Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Recipe

This signature recipe from the Great Hall of The Omni Grove Park Inn just the thing for sipping by a crackling fire on a cold night. Although store-bought marshmallows will work just fine, the Omni Grove Park's homemade confections can't be beat.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk 
• ¼-½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips (such as Ghiradelli) 
• ½ cup caramel sauce (recipe below) 
• sweetened whipped cream or vanilla marshmallows 
• grated chocolate and course sea salt for garnish, optional 

Caramel Sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• ¼ cup water 
• ¼ cup salted butter 
• 2/3 cup heavy cream

Method

1. For the carmel sauce: Gather all of your ingredients and have them nearby ready to add to the mixture as needed. 
2. In a heavy-bottomed 3 quart saucepan, heat sugar and water over moderately high heat whisking constantly to dissolve sugar. 
3. Once mixture reaches a boil, stop whisking and allow mixture to boil until it reaches a dark amber color, carefully swirling pan occasionally. 
4. Once mixture reaches a dark amber color, immediately add butter and whisk until butter has melted then immediately remove from heat. 
5. Wait 3 seconds then carefully pour in cream and immediately whisk to combine (it will bubble vigorously). 
6. Whisk until mixture is smooth. 
7. Allow caramel to cool several minutes then pour into a glass jar to cool. 
8. While caramel sauce is cooling, heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 
9. Once milk is warm, stir in chocolate chips and caramel, and cook, whisking constantly until chocolate has melted. 
10. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm, topped with sweetened whipped cream or miniature marshmallows. 
11. Drizzle each serving with 1 Tbsp caramel sauce and garnish with grated chocolate if desired. 

NOTE: For a richer hot chocolate, you can use up to ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips and mix in more caramel sauce as well if desired.