelm the delicate lavender. A pinch of salt, a dash of vanilla, and I’d crafted the perfect mug of sipping chocolate with a light floral flavor. If this is what it means to be an adult, then it’s better than anything I ever imagined as a child!
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Lavender Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp culinary dried lavender, dried, culinary-grade
- 8 oz milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the milk, cream, and lavender in a medium saucepan, and bring it to a simmer. Once at a simmer, remove the pan from the heat and cover it with a lid. Let it sit and steep for 30 minutes, to infuse the milk with lavender flavor. (If you want a very subtle lavender flavor, reduce the time to 20 minutes. For a strong flavor, increase to 40 or 45 minutes.)
- After 30 minutes, pour the milk through a strainer into a bowl to remove the lavender, then return the milk to the saucepan. Put the pan on the heat and bring it back to a simmer, but don’t let it boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chopped milk chocolate, dark chocolate, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Whisk everything together until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream. Lavender Hot Chocolate can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
MEASURING TIPS
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Click here to learn more about baking measurements and conversion.Nutrition
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I agree with Danguole 🙂 I’ve learnt that too and to make things that teach me new techniques and not to worry what others think of my recipes..
This is so original & I love originality!!
Have a good weekend Xx
Thanks Johlene! It’s a lesson I have to keep learning–it’s so easy to get outside of our own heads and stop creating for ourselves, right?
I agree, sometimes you just need to make what you like. There’s a reason you like it- it’s yummy! I would never have thought to put lavender in hot chocolate, but now I’m intrigued. It sounds fancy, like you should drink it with your pinky up!
Thanks Natasha! I am so bummed I finished all the hot chocolate, because I toooootally should have sipped it with my pinky up! Does that mean I need to make a new batch…?
Love it!
And, wow, I knew we had very similar tastes, but your way of cooking for yourself is basically identical to mine. (YES spicy, YES cheese.) You know I’m only starting to tolerate mushrooms… and eggplant and olives are things I don’t really love either. I’ll eat them and occasionally enjoy them, but generally, meh. Especially eggplant–although I hear it’s important to salt it and squeeze it before cooking or whatever, but honestly, I’m too lazy to learn. Maybe I’ll get to it, like with the mushrooms.
Anyway. This looks gorgeous and delightful and a perfect treat-yoself situation. I had a lavender chai once that was so, so dreamy. I think we’re showing our inner ages again. 😉
Okay, so this just means that we have to get together and have the most epic dinner party ever, involving lots of spicy cheesy goodness and absolutely no eggplant, salted and squeezed or not. (Seriously, eggplant, you’re just a vegetable, you don’t get all the special treatment.)
PS Lavender chai sounds amazing!!
TREAT YO’ SELF. Parks and rec is the best. Let’s one day have a Parks and rec marathon, and drink lavender hot chocolates and just generally be awesome.
Okay, but ooooonly if you bring the homemade ice cream, and if we can chase the Parks & Rec with some vintage 30 Rock episodes. *high fiving a million angels*
Wow, this sounds amazing ! Can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Thanks so much, Jess! If you’re a lavender fan I think you’ll love it! And if not…maybe it will convert you!
“One of the best things about being an adult is getting to make and eat whatever the heck you want.” I love you. I’m not quite on the lavender bandwagon, but I love how creative and unique this hot chocolate is!
Thanks Ari! I realize I’m almost alone in my lavender-love, but I think the concept applies to pretty much anything! You get on with your bad culinary self. 🙂
Polenta? Cheese? Roasted Veggies? YES YES YES
And this lavender hot chocolate sounds and looks delicious as well! It’s definitely an addition I’d get to adore ;–) xx
I didn’t write it that way on purpose, but it occurs to me that polenta + cheese + roasted veggies is pretty much my ideal meal. 🙂 Glad to see I’m not alone!
I love lavender, and this sounds amazing!! As if hot chocolate couldn’t get any more comforting…I bet this would make me so sleepy 🙂
Haha, good call! It would definitely work as a pre-bed beverage…warm and comforting and very sleep-inducing. 🙂
Wow! This hot chocolate looks so chocolatey and delicious, I wish I had some right now!!
Thanks Layla! It definitely disappeared quickly from my house!
I’ve actually never had anything flavored with lavender, but this is probably the prettiest hot chocolate that I’ve ever seen and I would totally try it! Love that you’re making whatever you want in your kitchen. It’s clearly working for you! 🙂
Thank you Beth! I used to be a lavender hater but I am totally a convert now! And it definitely feels good to make things for me instead of what I think internet strangers might enjoy. (Well, I do a bit of that too…moderation, right?!)
I have only tried lavender once in muffins and it was surprising delicious. I would think this hot chocolate would be delicious as well since it is not too overpowering. 🙂
Where are these lavender muffins coming from?! I’ve never had one, but since I’m lavender’s #1 fan I think it needs to happen soon. Thanks Chelsea!
I could sooooo go for a cup of this right now! Winter wouldn’t be bearable without hot chocolate! : )
Agreed! I actually drink it year-round (confession time) but it seems NECESSARY in the winter. 🙂
Lavender hot chocolate? You seriously rock!! I would have never thought to mix the two, but now I think I totally must try it!! 🙂
I love the smell of lavender…I don’t know that I’ve had it much in food. I’ll have to give this a try!
YUM! I LOVE the taste of lavender. You are NOT ALONE. So glad you posted this! SO glad I stumbled across your site!
SO glad you found it!! Lavender lovers unite! 😉
I made it last night, and it’s wonderful. Thank you for the recipe.
Love it! Any time 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it!