Costa Rican Hot Chocolate

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This traditional Costa Rican hot chocolate, made with powdered milk, cocoa and sugar, is the perfect antidote to a cold and rainy day.

About This Recipe

During the traditional coffee hour in Costa Rica, children are often served hot chocolate, tea, or a homemade juice.

When it’s cold and rainy outside, there is nothing better than hot chocolate.

While it has become easier to buy packets of premade hot chocolate like we do here in the United States, the traditional recipe is so much better. I mean, why wouldn’t you use the cacao farmed right in Costa Rica? Delish.

This recipe combines the traditional powered milk (Leche Pinito) with cacao, sugar and water for a rich and creamy drink that everyone will love.

Note- it is not traditional to top hot chocolate with marshmallows in Costa Rica like we do in the States, but you are more than welcome to!

Related post: Crockpot Hot Chocolate

Traditional Costa Rican Hot Chocolate Recipe

Printable recipe below

Ingredients

• cocoa powder
• powered milk (Leche Pinito is most traditional)
• granulated sugar (cane sugar is most traditional)
• hot water

Instructions

Heat water to boiling on stovetop or in microwave. Stir in powdered milk and cocoa until dissolved. Add sugar to taste.

This would be a great recipe to freeze into homemade Costa Rican ice cream!

You might also like my favorite of the Costa Rican smoothies– Blackberry.

Substitutions

You can use a cup of cow’s milk and omit the water.

You can also melt a tablespoon of milk or dark chocolate chips in place of the cocoa powder.

Variations

My favorite variation of the Costa Rican hot chocolate recipe is made in the crockpot. See our crockpot hot chocolate recipe here.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with homemade bread (pan casero), homemade tortillas, tres leches cake, a torta chilena or with a Costa Rican breakfast of gallo pinto.

Printable Recipe