Red Wine Hot Chocolate

This will be the last in a series of Holiday related posts. Awww… a little sad about that. I have really enjoyed getting into the spirit this year!

No Christmas day would be complete without some red wine, right!? And, me being me, I took it to the chocolate level. This is, bottom line, the easiest drink to make of all time. If you don’t want to spice the wine, you can buy ready mulled wine and use that or you can simply use wine out of the bottle, no stress! This close to the big day, no one needs added stress in their lives.

The spiced wine is the Holiday season in a mug, add the chocolate and it’s all kinds of next level! Slightly acidic from the wine, spices humming away, sweet from the gorgeous maple syrup and creamy from the chocolate and cashew butter. It’s the prefect drink combo and it’ll warm you all the way through this Holiday season.

First things first, let’s get that wine spiced.

Spiced Wine

500ml ( 2 cups ) red wine ( I used a Shiraz )
100g ( ½ cup ) coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 cinnamon sticks
8 cardamom pods
2-3 whole star anise
½ whole nutmeg
2 tbsp cacao nibs

Method

• With a mortar and pestle, gently break open the cardamom pods and crack the nutmeg open a little.

• Combine these spices and the rest of the ingredients into a small saucepan.

• Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce to a simmer. Allowing it to hard boil will cook off more of the alcohol, so if you want low alcohol levels, do that.

• Simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the wine with the spices.

• Remove the pot from the heat and allow the wine to sit and infuse a little longer off the heat. You can do this 10 minutes or 10 hours. The longer you leave it, the stronger the wine will infuse.

• Strain the spices from the wine using a wine straining bag, nut milk bag (it’ll colour your bag) or a fine metal sieve.

• It’s now ready to use in the hot chocolate. Follow the recipe below.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

15g ( 1 tbsp ) cashew butter
100g ( ½ cup ) boiled water
100g ( ½ cup ) spiced red wine, warm
50g ( 2 oz ) cacao paste, baking chocolate or your favourite chocolate
20g ( 1 tbsp ) maple syrup or your choice of liquid sweetener

Method

• Using a sharp knife, shave the chocolate down. The smaller the pieces are, the quicker it’ll melt.

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and process on med-high speed until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated. It’s important that the wine is warm and the water is hot or the chocolate will not melt and emulsify.

• Taste it and adjust the sweetness as you wish. Once you’re happy with it, pour and serve immediately.

• This drink is best served right away.