Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (170g) fresh blackberries, plus extra for garnish
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (480ml) whole milk (or your milk of choice)
  • 4 ounces (115g) good quality dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher), chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1.25ml) vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Optional: Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions:

  1. Make the Blackberry Puree: Combine blackberries, water, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  2. Simmer & Soften: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the blackberries have softened and released their juices (about 10 minutes).
  3. Blend: Transfer the mixture to a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.
  4. Strain: Strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, discarding the seeds. This gives you that velvet smooth texture.
  5. Heat the Milk: In the same saucepan (rinsed out), heat the milk over medium heat until steaming, but not boiling.
  6. Melt the Chocolate: Add the chopped chocolate to the hot milk and whisk continuously until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
  7. Add Blackberry Puree & Flavorings: Stir in the blackberry puree, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
  8. Heat Through: Continue to heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly, until the hot chocolate is heated through. Do not boil.
  9. Serve: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Top with whipped cream and fresh blackberries, if desired. Enjoy your blackberry hot chocolate!