A week of Velvetiser recipes: A hot chocolate lover’s challenge

Do you love high-quality, sippable cacao? It’s time to put your loyalty to the test with this week-long challenge of Velvetiser recipes…

Lovers of high-quality cacao — rejoice. We’ve managed to upgrade perfection with the ALL-NEW Velvetiser®. The latest iteration ups the game by effortlessly creating cold chocolate as well as the velvety smooth hot variety our guests know and love.

Modelled on the humble cacao pod, the curvaceous design of our latest Velvetiser deserves to be admired on your countertop. But it’s the versatility that makes the newest version a must-have for chic chocolate lovers.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a week of Velvetiser recipes. It’s the perfect chocolate lover’s challenge and a fantastic way to get to know precisely what your Velvetiser is capable of.

Before you get started, why not find out what’s new with the Velvetiser and uncover the latest innovations to our hero product? And don’t forget to explore the full range of new Velvetiser recipes to find your new favourite drinking chocolate obsession.

Monday: Porridge with a cacao twist

The best Monday morning breakfasts are quick and nutritious, setting you up for the week ahead. If you’re a meal prepper, you can easily whip up a bowl of overnight oats with your favourite Cold Chocolate recipe and add some tasty mix-ins to dance over your taste buds.

Why not keep the autumn chill at bay and surprise your palate with our Banana Cold Chocolate with lashings of banana chips and toasted coconut? Simply let it soak in the fridge overnight for a low-effort, high-reward start to your day.

Need a boost of warmth when the temperature drops? Simply velvetise your favourite Hot Chocolate recipes and pour over a steaming bowl of porridge. Try our Salted Caramel 50% Hot Chocolate Sachets for the silky smooth mouthfeel of creamy caramel, heightened by an invigorating sprinkle of sea salt — perfect for those bleary-eyed mornings.

Tuesday: Time for a chocolate mocha pick-me-up

The emotional toll of Monday calls for a Tuesday pick-me-up. And nothing could be simpler than brewing your favourite coffee before adding your best hot or cold chocolate recipe, followed by relaxing into billowing clouds of bliss (and by that, we mean The Velvetiser’s barista-grade crema):

• Pair our classic Caffè Mocha Latte Hot Chocolate Sachets with a shot of pure Arabica coffee for a supercharged mocha with the perfect balance.

• Keep it mellow and intensely creamy with our Milky 50% Hot Chocolate, or experience the allure of the dark side with our Classic 70% Hot Chocolate Sachets.

• Switch things up by adding our revolutionary Crème Brûlée Cold Drinking Chocolate. Enriched with vanilla and caramel, pair it with a shot of espresso and let the balance of textures and temperatures dance a tango on your tongue.

Wednesday: An iced chocolate refresher for getting over hump day

Need a little something to get you through hump day? After a delectable Cold Chocolate, the weekend won’t feel so far away.

The ALL-NEW Velvetiser not only satisfies your desire for barista-style hot chocolate but also creates a whole new craving with its innovative cold function.

Using the fridge-cold milk of your choice, the Velvetiser whips up an unapologetically impressive crema and a sensationally silky finish. Just add ice-cubes, or pour over ice cream for a well-deserved ice-cold or frozen treat.

The secret is our Cold Chocolate sachets. We mill real chocolate into a powder so fine that it doesn’t need heat to melt. Simply add your preferred cold drinking chocolate recipes to 120ml of liquid, and let the ALL-NEW Velvetiser do the rest.

Thursday: Treat yourself to a dreamy mousse

Did you know that you can easily turn your hot or cold chocolate sachets into a pillowy, smooth cacao mousse? A decadent bowl filled to the brim is the perfect way to satiate your mid-week chocolate cravings, or even to impress a guest or two.

You might already be familiar with our Velvetised Chocolate Mousse, which uses two hot chocolate sachets. We’ve tweaked it slightly to give perfect results in the ALL-NEW Velvetiser. Here’s what you’ll need:

• One sachet of your favourite hot chocolate recipe: Try Classic 70% Hot Chocolate for depth of flavour, or Milky 50% for a more mellow mouthfeel.
  
• 120ml of double cream or plant-based equivalent.

Simply velvetise your recipe of choice in the ALL-NEW Velvetiser. Once it’s worked its magic, pour your mousse into ramekins, bowls, or those beautiful glass containers you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Then, chill in the fridge for a few hours until set, garnish with fresh berries or homemade coulis, and serve.

It’s a spoonful of velvetised indulgence. No applause necessary, but trust us, you’ll want to give one anyway.

Friday: End the working week with stylish cocktails (or mocktails)

Screen goddess, Elizabeth Taylor, no less, is credited with inventing the decadent Chocolate Martini by mixing vodka and her favourite chocolate syrup. And, true to her spirit, what nicer way to finish the working week than with a cacao cocktail — or mocktail — or two.

To make our twist on a classic Chocolate Martini, combine our Classic Cold Drinking Chocolate with a shot of vodka-based Chocolate Velvetised Cream. Dust the rim of a classic cocktail glass with cacao powder or our chocolate flakes, shake your Chocatini with plenty of ice, strain, serve, and sip.

Whether it’s Dry January, you’re sober-curious, or the designated driver, our chocolate mocktail recipes offer an equally incredible experience. And with the ALL-NEW Velvetiser to hand, it’s easier than ever to whip up your favourite chocolate-infused drinks with a chilly twist.

Or, you could even try our Mint Cold Drinking Chocolate for a cacao-infused twist on a Mojito. Add a squeeze of lime, some fresh mint leaves, and a shot of non-alcoholic rum or apple cider vinegar to put a step of Cuban cha-cha-cha into your Friday night.

Saturday: Think outside the mug with hot chocolate pancakes for brunch

If you love friends popping over for a lazy get-together, our hot chocolate pancakes recipe is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

A pile of fluffy pancakes is a treat in itself, but because this is a week of chocolate recipes, we’re adding a velvetised hot chocolate into the mix. Whizz your batter up in a blender for sheer brunch perfection.

Serve with the standard trimmings like bacon and syrup for a classic feast. Or throw caution to the wind and top with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows before adding lashings of chocolate sauce.

For 4-6 people, add the following ingredients to your blender or whisk together in a bowl:

• 225g of plain flour, sifted with 2 ½ tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 30 grams melted butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• The velvetised hot chocolate of your choice, topped up to 300ml with extra liquid (water, dairy, or plant milk)

Cook dollops of the mixture in a hot pan until bubbling, then flip and cook for a further minute and serve piping hot with your choice of toppings.

Sunday: Finish with a flourish

Sunday is a day for kicking back and relaxing. No matter if you like to gather family around the kitchen table or enjoy a cosy diner à deux, our Mexican-inspired stew and showstopping dessert of choice are the perfect chocolate recipes to end the week with a Velvetiser-inspired flourish.

Simply cook up your favourite chilli con (or sin) carne and pour in a shot of our Dark 85% Hot Chocolate (made with water instead of milk). Those rich, savoury notes add incredible depth and perfectly balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Then serve up your favourite flavourful Velvetiser dessert to finish and bask in the plaudits.

Unleash your chocolate creativity with the ALL-NEW Velvetiser

Do you love to play around and experiment with flavour in the kitchen? At Hotel Chocolat, we encourage you to keep doing so.
Hopefully, our weeklong chocolate recipes challenge has inspired you to be bold with cacao. Explore the potential of our drinking chocolate subscription, or peruse our Velvetiser drinking chocolate library for more inspiration.