Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch 
• 7 oz chocolate bar dark 70% chopped (at least cacao)
• 0.3 cup honey 
• 4 cups milk divided
• 1 pinch salt 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• sauce pan
• whisk

Directions

1. Whisk together cornstarch and 1/2 cup milk until smooth.
2. Cook remaining 3 1/2 cups milk in a large, nonaluminum saucepan over medium heat until bubbles appear around edge of saucepan (about 4 minutes; do not boil).
3. Whisk in chocolate, honey, vanilla extract, and salt until blended and smooth.
4. Whisk in cornstarch mixture.
5. Bring milk mixture to a light boil, whisking frequently (about 4 minutes).
6. Remove from heat.
7. Let cool slightly. (
8. Mixture will thicken as it cools.)
9. Serve immediately with Marshmallow Whipped Cream, if desired.
10. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72% Cacao dark chocolate bar.
11. Mexican Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2, whisking in 1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon and 1 tsp. ancho chili powder with chocolate. Proceed with recipe as directed.
12. Orange-Almond Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2, whisking in 3 Tbsp. orange juice and 2 Tbsp. almond liqueur with chocolate. Proceed with recipe as directed.
13. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Amaretto for almond liqueur.
14. Grown-up Rich 'n' Thick Hot Chocolate: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2, whisking in 1/2 cup Southern Comfort with chocolate. Proceed with recipe as directed.