Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate

What seems like an eternity ago, someone told me they really liked the Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate from Second Cup. I said I could make it for them at home despite the fact that I had never tasted it. I proceeded to neither make it nor try it. Then, last week I was killing time before a class and felt like I needed some air so I put on my ipod and started walking without any particular destination in mind. As I passed by a Second Cup I thought of the Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate. I decided to give it a try. It was kinda good, but as I had previously stated, I thought I could make it at home, cheaper and just as good if not better. It turns out this is one of the rare times I was right. This recipe makes enough to share. I’ll be drinking the rest of mine tomorrow as there is only me.

Vanilla Bean Hot Chocolate

2 ½ cups milk, (the %MF is up to you)
2 ½ T sugar
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted, (on this occasion there was some Guittard chocolate in my cupboard so I figured if I was using real vanilla beans I might as well use the fancy chocolate too)
1 vanilla bean, cut in half and seeds scraped
Splash of cream

Heat milk and sugar until it just begins to boil. Remove from the heat, add vanilla bean and seeds, cover and let steep for half an hour. Remove the bean from the pot and reserve for another use, (like making vanilla sugar). Add the chocolate and stir to combine. You might want to heat it up it up a little more if you plan on drinking it immediately. I added a little shaken cream to the top of mine. You can store leftovers in the fridge and drink it later, hot or cold.

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Vanilla + Hot+Chocolate + Chocolate