Mexican Hot Cocoa

Sweet and decadent homemade hot cocoa with the warmth of cinnamon and just the right kick of heat—no pre-made mix can compete with this authentic experience. Chef Krissy Scommegna of Table 128 shares her genius recipe for creating your own homemade mix that can be enjoyed all winter long...or until you need to make another batch. Warning: it's absolutely irresistible!

The secret to this exceptional hot cocoa's complex flavor profile is Piment d'Ville, which adds a subtle, sweet warmth that perfectly complements the rich chocolate.

The Magic of Piment d'Ville

Piment d'Ville is a California-grown version of the coveted Basque Piment d'Espelette, carefully cultivated by Boonville Barn Collective, a woman-owned farm in Northern California's Anderson Valley. This unique chile powder has gained recognition in culinary publications like The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Sunset Magazine for its distinctive flavor profile—sweet and spicy with perfect warmth rather than overwhelming heat.

Basque chefs refer to this special pepper as "The Third Spice," using it as frequently as salt and pepper in their cooking. The Anderson Valley's climate mirrors the Basque region with warm days and cool nights, creating ideal growing conditions for these special peppers.

At Boonville Barn Collective, each pepper is meticulously hand-harvested following organic and sustainable practices on their Renegade-certified farm. After growing for five months, the peppers are carefully dried, de-stemmed, and deseeded before being ground and packaged entirely on-site, ensuring the highest quality and freshest flavor in every container.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 1/3 cup sugar

1/2 Tbsp cinnamon 

1/2 Tbsp Piment d'Ville

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

1/2 tsp fine black pepper

1/2 tsp chili de arbol

1 cup milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, Piment d'Ville, vanilla bean seeds, black pepper, and chile de arbol in a bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly until well blended.

3. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

FOR ONE CUP OF HOT COCOA

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together 1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa mix and about 2 tablespoons of milk until the mix is completely dissolved.

2. Increase to medium heat and add the remaining milk (to make 1 cup total).

3. Stir occasionally until hot but not boiling.

4. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• Top with homemade whipped cream and a light dusting of Piment d'Ville for extra visual appeal
• Add a cinnamon stick as a stirrer for an additional aromatic element
• For adults, a splash of Mexican coffee liqueur or spiced rum creates a delightful evening treat
• Package the mix in decorative jars with instructions for thoughtful holiday gifts

The complexity of flavors in this hot cocoa mix—from the rich chocolate base to the subtle heat of Piment d'Ville—creates a truly memorable winter warmer that will have you abandoning store-bought mixes forever!

Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix with Piment d'Ville: Chef Krissy's Homemade Winter Warmer

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Category

Cocktails

Cuisine

Mexican

This homemade Mexican Hot Cocoa mix by Chef Krissy Scommegna delivers sweet, decadent flavor with the perfect warming kick from Piment d'Ville. The blend of rich cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and carefully balanced spices creates an irresistible winter warmer that puts any pre-made mix to shame. Make a batch to enjoy all season long—if it lasts that long!

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup cocoa powder

• 1 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon 

• 1/2 Tbsp Piment d'Ville

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• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

• 1/2 tsp fine black pepper

• 1/2 tsp chili de arbol

• 1 cup milk

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Directions

1. Combine cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, Piment d'Ville, vanilla bean seeds, black pepper, and chile de arbol in a bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly until well blended.

3. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

FOR ONE CUP OF HOT COCOA

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, whisk together 1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa mix and about 2 tablespoons of milk until the mix is completely dissolved.

2. Increase to medium heat and add the remaining milk (to make 1 cup total).

3. Stir occasionally until hot but not boiling.

4. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!