Summer Chocolate Milk

OK..  I've gone crazy...  Who would drink chocolate milk in the heat of the summer?  You will after you read this recipe - and you'll share it with your friends and neighbors!!

This is a simple chocolate milk reinterpreted in a decadent form of rich  chocolate ice that slowly melts into almond milk deliciously flavored with vanilla. 

Chocolate ice 

• 1 cup unsweetened Almond milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon Splenda (or more to taste)
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee (optional) 
• 3 oz dark chocolate (66% or higher)

Vanilla  Almond Milk

• 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 2/3 cup Splenda (or equivalent sweetener)
• 1 vanilla pod

For the Chocolate Ice (12-14 cubes) 

Finely chop the chocolate and place in a heat proof bowl. 

Pour the almond milk and water in a saucepan, add sweetener, cocoa and optional instant coffee and mix thoroughly to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Remove from heat and pour the milk mixture over the chocolate, let it melt 5 minutes then stir gently with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy.

Cool and pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. 

For vanilla almond milk

Pour the almond milk into a large saucepan, add sweetener and stir to dissolve.

Slit the vanilla pod in the center, scrape the seeds and put them in the pan.

Bring to a boil over medium heat then remove from heat. 

Let cool.

Refrigerate several hours or preferably overnight.

Hint:  Pre-packaged Vanilla Almond milk works just fine if you don't want to make your own.

To Serve

Place the chocolate ice in glasses (depending on the size of the glasses 3-4 ice cubes) and pour in the ice cold vanilla almond milk.

Cook's Notes:  

I used almond milk because I like it.  There is no reason you couldn't substitute your favorite milk of choice.

I rubbed the rims of my glasses with an orange slice and dipped them in a tiny bit of Splenda.

Experiment with spices to enhance the chocolate taste: coffee, pepper, chili, cinnamon...  all with dramatic effect...

Enhance this even more by serving the drinks with whipped cream (or sugar free Cool Whip) and shaved chocolate curls.  Turn it into a gourmet dessert by mixing almond milk with No Sugar Added vanilla ice cream for a creamy milkshake.

For those of you so inclined, there is the option of a splash of Kahlua to make the ADULT version.

Of course, stirring in a little unflavored or vanilla protein powder is always a great excuse to have something tasty to drink!