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    Home » Recipes » Drinks » Easy Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate Recipe

    Published: Dec 18, 2020 · Updated: Feb 11, 2021 by Sharon Garofalow | This post may contain affiliate links. See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Easy Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    It's creamy with a kick of citrus and spice flavor. Make this homemade Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate recipe this winter.

    Mug of hot cocoa on a counter with a piece of orange peel on top.

    Some links in this post may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I also participate in affiliate programs for other retailers. 

    This recipe was originally shared December 1 2013. I've updated the images and instructions to include better details to make this delicious every time!

    When the weather cools down there is no better drink than Hot Chocolate!

    When I get the itch to make some from scratch, I always like to try out something with a little bit of a twist.

    This Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate is rich, creamy and full of unexpected flavor.

    And it's part of Sandy Toes and Popsicle's Hot Chocolate Recipe Party blog hop! When you're done with my post, be sure to check out the other tasty recipes from some of my blogger friends.

    I've been super into cardamom lately. I love how it's both familiar and hard to pinpoint. It's sweet but with a little bit of a savory note. It even has a floral note. And it's really versatile.

    Orange is a classic flavor to pair with chocolate and is perfect for the holiday season.

    Together they make a unique combination and a yummy warm cup of hot cocoa.

    Ingredients to make orange cardamom hot chocolate

    How to make Orange Cardamom Hot Chocolate

    There are tons of ways to make hot chocolate and it is pretty much a personal preference.

    When I build a Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board, we use a mix. But when I want to make some from scratch, this is the homemade recipe we use.  

    Scroll down to the end of the post for a printable recipe card with full measurements and more detailed instructions.

    Ingredients

    • milk
    • orange rind
    • semi-sweet baking chocolate bar
    • ground cardamom

    I used 1% milk because that is what we had in the house. But whole milk would make it super creamy and delicious. 

    The Pioneer Woman likes a mix of milk and cream. And you could also substitute a non-dairy alternative.

    You could also substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips if that's all you had. It shouldn't change the flavor too much.

    A saucepan on a counter next to a small jar of ground cardamom.

    I've made this recipe with whole cardamom pods, cracked to steep their flavor into the milk, but using powdered cardamom is just easier. And I couldn't find pods this time around.

    You also get a little bit more flavor and since I love how cardamom tastes, I don't want it to be too subtle.

    These ingredients smell amazing! Making this recipe will make your nose happy.

    And orange with the peel peeled off and on the counter next to it.

    Directions

    Grab an orange and a peeler. Taking care not to get too much of the white pith under the skin, peel of the skin of half an orange.

    The orange flavor is so clean and bright and totally reminds me of Christmas thanks to my mom making me candied orange peel every year while growing up.

    Saucepan of milk on the stove with orange peels in it.

    To a saucepan, add the milk, orange peel and ground cardamom.

    When heating milk, make sure that you stir often over a medium to low flame so you don't scald it. It doesn't smell good when it burns. 

    Not that I've done that...

    Close up of a plate with chopped chocolate and a measuring cup with chocolate chips in the background.

    Chop up the baking chocolate. I didn't have quite enough for the recipe so I used some semi-sweet chocolate chips to make sure it was chocolate-y enough.

    Baking chocolate usually has less added sugar and has a rich flavor. I love dark chocolate so if this is too bitter for you, feel free to sweeten it up with a little sugar.

    A saucpan on a stove with milk and chocolate melting in.

    Once the milk has come to a boil, I skimmed out the orange peel and threw them away. 

    Then I added the roughly chopped chocolate to the pan. It will take about 20 minutes to get it nice and melted. You may still see a few chocolate speckles.

    Overhead shot of a mug of hot chocolate.

    You might not ever make plain old hot chocolate again.

    I ladled the hot chocolate in the mug. You could top it with whipped cream but I'm not a fan so I didn't.

    Even though cardamom is a unique flavor the kids still like it because it's a bit similar to cinnamon.

    A mug with a leopard print on a counter next to a saucepan.

    I added a little bit of fresh orange peel to the top of my mug. I love garnishing drinks like that because you get a nice strong scent as you bring the cup to your mouth.

    So make yourself a batch of this yummy, comforting Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate and don't forget to check out the other amazing hot chocolate recipes from Jill's blog hop (listed below!).

    More hot chocolate recipes to browse

    • This creamy and rich White Hot Chocolate recipe is a great alternative to the standard cocoa.
    • Mexican Hot Chocolate by Pattie of Living Mi Vida Loca. I love cinnamon in my hot cocoa and I make a version of this every year.
    • Check out Linsey's Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. YUM!
    • The kids will love Caryn's Peppermint Hot Chocolate Floats!
    • No hot chocolate is complete without the perfect topping! Jill shows you how to make a yummy Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Cream Topping.
    Close up of a leopard print mug holding hot chocolate.

    Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate

    Creamy and unique this Orange Cardamom Hot Chocolate recipe is full of flavor and a great way to ease into winter.
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    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 185kcal
    Author: Sharon Garofalow

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups whole milk
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate
    • Pieces of orange rind from half an orange plus extra for garnishing
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

    Instructions

    • Using a vegetable peeler, peel pieces of rind from the orange (taking care to not get too much of the white under the peel). Set aside some peels to garnish.
    • Add milk, cardamom and orange peel to a saucepan.
    • Bring to a boil, stirring often. Boil for 5-7 minutes for orange flavor to infuse in the milk.
    • Strain out orange peels.
    • Chop baking chocolate and add to the saucepan.
    • Stir often until chocolate is melted through.
    • Ladle into mugs and garnish with an orange peel.

    Notes

    I used a semi-sweet baking bar but it didn't make a full cup so I also included some semi-sweet chocolate chips to total a cup.
    I have this recipe set to 8 servings, but if you like a larger portion (the mug I'm showing is really large) you will only get about 4 servings.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 55mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!
    Close up of a cup of hot chocolate with a piece of orange peel on top with text around it.

    Pin to save this Cardamom Orange Hot Chocolate recipe for later!

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    About Sharon Garofalow

    Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tee says

      December 11, 2013 at 1:07 pm

      Wow! this sounds delicious!

      Reply
    2. Kristin says

      December 03, 2013 at 2:02 pm

      yuuuuuuum!!!!!

      Reply
    3. Jill says

      December 01, 2013 at 9:58 pm

      YUM!!!!!! I have actually never cooked with cardamom before. I am really interested. Thanks for the amazing recipe….I am excited to try it out.

      Reply
    4. Jamie says

      December 01, 2013 at 11:23 am

      You know, I don't think I've ever had Cardamom, but I love the taste of orange and chocolate together =) Bet it tastes heavily.

      Reply

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    Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at [email protected]

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