Rich and creamy hot chocolate that gets a sweet-tart edge from a cranberry cinnamon infusion.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Silk. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me inspired in the kitchen!
Hot chocolate in a blender with FRUIT.
I can explain.
Let’s start with the fact that I have the worst influence coworkers ever. I love them, but I hate them.
Especially when they ransack Trader Joe’s for all of the best stuff and then bring it to lab, because sharing is caring is enabling those you love to eat a whole container of chocolate-covered cranberries in one sitting.
Let’s face it, I didn’t stand a chance.
Not only that, but then I couldn’t get the sweet tart chocolatey flavor combo OUT OF MY HEAD.
It got so bad that I even considered taking the subway down to Union Square to go to Trader Joe’s to pick up some more, which, if you’ve ever been to that location, is just ludicrous. It gets so crowded in there that the checkout line basically loops around the whole store and your best bet is to immediately hop onto it and do all of your shopping along the way. There’s none of this leisurely picking up items, casually browsing through the cheese case, running back to the produce area because you forgot to get this, that, and the other thing (<– and I always forget to get this, that, and the other thing). No, you have to step into that store as if you’re on a mission or you probably won’t make it out alive. It is not for the faint of heart.
My point being that I was at a real breaking point when it came to me.
CRANBERRY HOT CHOCOLATE.
With a dash of cinnamon, just because.
When it comes to cinnamon, there doesn’t need to be a reason.
Sure, the.boy looked at me with crazy eyes when I told him what I was doing in his our Vitamix, but then he looked at me with crazy adoring eyes after that first sip.
It’s luscious but with an edge that keeps it from being too much. To lighten up the hot chocolate a little bit, I made it with Silk Original Almondmilk which has ALL THE CREAMINESS with very few of the calories. It’s a win/win.
Let’s just rejoice in the fact that the recipe only makes two cups or we’d be bathing in it. Not exaggerating.
- 8 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1½ cups Silk original almondmilk
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup cranberry cinnamon simple syrup
- whipped cream
- To make the simple syrup, in a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer, cooking for 10 minutes, or until cranberries are tender but not bursting, stirring occasionally. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve.
- In a high powered blender (like a Vitamix), combine the milk, chocolate chips, and simple syrup. Blend on high for 5-6 minutes, or until warm. Divide the hot chocolate among two cups and top with whipped cream. (Alternatively, the hot chocolate can be made on the stovetop by melting the chocolate chips into the milk over medium heat, and then stirring in the simple syrup.)
For more ways to use cranberries, check out these:
Pumpkin Biscuits with Cranberry Curd
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Cranberry Chipotle Dressing
Meyer Lemon Cranberry Poppy Seed Muffins
From Around the Web:
Cranberry Orange Cupcakes from Taste and Tell
Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad from La Creme de la Crumb
Cranberry Walnut Stuffing from The Fauxmartha
Glazed Cranberry Sweet Bread from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Pumpkin Cranberry Twists from Girl Versus Dough
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
Goodness, this looks great! Since it’s summer on our side, I think I’ll be trying an iced version of this – should be delicious. 🙂
Oh boy that sounds like an awesome cup of cocoa! Love the use of cranberries, very interesting 🙂
Ah, I remember those days. . my co-workers and I would actually walk to the local TJ’s right down the street from our office in West Hollywood .. I love TJ’s and yes, they have highly addictive and tasty treats! 🙂 and totally agreed: when it comes to cinnamon, there doesn’t need to be a reason. that quote needs to be on a piece of wall art. love this hot chocolate!! Now, that I’ve made homemade hot chocolate, there’s no going back! love this!
I love the cranberry infusion and of course the cinnamon flavor! I have to try it, love how Vitamix warms it up, so you don’t need to make it on the stove top! Pinned!
You and I are TOTALLY on the same hot chocolate wavelength—it’s pretty much all I’m craving these days. And um, I’m kinda in luuuuurve with this cranberry version!
Aren’t they the best coworkers! hehehe!!!!! Loving this cranberry cinnamon syrup infused hot chocolate!!!!!! I’ll be making this in a smaller batch too, ’cause I know that it’ll be gone in seconds! Then again, I feel I should make a bigger batch anyways, because – HOLIDAYS! 😀 Loving this!!!!! Pinning! 😀
I love both, but a combination I never would have thought of! Raspberry and chocolate go so well together so I expect cranberry is equally delicious. Such a great idea. And that first photo with the back light – LOVE.
