Chocolate-Spiced Mexican Hot Drink with Cinnamon and Chili

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A warm, comforting Oaxacan-style hot chocolate infused with cinnamon and a hint of chili, perfect for cozy evenings. This Mexican-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, brings together unsweetened Mexican chocolate, whole milk, cinnamon stick for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 4, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mexican cuisine 210 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, combine 4 cups whole milk, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1/4 tsp ground ancho chili powder. Heat over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Step 2: In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water until smooth to form a slurry.
  3. Step 3: Add 100 g chopped unsweetened Mexican chocolate and 2 tbsp granulated sugar to the milk mixture, stirring until chocolate is melted and sugar is dissolved.
  4. Step 4: Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and continue cooking over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes until the hot chocolate thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract. Serve hot in mugs, optionally sprinkled with extra cinnamon or chili powder.

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