Spiced hot chocolate

Ingredients:

Spiced hot chocolate

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. vanilla sugar (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 0.5 tsp ground ancho pepper
• 0.5 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom

Vanilla sugar

• Half a fresh vanilla bean
• 2 cups granulated sugar

Preparation:

1. Sift all ingredients together into a large bowl. Whisk to evenly distribute the spices.
2. To make hot chocolate, combine 3 tablespoons of the mixture with 1.5 cups (350 ml) of hot milk. Serve in a large mug. Store any remaining mixture in a tightly sealed jar.
   
   Vanilla sugar:
   Yield: 2 tbsp.
   
   Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with the blunt side of a knife. Mix sugar with the vanilla seeds, add the bean, and let steep in a tightly sealed container for at least 1 week before using.