Enjoy a cosy family night in with this yummy hot chocolate recipe

Cash & Carry Kitchens are proud to partner with Cliona O’Connor for our series of seasonal family recipes. As we prepare for the Christmas festivities, Cliona treats us to delicious mugs of hot chocolate in our Lyndale Kitchen. The featured kitchen includes some lovely features like a spice rack, a beautiful Belfast sink and a classic curved canopy.

“It's gorgeous”, says Cliona.

Cliona O'Connor's Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 300 - 400mls milk
• 50mls cream
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 orange, zested (peel with a vegetable peeler to get zest strips)
• 0.5 tsp ground ginger
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 0.5  tsp allspice
• 0.5 tsp of vanilla extract
• 100g milk/dark chocolate (mixed and chopped) 

Method

1. Add the milk, cream, maple syrup, orange zest, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and allspice to a saucepan. 
2. Bring to a simmer over a low heat. Don't let the mixture boil.
3. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture through a sieve into a jug to remove the orange rind and spices.
4. Pour the warm milk back into the saucepan.
5. Add the vanilla extract and chocolate.
6. Return to a low heat and stir until the chocolate has melted. 
7. Add a little more milk if the mixture is too thick.
8. Then pour it into a heatproof mug. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate dust (marshmallows or crushed gingernut biscuits are also great topping options).
9. Add a dash of Cointreau if you want to make an adults-only version.

Explore the Lyndale Kitchen with Cliona O'Connor

The classic Lyndale kitchen oozes quality and craftsmanship. This timeless design is wonderful all year round, but its especially effective at creating cosy vibes during the autumn and winter months. The kitchen is delivered primed and ready to be hand-painted in whatever colour takes your fancy. Here Cliona selects some of her favourite elements from the Lyndale kitchen.

Spice rack

The two-tiered spice rack offers a slim storage solution for kitchen essentials like seasonings, sauces and, of course, spices. Available in various heights and widths, these multi-tiered units offer versatile narrow storage for cooking essentials. Its soft close mechanism ensures that the drawer remains steady as you open and close it. There's no need to worry about objects falling over and it won't bang! "It's really cool", says Cliona as she takes out her assortment of spices.

Canopy

The Lyndale Canopy with its gracious curves, corbels and cornice finish gives a magazine look to the kitchen. Fitted with space between wall units, this free-floating extractor is available in various widths and looks the best with the classic range cooker design. Cliona is a big fan of the canopy. "It's a real centrepiece in the kitchen," she says. At Christmas time it can even be used to hang garlands and decorations. "I love how festive this looks", Cliona tells us. "I love that you can pop all the decor on top".

Belfast sink

The Belfast sink is timeless. Originally found in the homes of the landed gentry, it's remained popular for over 300 years! The sink works in both traditional and modern country home styles. The bowl is simultaneously fashionable and functional. The crystal white colour exudes elegance while it's big enough to wash utensils of all shapes and sizes. "It's absolutely beautiful", enthuses Cliona. "I'd love it for my own house". 

Island Storage

The island unit creates a multifunctional space that acts as more counter space, a workstation, or even a place for family and guests to sit. Cliona adores the storage capabilities in this Lyndale model. On one side, there are drawers and cupboards for utensils, as well as the option to add the likes of a dishwasher or microwave. Meanwhile, the other side boasts lots of space to store anything from the kids' toys to food items. "This counter is amazing", explains Cliona as she highlights all the storage solutions. Read our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Layouts.

About Cliona O'Connor

Cliona is an award-winning online content creator who started her lifestyle and food blog and Instagram account in 2014. She has a huge interest in all things fitness, family and food-related. She is also a regular guest on Virgin Media One and has written for The Irish Examiner and Evening Echo. Cliona lives in Cork with her husband and four gorgeous children.