Family Batch Hot Chocolate

Make this in a saucepan or a small crockpot for your family or scale it up and make it in a large crockpot for a crowd. Chocolaty and rich, but not oversweet. See notes at the end of the directions for some variations to suit different occasions.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Yields: 6-8 mugs

Ingredients

• 6  cups milk, divided
• 8  tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1⁄4 cup sugar or 1⁄4 cup Splenda granular
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  dash salt
• 1  pinch cinnamon (optional)
•  miniature marshmallow (optional)
•  whipped cream (optional)
•  chocolate sprinkles (optional) or   chocolate shavings (optional)
•  cinnamon stick (optional)

Directions

1. Put 2 cups of milk into a saucepan or crockpot with the cocoa, vanilla, salt, and sugar/Splenda.
2. Heat slowly (low heat on your stove, high heat in a crockpot), stirring vigorously with a wire whisk until sugar dissolves and cocoa is fully wetted.
3. Add remaining milk and continue to heat gently (very low heat on stove, low heat in crockpot), stirring frequently and vigorously.
4. When steaming hot (do not boil), serve, adding any of your favorite hot chocolate accessories -- mini-marshmallows, whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, etc.
5. Can be held for a while in a crockpot on warm but may develop a skin. If made in a saucepan best to do any necessary reheating in the microwave.
6. Note: For an even richer drink substitute a cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of milk.
7. Note: Adults may enjoy a shot of peppermint schnapps, Kahlua, spiced rum, or other favorite liquor as an addition.
8. Note: Substituting Dutch Processed cocoa for regular cocoa gives a distinctly different flavor you might want to try.