Lindt Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bar.
Trashed up hot chocolate. It’s the way to go.
And it’s hot chocolate season… so we’re doing it. We’re doing THIS.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend almost a week in New Hampshire and Boston with Lindt chocolate, visiting their corporate offices and basically getting elbow-deep in cocoa for days. I’ve never eaten more chocolate in my LIFE. Seriously.
It was insanely fabulous.
Obviously I’ve known about Lindt forever and have bought (and eaten?) more than my fair share of truffles and bars (the best to bake with!), but I had no idea the passion behind the brand. It sold me. You know I’m a wacky crazy passion person and when I see that spark? I’m hooked. The passion and dedication and perfection that goes in to every bite of delicious freaking chocolate? Is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
Soooo in the spirit of the super chilly weather we are currently experiencing (not going to lie, I adore it), I made a Lindt-inspired hot chocolate bar because right now in pregnancy I want ALL the drinks! It’s very odd. I don’t care about food so much as I do about beverages. Flavor flavor flavor… gimme.
I used to only drink water. It was all I liked. Things were weird. I no longer know me.
Now. There are actually four main brands of chocolate that go on behind the scenes of Lindt, and while I didn’t really realize that, I’ve definitely, um, partook (is that a word?) in all four… so I wanted to hit ALL of that with my hot chocolate. You probably already know what they are because if you’re anything like me, and live inside of Target, you visit the chocolate aisle quite frequently. Each brand is, well… branded fabulously – and was so inspiring.
First off, I made a dark hot chocolate base and a white hot chocolate base. Oh yes, we will get to that white hot chocolate bombshell here in a second, since it’s all new to me. I whisked my hot chocolate on the stovetop, but did you know that you can make ACTUAL hot sipping chocolate by warming milk (I like a half and half mixture of milk and cream) and whisking in three of your favorite LINDOR truffles? Seriously. You gotta try this. It’s nuts. Please do it today and tell me about it. Specifically with the chocolate peanut butter truffle.
Anyhoo.
I made a chocolate chip cookies and cream hot chocolate, based on my favorite HELLO candy, the cookies and cream. I’ve always gone crazy over this because it’s CHOCOLATE CHIP cookies and cream. Not like regular cookies and cream. A full-on white chocolate hot chocolate had to happen, which I completed with some homemade vanilla bean marshmallows, freshly whipped cream, white chocolate truffles and iridescent sprinkles. Because I am a child, of course. And Another dark chocolate version: infused with fresh mint, whipped cream and topped with an intense mint EXCELLENCE diamond… ugh. Sign me up.
On the flavor bar went a bunch of flavors that I never would have included previously – and that I was certain would freak everyone else out – but ones that WORKED. I knew it once I tasted them weeks ago, and I love when I’m surprised by flavors that I’d never think to try by myself. For example: dried pineapple, a whisk of cayenne pepper, cranberries and citrus peel. Things totally out of my comfort zone but now… forever in my life.
Um wait. Let’s talk about actually VISITING Lindt. First, the offices near the plant actually SMELL like chocolate. Not joking. I can’t even fathom being near it 24/7 – it’s like heaven on earth. We toured the chocolate plant and I actually ate a white chocolate truffle right off the line.
This is huge. I have ranted about my hatred for white chocolate for YEARS – and then almost died when I tasted this still-warm truffle because it melted in my mouth. Probably one of the best things I’ve ever tasted and my thoughts on GOOD quality white chocolate have been changed. I might have come home with a gigantic bag of white chocolate truffles….
No. I most definitely did.
That’s the other thing. We got to go on a little ‘shopping spree’ of the Lindt store in Boston. You know how I always whine about how I can’t choose favorites, how I can never pick my all-time favorite song or food or movie or color or recipe? Well. This was that times a million.
I was – quite literally – a kid in a candy store. Full disclosure: Lindt provided us with a $100 gift card to run wild in the store. Did I go over the $100 limit? Of course I did. My gluttonous tendencies came over and I walked out of there with a lot more chocolate than I needed on my credit card.
[Sidebar: the best part was when I returned home from Richmond a few weeks ago, I noticed that a bunch of bags of LINDOR truffles were open and sitting out. I was like… what the heck? Eddie never eats stuff like that, he much prefers cookies and brownies no matter how high-end the chocolate is. Turns out, he discovered the truffles, dug into them and hasn’t stopped eating them since. We actually have tried to hide the chocolate from ourselves… very unsuccessfully. He just scarfed some last night. It’s made passing up Halloween candy very easy. I’m being so chocolate snobby right now.]
