Rick Baylesss Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipes

MEXICAN HOT-CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined.
• In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and chile powder (if using). Using heaping tablespoons, form balls of dough and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place, about 3 inches apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set in center and begin to crack, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely. (Store in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, simmer the milk and chocolate for a few minutes, stirring constantly to dissolve the chocolate.
• Either pour into a pitcher and beat well with a Mexican molinillo (chocolate beater), a whisk or an electric mixer, or pour into a blender, cover loosely and blend until thoroughly mixed. Either way, you should wind up with a nicely frothy drink. Serve immediately.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE STREUSEL CAKE (PASTEL DE CHOCOLATE MEXICANO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour a 13x9-inch pan. Set aside.
• Pulse half of the chocolate in a food processor until it is like coarse crumbs. Set aside.
• Streusel topping: Add the other half of the chocolate to the processor and pulse until coarse crumbs. Mix the egg yolk with the salt and stir to dissolve the salt. Add to the processor along with the 7 Tbsp butter and 1 cup flour. Pulse until thoroughly combined and crumbly, but not a paste. Set aside.
• Cake: Sift together the 1 3/4 cups flour and baking powder. With an electric mixer, on medium speed, combine cream cheese, 1 cup butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing between each one. Add the flour mixture and beat for 1 minute, until just mixed. Gently stir in the reserved chopped chocolate, making sure not to overmix.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and crumble the streusel evenly over top, breaking up any large lumps.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.