Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente) is a smooth and deep rich chocolate beverage served with pieces of cheese in Puerto Rico. The sweet chocolate bars most popular on the Island to prepare this delicious hot beverage is Chocolate Cortés. It has a rich chocolate flavor that will definitely satisfy anyone’s chocolate gravings!
In Puerto Rico, we experience cooler temperatures in the evenings during the winter months. My aunt, Paulita, always prepared hot chocolate to keep us warm before bedtime. Did you know that it is always served with pieces of Edam cheese inside each cup? The best part, of course, is to scoop up the melted cheese with a spoon after drinking half the cup of hot chocolate.
The Sweet Chocolate Bars!
There are two major brands of sweet chocolate bars: Cortés and Goya. Chocolate Cortés, of course, is a very popular brand in Puerto Rico since 1929. Furthermore, they are considered the biggest chocolate producer in the Caribbean. Today you can purchase the chocolate bars or the ground chocolate. I prefer to prepare this hot beverage the old fashion way with both brands of chocolate bars.
Melting the Chocolate Bars!
Place 2 full bars of sweet chocolate in a saucepan to yield two cups.
NOTE: If you just want one cup of Hot Chocolate, then place only 1 full bar of sweet chocolate in the saucepan.
Pour 2 tablespoons of milk into saucepan.
Stir with a spoon until the sweet chocolate bars are fully melted over low heat. We prefer the traditional method of melting the sweet chocolate bars by adding water or milk to the saucepan.
NOTE: If you prefer, you can, however, melt the sweet chocolate bars in a double boiler.
The chocolate bars are completely melted and have a rich dark color with a smooth and silky consistency.
Blending the Milk with the Melted Chocolate Bars!
Since we added 2 sweet chocolate bars, let’s pour two cups of milk.
NOTE: I use skim milk but you can use the milk of your preference.
Stir until the milk and the melted chocolate are well blended.
Bring to a boil for approximately 2 minutes. Once the hot chocolate starts creating a frothy layer on top, it is ready to be served.
Preparimg the Cheese for Our Hot Chocolate!
Edam cheese is the second most important cheese in the Netherlands. Edam cheese is semi-hard, with a fat content of 40 percent. It has a sweet, mellow nutty flavor. The exported version is shaped into a ball and covered in a red wax casing. In Puerto Rico, we use Edam Cheese for many recipes.
Insert a knife into the red wax casing and make a small slit. lift the wax casing and remove with your hands.
Cut Edam cheese in half.
With a knife, cut 2 ounces of Edam cheese into small pieces.
Serving the Hot Chocolate!
Add small pieces of Edam cheese inside a cup.
Carefully pour the hot chocolate into the cup.
Enjoy a creamy and smooth hot chocolate bursting with deep rich chocolate flavors! Don’t forget to scoop up the melted cheese with a spoon for an extra chocolate cheesy delight!
Click on the button below to watch my YouTube video on How to Prepare Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente)!
Recipe and Nutritional Facts!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. Please refer to our Nutritional Facts Disclaimer for more information.
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Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 4 Minutes
- Cook Time: 8 Minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Description
Enjoy a cup of traditional hot chocolate made with melted chocolate bars for a frothy texture and a deep rich chocolate flavor that will definitely satisfy anyone’s chocolate cravings.
Ingredients
- 2 bars sweet chocolate (1 ounce each)
- 2 tablespoons of skim milk
- 2 cups skim milk or milk of your preference
- 2 ounces of Edam cheese, cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Place sweet chocolate bars in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons of skim milk.
- Stir until sweet chocolate bars are fully melted over low heat.
- Pour 2 cups of milk and mix until milk and melted chocolate are well blended.
- Bring to a boil.
- When a frothy layer forms on top, the hot chocolate is ready to be served.
- Place small pieces of cheese inside 2 cups and pour the hot beverage into the cups.
- Scoop up the melted cheese with a spoon for a cheesy delight.
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Keywords: Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Caliente
4 Comments. Leave new
our daughter is engaged to someone from Pureto Rica, who often talks of memories of Hot Chocolate. I would like to make this as a special surprise form them at Family christmas dinner. Can I prepare this in one pot for about 15 people, or should i only prepare 2 cups at a time? l thank you for your attention to this question. 11/28/21
Hi Joyce, You can make a large pot of hot chocolate for 15 people by using 15 chocolate bars and 15 cups of milk. What a great Christmas surprise for him and have a beautiful Christmas dinner.
I found your recipe for hot chocolate featuring Corte chocolate bar as an activity for my niece and I to make homemade hot chocolate. This was a wonderful recipe and easy to follow! Hot chocolate is rich and creamy. I appreciate the cultural knowledge about cheese being added and additional depth for a different hot cocoa experience.
Hola Jolen, I am glad you liked my recipe along with the instructions. I try to add a little bit of history to my food blog. We love our hot chocolate with cheese in Puerto Rico. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!