We got to do some other awesome things in New Hampshire and Boston too: for a play on Lindt’s seasonal chocolate (uhhh can you say white chocolate peppermint truffles?!), we had an afternoon of crafts, which yes, was my worst nightmare since I can’t craft a darn thing, but was also pretty fun. We made Valentine’s mason jars stuffed with chocolate and mine looked like hot pink and neon pink and reddish-pink and hearts and glitter threw up all over my project. It’s currently sitting on my nightstand right now. We also made our own boxes of their specialty chocolates… which might have already been devoured. Oops.
To enjoy the famous “melt moment” of LINDOR truffles (no, seriously, just eat one – doesn’t it melt in your mouth?!), we had a spa mani-pedi day, which was incredibly relaxing and delicious. To emphasize the Lindt HELLO chocolates (dude remember when I instagrammed these like over a year ago?!), we did a scavenger hunt in Boston which tooootally forced me out of my comfort zone and had us exploring the city all day.
Before that I also ate some wonderful baked goat cheese as fuel. All other things aside.
And perhaps my favorite part, well, as favorite as it can be while pregnant – we had a chocolate and wine pairing with the Lindt EXCELLENCE bars. GAH. I did have four tiiiiny sips of wine – one with each piece. I was introduced to some of my new favorite chocolates here – things that I NEVER thought I’d enjoy. For instance: the dark chocolate pineapple bar. Um, what? Never in a million years would I pick that up but it was incredible and is my new favorite bar.
Also: the dark chocolate lemon bar. And the black currant bar. I just can’t even. I’ve always gravitated towards the sea salt chocolate bar, but now that just seems too plain. Give me the fruit. See? Even attempting to choose a favorite is turning into a disaster. It was just such an awesome trip. Even though I didn’t want to see any chocolate for a week (err, okay, a day) after.
Below you’ll find some of these crazy hot chocolate recipes I threw together, like, um, THIS ONE that I instagrammed a few days ago. I’m so madly in love. Drink your dessert!
Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bar
Ingredients
dark chocolate hot chocolate base
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups cream or half and half
- 4 ounces 70% dark chocolate chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
white hot chocolate base
- 1/3 cup sugar
- pinch of salt
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups cream or half and half
- 8 ounces white chocolate chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
on the flavor bar:
- vanilla bean marshmallows // freshly whipped cream // chocolate chip cookies // brownies // salted caramel // fresh mint leaves // cayenne pepper // hot red chiles // fat flaked coconut // dried pineapple rings // peanut butter // honey roasted peanuts // citrus slices or candied citrus rind // chocolate squares and truffles of your choice // pure extracts: almond, coconut, peppermint and vanilla // sprinkles (DUH)
Instructions
dark chocolate hot chocolate base
- In a large bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the milk and cream. Bring it to a simmer, stirring every few minutes. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the hot milk to the cocoa and sugar, mixing thoroughly to create a paste. Once the entire thing is wet, use a spatula to add it to the milk and turn the heat down to low. Whisk continuously until smooth (do not let it boil), then whisk in the chopped chocolate and vanilla extract.
white hot chocolate base
- In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and salt. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the milk and cream. Bring it to a simmer, stirring every few minutes. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the hot milk to the sugar, mixing thoroughly to create a paste. Once the entire thing is wet, use a spatula to add it to the milk and turn the heat down to low. Whisk continuously until smooth (do not let it boil), then whisk in the chopped white chocolate and vanilla extract.
- for chocolate chip cookies and cream hot chocolate: before filling your mug, rub frosting (from the tub is fine!) or honey (you need a sticky substance) along the rim of the mug. Crush 2 chocolate chips cookies into crumbs and press the crumbs into the sticky rim. Fill the mug with hot chocolate, then top it with whipped cream, marshmallows, a big cookie and a cookies and cream HELLO chocolate.
- for mint hot chocolate: use the dark hot chocolate base and add one cup fresh mint leaves to the milk mixture while warming. To intensify the mint flavor, add a drop or two of pure peppermint extract. Remove the mint leaves before serving. Top with whipped cream, marshmallows and fresh mint leaves. (Additionally, if you’d really like to up the ante, you can make the entire recipe with an EXCELLENCE intense mint chocolate bar.)
- for spicy chile hot chocolate: use the dark chocolate base and whisk in 1/4 teaspoon (or more, if you like!) of cayenne pepper. Top the hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows and hot red chili peppers as garnish. Add a squash of chile chocolate on top. (Additionally, if you’d really like to up the ante, you can make the entire recipe with an EXCELLENCE chile chocolate bar.)
