A thick and comforting Mexican hot chocolate made with masa harina, cinnamon, and piloncillo.
Author:Caroline Hayes
Prep Time:10 min
Cook Time:20 min
Total Time:30 min
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Beverage
Method:Stovetop
Cuisine:Mexican
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1/2 cup masa harina
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1 cone piloncillo (or 1/2 cup brown sugar)
1 cup milk
4 ounces Mexican chocolate (like Abuelita or Ibarra), chopped
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the masa harina and 1 cup of water until smooth. This creates a slurry to prevent lumps.
Add the remaining 3 cups of water, cinnamon stick, and piloncillo to the saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the masa to cook through.
Remove the cinnamon stick.
Stir in the milk and chopped Mexican chocolate.
Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted and the champurrado has thickened to your desired consistency. Do not boil.
Serve hot.
Notes
Champurrado is naturally thickened by the masa harina, giving it a distinct texture and flavor compared to regular hot cocoa.
For a smoother consistency, you can strain the champurrado before serving.
Serve with tamales or pan de muerto for an authentic experience.