Salted caramel hot chocolate

Salted caramel is one of my favourite things in the world, the saltiness and the sweetness is just so good together. Add that to a nice warm frothy mug of hot chocolate and you have something close to warm, wintery, sweet tooth heaven. 

Makes 2 large mugs

Salted caramel sauce:

1 cup golden caster sugar

1/4 cup water

1 tsp treacle

1 knob butter

2 tbsp double cream

Big pinch of flakey sea salt

Heat the sugar and water in a pan. Keep stirring and watch closely until you're left with a dark golden brown, clear syrup. This should take over 10mins, so don't freak out if it takes a while. Add your teaspoon of treacle and continue to stir until you're left with a glorious dark nectar. Add the salt. Turn the heat right down and stir in the butter, followed by the cream. Put to one side. 

Hot chocolate:

50g good quality dark chocolate

50g milk chocolate

1pint milk

Blitz the chocolate in a food processor until you're left with a fine, soft, chocolate gravel. Pop into a jug and put to one side. Heat the milk and just before it begins to boil, pour in the chocolate. Stir until totally melted. 

Pour a few glugs of caramel into the bottom of the mugs, pour in the hot chocolate, top with whipped cream and drizzle with extra caramel.

Light a few candles and snuggle down with someone delicious.

Recipe from The Londonder