- for peanut butter hot chocolate: use the dark chocolate base and whisk in 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter once the chocolate has melted. Top the hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows and honey roasted peanuts.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
And seriously seriously… you gotta find the dark chocolate pineapple bar. Trust me on this one. I KNOW. P.S. I had been to Boston before, which I really love, but New Hampshire?! HELLO. YOU ARE GORGEOUS!
114 Comments on “Lindt Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bar.”
This just absolutely made my day. Waking up to all kinds of Lindt chocolate goodness? YES please. I actually was hunting like a mad woman for their truffles at the store yesterday but could not find any. SAD DAY.
Will drink this is make the world better. Pinned!
I absolutely love lindt chocolate, their truffles are one of favorites. I could do with a cup or two of those delicous looking hot chocolate bars
Need to figure out a way to incorporate some booze into this hot chocolate! Maybe peppermint Schnapps???
What a fun experience! It would be fun to have a party where people can customize their own hot chocolate.
HOLY MOTHER OF CHOCOLATE — I seriously want every single one of them!! You my dear, just up’d the hot chocolate game ~ YUM!!
This sounds amazing. Lindt truffles are my fave! I’m looking at the white chocolate peppermint ones on my desk right now!! Can you please share the milk ratio for the sipping chocolate with the 3 truffles? Pretty please!
Holy cow Batman! This sounds like the best trip ever. Chocolate and fall and oh my gosh I’m dying. YUM!
Heaven! The LIndor white chocolate truffles are my absoulte favorite. Can’t wait to make that white hot chocolate.
Wow this is quite a post! So much info, so much PASSION, so many details and quite literally being a kid in a candy store, I can only imagine! “We actually have tried to hide the chocolate from ourselves… very unsuccessfully.” Oh that says it all, and that Eddie is going after these too, nice :) I love that you had such a great experience and trips and things like those, where you just really have such an over the top good time, ahhhh, those are the best! All love all of your versions of hot chocolate! Pinned!
Pineapple? Chocolate? Bar? I’m dead.
Oh and for the mint one…did you mean to put the chili bar in it? :D
My father-in-law works for a company that distributes fine chocolates and cheeses… If I wasn’t snobby about chocolate before, he certainly has converted me to the dark side (like that? dark side. Slapping my knee.) :-)
Your trip sounds amazing… But equally wonderful is this hot chocolate. Damn.
White chocolate truffles.. OMG! This hot chocolate bar has me turning my nose up and this hot tea sitting on my desk.. :) I’ll take that cup in the first pic please!!
Would it be acceptable to use a ladle to just scoop this goodness into my mouth? I think so.
A hot chocolate that you almost have to eat with a spoon not dirnk, its the way to indulge this season! Love it!
This is AMAZING! When I first saw that the title said “hot chocolate bar” I thought you were just making hot chocolate with bars of chocolate, but this is so much better (in Argentina there is a drink called a submarino where they bring you a mug of steamed milk with a special chocolate bar on the side…you put it in, let it melt, then stir. sometimes the bar of chocolate is even shaped like a submarine!). I think the mint cocoa will be my favorite…usually I achieve that flavor combo by adding a shot of peppermint schnapps, but real mint leaves have to be better!
So glad you had fun in my city! :)
gah….isn’t that dark chocolate pineapple bar INSANE?! it’s my new favorite.
Oh my word. You can “trash up” hot chocolate for me any day! : ) That time you spent with Lindt is like a dream come true for a chocoholic like myself. We’re actually off to Boston, NH, Maine in a few days…wish I was going to be elbow-deep in cocoa but I’m make do by looking at these pics and reading this post. Sounds like an awesome experience…love your hot chocolates! :)
OMG this made my whole week!!! when I saw your instagram post last night I was HOPING we’d see the recipe. woohoo!!!
The chilli chocolate one has me wanting to spice thing up! I seriously dream of one day going to one of those large Lindt stores where I can stare at the large rows of truffle balls then gorge myself in to a sugar coma on the dessert bar. You are so lucky to have such an experience with people with a passion for chocolate!
Dark chocolate pineapple bar!?! I’m in love…like, real love!! Also, this hot chocolate is gorgeous!!
I seriously don’t have enough words to describe how amazingly awesome this looks! HOLY COW!!!!!! Hot chocolate bar? GENIUS! Just everything about this post makes me want to rush home and have hot chocolate stat!
oh yum! I am in a total salted caramel hot chocolate phase! I am completely in love with the Northeast; Vermont is one of my favourite states (have only visited in the fall – THE COLOURS!) and it was even better when stopping into the NH Lindt factory store on the way home.
this is crazy good! Like something you would pay $15 for at a froo froo restaurant or something. I gotta get in on this!
