My Hot Chocolate Story

Winter’s almost over, and I am already looking forward to the Spring. This winter was especially long and cold, leaving us with many indoor hours to fill, which can be quite trying with two young children at home.

I keep wondering what I would ever do without the internet to help me come up with so many interesting projects. Searching for appealing crafts to do can take a while, there are so many wonderful sites out there, so I will post some of the most interesting links that I found here for you.

Amongst all the different crafts that we did this winter, we made some very yummy ones, such as, cupcakes, experimenting with hot chocolate, cookies, and we had the most fun when we decorated marshmallows!

Our favorite hot chocolate recipe this winter is to boil the milk, in a heavy saucepan, add some squares of milk chocolate to the warm milk, watch it melt, and add a dash of cinnamon powder. Stir. When it is ready, we pour it into mugs and cover in lots of marshmallows.

Of course you need to be extra cautious when making this with the children (in our house they are allowed to watch from afar and they only get a mug once chocolate has cooled down).

If you have any interesting hot chocolate recipes, I would love to hear about them.

While on the subject, hot chocolate mixes make lovely homemade gifts, here is a short tute on how you can make some:

If you want to give the receiver a personal mug – after you have washed the mug well and made sure that it is dry, you can add cocoa or hot chocolate powder (enough for one mug) cover with mini marshmallows and seal with shrink wrap. If you want, you can add a more decorative lid over the wrap and tie on a small individually wrapped chocolate. You can make the same in a small jar if you don’t have a mug.

A quick, creamy breakfast with fresh fruit added on top

Smoothie bowls are one of those beautiful breakfasts that feel healthy and a little indulgent at the same time. Thick, cold, creamy, and pretty enough that you almost don’t want to eat them… almost.

The Ninja Slushie Maker takes all the effort out of it.
Instead of dealing with frozen fruit bricks or blenders that complain loudly, you simply mix your yoghurt base, chill it, and let the Ninja turn it into the perfect thick smoothie-bowl texture — no ice required.

If you are like me and come addicted to these smoothie bowls then you will want to invest in these double walled bowls, this is my favorite brand and these have been great.

Then you top it with your fresh fruit afterwards so the bowl stays thick, cold, and spoon-worthy.

It’s easy, quick, and a lovely way to start the day.

Why Yoghurt Works So Well in the Ninja Slushie Maker

Yoghurt freezes into a silky, firm slush — similar to soft-serve but healthier and lighter. Because the machine creates the icy texture itself (instead of relying on ice cubes), the mixture never becomes watery or gritty.

Just smooth, cold, creamy perfection you can decorate to your heart’s content.

The Basic Yoghurt Slush Base

Once you learn this base recipe, you can create endless flavour combinations.

Ingredients

2 cups plain or Greek yoghurt, chilled
½–1 cup milk of your choice (just enough to loosen the mixture)
1–3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Method

Stir all ingredients together until smooth.
Chill the mixture in the fridge until very cold.
Pour the chilled mixture into the Ninja Slushie Maker.
Blend on the slush setting until thick, creamy, and icy.
Spoon into a bowl and add your fruit and toppings.

This base has enough body to hold granola, berries, and nut butter without sinking.

Topping Ideas (Add These After Blending)

Fresh Fruit

Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana slices
Mango
Kiwi
Peaches

Crunchy Toppers

Granola
Toasted coconut
Chopped nuts
Cacao nibs

Extras

Honey drizzle
Peanut butter
Chia seeds
Freeze-dried fruit crumbs

Easy Flavour Variations

Berries & Cream Smoothie Bowl

Use vanilla yoghurt as your base. Top with raspberries, strawberries, and a sprinkle of granola.

Tropical Coconut Bowl

Add a splash of coconut milk to the base. Top with mango, pineapple, kiwi, and toasted coconut flakes.

Chocolate Yoghurt Bowl

Mix 1 tablespoon cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder into the base. Top with banana slices and a peanut-butter drizzle.

Meal-Prep Tip

Prepare the yoghurt base the night before and store it in small jars.
In the morning, just pour one jar directly into the Ninja Slushie Maker and you’ve got a thick, cold, ready-to-top breakfast in minutes.

My Hot Chocolate Story

Related Posts:

How to Make Thick Yoghurt Smoothie Bowls in the Ninja Slushie Maker

Why Yoghurt Works So Well in the Ninja Slushie Maker