Ooh what a fun combo! I can’t leave Trader Joe’s with less than 4 giant bags full of goodies, but it never costs more than like $70… I freakin’ love that place!
You know, I always think of cranberry and chocolate coming together as a candy, butter never in a cup…Brilliant!
I love, love, love the idea of this — it’s making my mouth water just thinking about it! And yes, definitely don’t need a reason for cinnamon. Cinnamon is the answer to everything.
This just might be the perfect Chistmas hot chocolate. Definitely sharing this on Twitter!
I was sold from the start. And I love SILK!
Sounds absolutely fantastic! I adore those flavours together, and your photography is just amazing!
Oh man, that Trader Joe’s sounds like one I frequented when I lived in DC. I just stopped shopping there entirely because I was so frustrated by the long lines!
The tartness of the cranberries sound like the perfect match with hot chocolate! Love those ribbons of whipped cream on top, too!
I wish I had a big of this right now!
I feel like I’m missing the real point of this post. You can make hot chocolate in the Vitamix? Where has this information been for the past three months when I finally got one.
I wish I was holding one cup of your hot chocolate! YUM!
this sounds absolutely lovely, joanne! cranberries are my fave!!
This is great because I have half a bag of cranberries left over from making cranberry apple baked brie for a party this weekend.
We have a few markets that get crazy like that during the season…insane! And this hot chocolate is insane! Love cranberry and chocolate, and cinnamon is a must!
Stunning hot chocolate, never would have thought of putting cranberries in it 😀
Sounds delicious!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I’ve never thought about cranberries and hot chocolate, but I love it!! Gorgeous photos too, Joanne!
Trader Joe’s is on point with all their chocolate covered treats. And so are you with this cranberry hot chocolate!
Ooh yum. I so love that you made this with real cranberries and real chocolate. I think I would possibly brave that Trader Joe’s line just to give it a whirl (laughed so much at the idea of doing my shopping WHILE I was in the line 😉
Hot chocolate in a blender with fruit? Yes of course. Whirl away. GREG
What a creative hot chocolate! I am pinning this to try for sure – I love the idea of using cranberries. They are so festive and pretty and delicious!
This sounds so delicious! I bet that cranberry cinnamon simple syrup would be excellent in some festive holiday cocktails, too. I’m just saying. 🙂
This looks amazing! I’m always looking for new ways to use cranberries. Any other ideas for how to use the cranberry simple syrup, too?
I think it would be GREAT in some festive cocktails, eggnog, or a chai latte!
Damn girl this looks goooooood! I love the idea! Recently made brownies with cranberries and cinnamon, I can only imagine how this must taste!
Mmmmmm – DELICIOUS – Joanne. Even though it is summer here I could still go one of these:)
When it comes to cinnamon, there doesn’t need to be a reason. <–Best line EVER!! I've been staring at a half bag of cranberries from Thanksgiving and now I know what to do with it! That cranberry syrup sounds divine.
I have a bag of cranberries in my freezer right now waiting to be made into this. Hope the husband doesn’t mind that I’m not sharing, either.
Fanciest hot chocolate I’ve ever seen. Would love to have a cup right now!
So interesting to have fruit in hot chocolate! Perfect festive hot chocolate.
I’m completely convinced. And really glad it doesn’t necessitate a Trader Joe visit because, well, the travel time would be a killer for me. Also, as a side note, I have been in that Union Square store and left because the queue was too daunting!
This is such a great idea! I have some cranberries in the freezer and I can’t wait to whip this up to keep me warm and cozy from all the snow we had yesterday!
Cranberry and chocolate is such an amazing combo, and I can’t believe I’ve never had it as a drink before!! Do you think it could work with dried cranberries that have been soaked?
{Teffy’s Perks} X
Sounds delish! have to try some!
This looks amazing Joanne! I love the addition of cranberry yumm!
Yea that Trader Joes location is bonkers! Also, I can’t believe some of your commenters have not heard of chocolate covered cranberries, also bonkers! Glad you opened up their worlds. This hot chocolate sounds heavenly, and I have leftover fresh cranberries, I will try to make it with an immersion blender.