The Best Frozen Hot Chocolate

The boy (who didn't look a day over 18) at the Trader Joe’s check out line asked me if I had any big remaining summer plans. Bless him.I pointed to my belly. “I’m having a baby!” I said smiling.“Boy or girl?”“Boy.” I said.“Awesome. Do you have a name picked out?” He asked.“Boy names are tough,"  I said. "We’re still deciding.”“Oh really?! I already have my future first son’s name picked out.” He said the full name with a huge smile and it made me happy.“That’s awesome! Good for you!" I said, “You’ll be totally prepared when you’re a dad someday! Although I have to say it’s a little harder when it gets real. I feel like there is a lot of pressure to name a little human, especially a boy. It has to be a good, strong name you know?”“Yeah, I can see that.” He nodded. He loaded my bags in the grocery cart and as he sent me on my way said, “Well, good luck having a baby!”He said it so nonchalantly that it made me laugh out loud. It’s like I was going on a trip to Hawaii or something. Aloha! Have a good time!By the way I was at Trader Joe’s buying a current real craving of mine right now: Coffee ice cream; and this frozen hot chocolate, is one of my favorite ways to eat coffee ice cream… I seriously can’t get enough. I blame the baby. Hopefully you can't get enough of it either. You can blame me.Love you friends. xo

P.S! I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF THIS YEAR'S #DRINKTHESUMMER SERIES FROM THE BEAUTIFUL WITH FOOD AND LOVE.

(All the confetti  🎉 and heart eye 😍  emojis!) Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see some other super delicious summery drink-link ideas.p.p.s I think I might have been the only one who went chocolate with this one (you're not surprised, right?) There's some pretty incredible bloggers + bevies on this list - Check it out friends, it'll inspire and make you thirsty. ;) Cheers to you. xo

The Best Frozen Hot Chocolate

I had my first frozen hot chocolate years ago at New York's Serendipity cafe in the middle of summer at 17. From that day on, I was hooked and have been experimenting with different ways to make the heavenly drink. Frozen hot chocolate is much lighter than a chocolate shake, which is why I love it - It goes down easy you know? And keeps you cool, and totally satisfies your chocolate (er, or in this case chocolate + coffee ice cream) craving. Pregnant or not, it's the perfect summer indulgence bevie if you ask me. (ps. bevie means beverage.) ;) 

for the frozen hot chocolate:

• 1 cup / 160g dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate chopped  (at least 60% cocoa content or higher)
• ¼ cup / 60ml whole milk (hot)
• 2 cups / 480ml whole milk (cold)
• 3 cups / 420g ice
• 1 ½ cups / 216g high quality ice cream ( (either coffee, chocolate or vanilla. John loves vanilla, I love coffee or chocolate.) )
• mini chocolate chips to top ( optional)

for the whipped cream:

• ½ cup / 120ml heavy or whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla

for the frozen hot chocolate:

1. Heat up ¼ cup whole milk over the stove top until it barely reaches a simmer. Put chopped dark chocolate in a small bowl and pour the scalding milk over it. Let it sit for 2 minutes. Then gently stir to mix + melt the chocolate. Mixture should be thick. Set aside to cool for 10-15 minutes.
2. Whisk melted chocolate mixture with 2 cups cold milk until combined. This is the "hot chocolate" part. You can just drink it at this point if you want because congratulations! You just made the best chocolate milk ever! 
3. Put 3 cups of ice, chocolate milk mixture and ice cream in a blender and blend until smooth. Mixture should be thick and shake-like. Pour into glasses and serve with whipped cream. It's messy and heavenly.

for the whipped cream:

1. In an electric mixer with your whisk attachment, beat cream, sugar and vanilla together until very stiff peaks form. I like the whipped cream a tinge "over done" here so the texture is really thick and lush. You don't want lumps, just stiff peaks.

Add more ice cream if you'd like to make it richer. There are no rules here.

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