Goat cheese as fuel… that is how I want to live my life. But also with Lindt truffles and chocolate as fuel. That too.
A kid in a candy store! SOOOO lucky! What a fun and amazing trip. I’ve been wanting to do a lot of ‘bars’ and never get around to it. This is the perfect holiday idea! Thanks for sharing about your chocolate adventure!
OMG, dying over all of these. the things I would do for some chocolate right now. instead, just drooling over here at my desk.
What a fun idea! I would love to cuddle up to a big mug of this after a long day of work :)
Emily
http://www.workinggirlafterhours.com
I love sipping hot chocolate on the couch with my husband, cuddled under a blank, in front of the fireplace so needless to say I’m TOTALLY trying these. Which do I start with first? Oh the decisions! :)
Oh my gosh, it sounds like you went to chocolate heaven. I love the Lindt sea salt chocolate bar, so I can only imagine how delicious the other flavours are! I need this hot chocolate in my life right now!!
GOOD LORD I’m drooling!
That one with the spicy chili!! HOLY. COW. need/WANT
I know exactly what you mean about the white chocolate truffles. In theory, I can’t stand white chocolate (It seems so oily or something, no?), but in Lindt, I love it : ) ~ Great post, with so many great ideas to try!
Hot Chocolate Bar? My dream.
Yum! I’m originally from NH and there is a Lindt outlet in the town where my family lives…dangerous indeed. :) I’m going to have to try your hot chocolate recipe–homemade is just the best!
You are no longer my pal, I am no longer reading your blog, that’s it! This is just too much. My stomach wants EVERYTHING x
http://www.wild-cherrytree.com
This pretty much sounds like a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except it’s Jessica and the Chocolate Factory. Ha! What a dreammmmmm…I’m not even a huge chocolate person, and I’m positively drooling over this post…
OMG Jessica I can’t even with this. Too much amazingness in one place. I would have come home from that trip looking like I WAS pregnant even though I’m not lol…I would have stuffed my face and wouldn’t even have cared that I have to squeeze into a wedding dress in a few months (eek!) I love all of your different varieties and how you garnished that one with the chili peppers. Adorbs, and also, spicy hot chocolate I’m dying to have a big mug of it. I just want to take all of those marshmallows out of the cups and eat them all with the bottom part being covered in your fancy hot chocolate. It would just be THE BEST. Okay that’s it for now…you’re fabulous XO
Visiting Lindt while you are preggers?!?! Amazing. I loved all drinks too. Ice cream floats and grape juice with a ton of crushed ice. That was dinner every night of my last month. YUM. Great post :)
I’m in love! I’ve been drooling over this since I saw you post a photo on Instagram which seems like forever ago! ;)
i have no words. I want to move into this post. It is bringing back memories of living in NYC and going to Serendipity (been there? I hope so!).
Wow, yum!! Sounds like an awesome trip. The dark chocolate mint sounds soo good. I’m sure you’ve tried the Vosges chocolate bars (which are super good), but you should definitely try their exotic truffles…there is a sweet Indian curry and coconut milk chocolate one!
How did you make it out of there alive?! Seriously, awesome opportunity if it inspired you to make this deliciousness.
Oh my, I want this right now!
Wow, that is incredible. That looks like a dream.
Sounds like such a fun trip!! Those hot chocolates look INSANE..definitely gonna have to make them..it’s been so chilly here in MD!
Wow. The way you styled the hot chocolate makes me want to dive right into the screen!! Especially the way you used the whipped cream… It looks like a cloud of perfection.
I am TOTALLY down with the spicy chile hot chocolate! Yes. Please.
As someone who actually lives in Switzerland, the country of Lindt, I find it funny that we can’t even get half of the flavours here! :) I once went to an outlet mall in NJ and stopped by the Lindt shop (obvs!) and they had PEPPERMINT BLACK CHOCOLATE Lindor balls there! I live in the country of chocolate and can’t get those here!!! sigh.. Time for me to buy a ticket to the US again soon!
Oh my gosh how can I get a trip like that!?! Sign me up! I’ll take a huge face plant into every single mug please.
Since you were talking about weird fruit chocolate combinations…my boyfriend has family in New Zealand, and every year he brings me back a milk chocolate kiwi fruit bar. It has kiwi candies in it, and it is so so good. These hot chocolate recipes look amazing as well. :)