Name: Slow cooker hot chocolate
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 750ml whole milk; 1 tsp cornflour; 200g dark chocolate roughly chopped, plus a grating to serve; 2-3 tbsp soft light brown sugar depending on how sweet you like it; 1 tsp vanilla bean paste; pinch of ground cinnamon or chilli powder (optional); whipped cream to serve

Three mugs of hot chocolate topped with cream and cocoa

750ml whole milk
1 tsp cornflour
200g dark chocolate
roughly chopped, plus a grating to serve
2-3 tbsp soft light brown sugar
depending on how sweet you like it
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
pinch of ground cinnamon or chilli powder
(optional)
whipped cream
to serve

Method

step 1
Mix a splash of milk with the cornflour in a small bowl, and mix to a paste. Put in a slow cooker with the remaining milk, chocolate, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon or chilli, if using, and a tiny pinch of salt. Heat on high for 15-20 mins to warm through the milk and melt the chocolate – stir after 10 mins until all the chocolate has melted and it’s uniform in colour.
step 2
Once the chocolate has melted and it’s started to steam, cook on high for 30 mins or on low for 1 hr, or for longer if you like – it will keep warm for a few hours if you want to keep it on. This extra cooking allows the cornflour to thicken the mixture and create a rich, creamy hot chocolate.
step 3
Taste and add a spoon more sugar if you prefer it sweeter. Spoon into warmed mugs and top with whipped cream and a grating of chocolate.