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Latest / 30-Minute / No. 43
Champurrado
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30-Minute

Champurrado

A thick, warming Mexican chocolate drink thickened with masa harina and sweetened with piloncillo and cinnamon. Traditional with tamales and pan de muerto for Día de Muertos.

Prep5 min
Cook15 min
Total20 min
Serves4

What you'll need

Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovenFor soups, stews and braises
AmazonWalmart
Mixing bowl setFor mixing and marinating
AmazonWalmart

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups whole milk, divided
  • 1/3 cup masa harina
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 oz Mexican chocolate (such as a tablet), chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped piloncillo or packed dark brown sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps

  1. Whisk 1 cup of the milk with the masa harina in a bowl until completely smooth.
  2. Heat the remaining milk with the cinnamon stick in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
  3. Add the chocolate, piloncillo and salt and whisk until melted and dissolved.
  4. Whisk in the masa mixture and bring to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly so it doesn't stick or lump.
  5. Simmer 5 to 8 minutes, until thickened to the consistency of a thin pudding. Remove the cinnamon and stir in the vanilla.
  6. Froth with a whisk or molinillo and serve hot in mugs.

TipIf it gets lumpy, pour it through a fine sieve or give it a quick blend before serving.