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Hot Chocolate - Polar Express 🎄

Christmas movie recipe inspiration #2 with my velvet smooth hot chocolate. This is a simple recipe that is made over the stove in under 10 mins! Say goodbye to packet/store bought hot chocolate once you try this festive drink.

Welcome to my brand new Christmas recipe series where I make foods/recipes from my favourite Christmas movies. We are on the second movie recipe with Polar Express and Hot Chocolate. If you missed the first movie, check out Kevin’s Cheese Pizza from Home Alone here. 

A Little Back Story To Christmas Movies…

Growing up I loved decorating the house in November for Christmas. Once it hit 15th November, my tree and lights were up, I might have taken time to put everything else up as the month progressed but the tree and lights set the mood and the vibes were in full swing. I would put off all the other lights in the house, in the evening and turn on the festive lights. Switch on my favorite christmas movie and in those days we needed to have CD’s, which I must say I did. Not much has changed since. I get started with my christmas movies the moment the tree and lights are up. As I’ve grown up, I have noticed the food scenes in these movies with more intent and honestly I love them so much it inspired me to recreate some of these recipes. Hence I am here at the brink of a new series and so excited to share my love for christmas movies and their food scenes with you. 

Hot Chocolate & Polar Express?

The movie Polar Express is about a boys journey to the North Pole by train. During the train ride the conductor and the servers come out in song and dance with major theatrics to serve all the kids onboard hot chocolate. The scene not only is exciting to watch as they pour hot chocolate through this golden dispenser from tall heights making it seem whimsical and fun. I am not a fan of animated movies but some of them have a little spark and magic to it. This movie and this scene lives rent free in my head through the Christmas season. 

What is hot chocolate?

In basic it is chocolate milk that is hot. This could mean the drink includes cocoa powder, dark/milk chocolate, milk, sweetener, cream, marshmallows and some spices. It is served during the colder months of the year but I must admit, I associate hot chocolate with christmas and the festivities. It is served at fairs, christmas markets, a good drink for kids and honestly add a little brandy and spike it for adults. A good hot chocolate must be creamy, rich and chocolatey. You shouldn’t have to search for the chocolate flavor in the hot chocolate. Sometimes it is referred to as hot cocoa as well. I have a 5 min hot mocha recipe that is so good, a no milk hot chocolate and hot chocolate 3 ways recipe from the years before which are all delicious too. 

What ingredients do you need to make this hot chocolate?

Chocolate –

I love using dark chocolate to make all my hot chocolate recipes as it is the perfect balance of sweet and bitter. Use dark chocolate chips or chunks and it doesn’t matte as we will be melting it into the drink. You could use white or milk chocolate but be mindful of the sweetness. 

Cocoa powder –

This must be unsweetened cocoa powder. The stuff you would use to bake your brownies and cakes. Do not use drinking chocolate powder as it will not give you that intense chocolate flavor. 

Milk, Cream & Water –

I like using a combination of all three to make this recipe, you could use milk all the way however the addition of cream makes it extremely rich but the addition of water adjusts the consistency perfectly. We also use heavy cream for the top (you could use a whipped cream spray can like it have)

Sweetener –

The recipe calls for condensed milk but you can use any sugar you prefer. Also I have used maple syrup and honey to make this recipe which is perfect. Use any sweetener you like and adjust the quantity to your taste. I don’t like my hot chocolate sweet sweet so many a times I avoid the sweetener altogether as the chocolate chips are sweet enough. I love using condensed milk in this recipe which adds a more creamy texture to the hot chocolate.

Spices –

I have used vanilla but cinnamon, orange zest, almond extract are delicious additions to the hot chocolate. I would also suggest a little freshly grated nutmeg to amplify the festive season. Make sure to use salt in your hot chocolate as a little goes a long way.

Toppings –

You can add any toppings of your choice, I went classic with spray can whipped cream and tiny marshmallows. You could use caramel or chocolate sauce on top with grated chocolate as well. 

What equipment do you need to make this hot chocolate?

I have used a small sauce pot to make this recipe. We do need a whisk to make sure there are no lumps in the hot chocolate while cooking. You could strain it into a mug as per your preference or just ladle it into the mug. 

How to make this hot chocolate?

In a sauce pot on medium heat add the milk, water, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla and whisk until smooth. Once it is combined and beginning to bubble on the sides, add the dark chocolate and whisk together. Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Take off the heat and pour into Christmas mugs/glasses. This stuff is hot so be careful. Top with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and serve while its hot. I love a thick hot chocolate that is rich and indulgent but I don want it so thick that I need a spoon. I want it to be drinkable. Hence this is how I imagine the hot chocolate in Polar Express to be. You can adjust the consistency to your preference. If you want it thicker, reduce the water and cook it longer so it reduces. If you want it thinner, increase the water. 

Make ahead options –

Make this recipe ahead, store it in a glass jar and place in the fridge. When ready to serve warm it up over the stove and adjust the consistency with water if needed. This is a fantastic way to have hot chocolate available on repeat in a short notice. 

How to serve and store this hot chocolate?

I like serving my hot chocolate with spray can whipped cream (which might seem tacky but it is perfect) and mini marshmallows. You could use giant marshmallows and torch them for a s’mores effect. You could use a chocolate sauce on the top or a caramel sauce on the top as well. My mum prefers having hot chocolate without the cream but with brandy in it which I must say is delicious. You could also add rum or creme de cacao. Store the leftovers in the fridge in glass jar for up to 1 week. When ready to serve warm it in the microwave for 1 minute and enjoy. This recipe is easily scalable so increase it as you wish. 

Looking for cookies to go with this hot chocolate?

My next recipe will be based on the Christmas movie Christmas Chronicles and we are making the classic sugar cookie recipe, make sure to stay tuned and subscribe to my newsletters to get notified when post new recipes. Now that we have covered how to make this Hot Chocolate from Polar Express you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration. 

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.  

Train Ride Hot Chocolate - Polar Express 🎄

Christmas movie recipe inspiration #2 with my velvet smooth hot chocolate. This is a simple recipe that is made over the stove in under 10 mins! Say goodbye to packet/store bought hot chocolate once you try this festive drink.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks, Finger food, High Tea, tea time
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Sauce pot
  • Whisk
  • Ladle
  • Christmas mugs

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
  • 2 tbsp condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

To serve

  • Spray can whipped cream
  • Mini marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • In a sauce pot on medium heat add the milk, water, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, vanilla and whisk until smooth.
  • Once it is combined and beginning to bubble on the sides, add the dark chocolate and whisk together. Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Take off the heat and pour into Christmas mugs/glasses. This stuff is hot so be careful.
  • Top with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and serve while its hot.

Notes

  • I love a thick hot chocolate that is rich and indulgent but I don want it so thick that I need a spoon. I want it to be drinkable. Hence this is how I imagine the hot chocolate in Polar Express to be. You can adjust the consistency to your preference. If you want it thicker, reduce the water and cook it longer so it reduces. If you want it thinner, increase the water.
  • You can use sugar or maple syrup instead of condensed milk but I love the creamy texture it adds to the hot chocolate.

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