Champurrado-Mexican Hot Chocolate
I absolutely love the movie “Chocolat” starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp.
I’ll be honest, when I first watched it years ago, it was for one reason and one reason only: so I could moon over the physical perfection that is the The Johnny. (That’s what we call him in my house.) However, once we actually finished it, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie itself. It had some of my favorite actors in it (Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche), and the plot itself was very creative; a woman and her daughter travel from country to country opening chocolate shops and selling sweets with healing/magical powers to fix the lives of the people that buy them. It’s one of those cute, heartwarming, happy ending films to watch on sad rainy days, or on quiet Friday nights on your lonesome when you have nothing to do.
Not that I’m speaking from my own experience or anything.
I still watch Chocolat on a pretty regular basis, but nowadays, I find my attention caught by more than just the good plot and The Johnny’s smoldering gaze ( which God knows is enough of an incentive all on its own).
I also love watching it for the food. But you guys knew that about me by now, I’m sure.
Kudos have got to go the director of photography of this movie for filling it with so many gratuitous shots of rich, decadent chocolate. Word of warning: don’t sit down and watch this if you’re hungry and without any access to food. By the time it’s over you WILL be hangry (yes hangry: hungry AND angry. A lethal combination for me).
Juliette Binoche’s character in the movie descends from the Ancient Aztecs, who believed that the cacao bean held magical powers. As such, they would grind it up and melt it down into a thick, rich drink that became hot chocolate. Aztec hot chocolate is shown throughout the movie to have a very strong effect on everyone who comes to the chocolate shop to try it. They take one sip and this mysterious music starts playing in the background- as if all their dreams were coming true from just drinking this stuff. Overly dramatic? Oh yeah. Justified? I wasn’t sure…until now.
Don’t quote me on it, but I think that today’s Aztec Hot Chocolate has more or less trickled down into what we now know as Champurrado, or Mexican Hot Chocolate. I’d always wanted to try it, and recently all the stars came into alignment in my pantry (i.e., I finally had all the ingredients to make me quit procrastinating).
Before I get into how Champurrado tastes, let me be clear about one thing: this is NOT what you would typically think of as ‘Americanized’ hot cocoa. For one, the masa harina makes this drink thick, almost to the point of a gravy consistency. Second, the masa gives it a slight corn-y aftertaste and although that may not sound appetizing, for some reason it just really works. Please, for the love of God, don’t try to use any substitutes for the Mexican chocolate. This recipe just doesn’t count at all if you do. You can’t beat that dark, rich flavor that the Mexican chocolate disks give to it. The one thing I would give you a free pass on would be the piloncillo because for a while, I didn’t even know what that stuff was.My mom ‘just happened’ to bring some home one day and since I didn’t know what the heck else to use it for, I decided to use it for my Champurrado. It’s a funny looking cone of solid sugar that you break down and crumble- I softened mine in the microwave for a few second increments.But brown sugar will also work fine.
Once again, this is not American cocoa. Having said that, I have to let you all know that this Champurrado is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. It’s rich, smooth and creamy; slightly bitter from the chocolate, immediately sweet from the sugar, and the masa harina finally providing a delicate balance between the two in the aftertaste. I’m never going back to my old, misguided Swiss Miss ways, you guys. I’ve seen the light now.
If that doesn’t sell you on this drink, then let this do it’s job:
The Johnny.
Drinking Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Those eyes. Sigh.
….Excuse me. I need a minute to myself now.
******************************************************************
Champurrado-Mexican Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Instant Corn Masa
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Brown Sugar Cane (Piloncillo), chopped, or 8 oz. brown sugar
- 2 disks (3 oz. each) Mexican chocolate, like Abuelita, chopped
- 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Add corn masa to large, heavy sauce pot. Using whisk, slowly add 4 cups water, whisking constantly until smooth and combined. Place saucepot over medium-high heat; bring corn masa mixture to a boil.
2. Add milk, sugar cane, chocolate and cinnamon to pot. Bring milk mixture to boil, whisking constantly, until chocolate is melted and sugar cane is dissolved, 5-7 minutes more.
3. Remove pot from heat. Divide champurrado evenly among serving mugs.
I loved the movie to pieces. Not just b/c of johnny, like you, but also the recipes. I was and am still fascinated with them. Have not seen it in a while but will def rewatch again and see what inspiration I can get from it again 🙂 thank you for the recipe 🙂
Thank YOU 🙂
Ok you got me looking at Johnny (he is so hot) and I had to bring myself back to the hot chocolate. I have never had Mexican hot chocolate but have had Italian which is similar but instead of Masa it uses flour, semolina or cornstarch, It’s more like pudding, Must try this, I actually like the idea of thickening with Masa. Sounds wonderful.
I’d never had it either Suzanne, but I am SO glad I gave it a try. It really is great- thanks 🙂
Um yes, Jess! It’s the perfect time for hot chocolate! I actually haven’t had Mexican hot chocolate before, but yours look so good, I’ll have to give it a try! And oh my gosh! Have you heard? There might be a shortage in chocolate! Better stock up now!! =)
Whoa, shortage on chocolate?! The world is coming to an eeeeeeeend!
I will DEFINITELY be stocking up on Abuelita tablets and Snicker bars…
Thanks!
I feel the same way!!
I haven’t heard of champurrado before. If it’s good for Johnny it’s…..you know. 🙂 I love chocolate though so I am sure I would love this too.
If anything is good for Johnny, it’s good for me lol Thanks Julie!
The movie “Chocolat” is superb and Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp are fantastic. Jess your recipe looks tasty and really tempting 🙂
Thank you Linda, it’s one of my favorite movies- Juliette and Johnny have great chemistry- and of course the food part doesn’t hurt either 🙂
I love that you call him The Johnny! I was absolutely obsessed with him for most of my teenage years. He’s just so gorgeous!
This hot chocolate sounds so thick and sludgy (in a good way!) and like it would coat your insides with warmth and love and happiness! Apart from the milk and cinnamon, I don’t think we can get any of the ingredients in the UK, so I’ll just have to dream about it instead!
Yeah, he’s old enough to be my dad but I don’t care. I still crush on him/The Johnny is…sigh.
It is kinda sludgy, but I LOVE that part. It has so much body and you can feel it sliding down your throat in the best kind of way.It’s too bad you don’t get some of the ingredients in Australia 🙁
Thanks Alice 🙂
Mmmhhhh delicious, thank you very much Jess….💗💗💗
No thank YOU for commenting, I appreciate it 😀
Hmm I can’t decide what looks more delicious 😊 your wonderful champurrado or JD! Yumm!
TOUGH call Naina- even I can’t tell you that lol Thanks 😉
Looks like a cupful of chocolate heaven! Sounds delicious too. 🙂
Indeed Nancy- this really is unlike any hot chocolate I’ve ever had…and the best. Thank you!
I’ve tried Mexican hot chocolates like Abuelita but never with the corn masa. I’d love to give this a few sips! :] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
Oh you HAVE to try it with the masa Carmen- it makes ALL the difference. Thank you 🙂
I love, love, love that movie & the book! And yes The Johnny is yummy too!🙊 An awesome post of the scrumptious chocolate!!👌
Thank you so much 😀