Chilly Weather

While many people struggle when the weather gets colder, which is totally understandable, I find that it’s the coziest time of year. That doesn’t mean I don’t also love the other seasons – a bit of warm weather and sunshine is always welcome – but there’s just something special about winter. Sometimes I do wonder what it would be like without holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s to get us through the cold seasons. Luckily, though, that’s not reality, and the fact is that being indoors while it’s cold and dark outside with a cozy setup (whether that’s snacks, a hot drink, or a good book, or all three!) is just unbeatable.

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Hot Drink = Hygge!

Now, I can tell you why I think the winter is the coziest season. It’s because of hygge, of course! What does “hygge” mean? Well, the fun thing is that there’s no direct English translation for the Danish word, as it’s more of a concept. You know that nice feeling you get when you spend time with your family and friends? Or when you’re curled up under a warm blanket while the rest of the room is cold? That’s basically what “hygge” is. Think of sitting in a room with a couple of candles lit, reading a book, eating some cookies, and drinking a hot drink. That’s winter hygge 🙂

Today’s Recipe

In case you couldn’t guess, today’s recipe is for a hot drink. But it’s not just any old hot drink, it’s a fancy version of a classic – hot chocolate. This one uses cardamom-infused milk (sounds much more difficult to make than it is, we promise) for the hot chocolate itself, as well as a dash of ground cardamom in the whipped cream. The pairing of the delicious spiced cardamom and the rich and sweet chocolate is a perfect one, as they just balance each other out beautifully. Top it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream that slowly melts into the chocolate, as well as whatever other toppings you like, and you have the most amazing wintery treat!

Ingredients

For this recipe, you’ll need a few simple ingredients: milk, cardamom pods, sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate (we use dark), and a pinch of salt. Then, of course, some heavy whipping cream (known as double cream in the UK), sugar if desired, and ground cardamom for the whipped cream on top. In terms of substitutions, this can be made with any milk you like, whether it’s full-fat, low-fat, skimmed, or plant-based. You can definitely use a different type of chocolate, including milk or white chocolate. Feel free to experiment! Keep in mind that other types of chocolate are probably sweeter than dark chocolate, though, so you may want to reduce or omit the sugar in the recipe. You can also add other flavors if you like, including orange zest, cinnamon, or even a dash of Bailey’s!

How To Make Cardamom Hot Chocolate

The process of making this delicious drink could truly not be easier. First, you want to steep your cardamom pods in the milk to infuse it, and this might take a little while but it will be well worth it. We also add the sugar, vanilla, and salt at the beginning and whisk it to combine. Make sure to gently heat it, it should never be boiling or simmering at any point! Then, strain out (or just scoop out) the cardamom pods. Add the chocolate to the warm milk mixture and continue to whisk. You can either prepare the whipped cream ahead of time or make it while the hot chocolate keeps warm on the stove. To do so, simply add the ground cardamom to the heavy cream with a tiny bit of sugar, and whip it up with a whisk or a mixer to your desired stiffness. Divide the hot chocolate into two mugs, top with whipped cream and any other desired toppings, and enjoy!