Cooling Down with Chocolate This Summer
For many people chocolate and summer simply don’t mesh well. Everyone pictures chocolate being all about curling up on a sheepskin rug in front of a roaring fire with a glass of red wine and a box of Santa Barbara’s Californians collection chocolates. However this is a fallacy and simply not true, sure chocolate does like to melt in the summer and can leave you a little messy but there are so many ways you can cool down with chocolate. Just because the sun is shining doesn’t mean that your love affair with the luscious cocoa treats has to end. Check out these ideas to enjoy chocolate and still keep your cool.
Iced Chocolate Mocha
Anyone who has ever sipped an ice cold coffee on a hot day will know that nothing competes with the experience. Cold foamed milk, smooth chilled coffee and plenty of ice will give you that caffeine boost without the sweat. Well here is an idea to step your iced coffee up a notch and turn it into a delicious chilled and highly sophisticated iced chocolate mocha! Make it the same way you would an iced coffee put be sure to use a spoonful of deliciously dark Santa Barbara organic cocoa to truly shake your sense to life and put a sweet, cold spring back into your step. If you are feeling extra saucy why not add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and some chocolate syrup to turn your iced mocha into ice cream mocha!
Lazy Afternoon Chocolate Sundaes
Lazy Sundays should always be about Sundaes particularly when it’s scorching outside. This one is a great midafternoon treat before you go and sleep on the beach. Simply slice up some fresh bananas, add a few scoops of ice cream – chocolate, vanilla, whatever you like, go crazy on the whipped cream and crushed nuts and finish it off by melting some Santa Barbara Belgian chocolate and drizzling it all over. You may not be able to move after but you will be able to collapse in the hammock.
Homemade Chocolate Milkshake
If you have never tried a homemade chocolate milk shake now may be the time. A homemade chocolate milkshake is rich, luxurious and utterly delicious. First of all make sure you have good chocolate syrup in the cupboard or create your own with Santa Barbara’s gorgeous dark chocolate chunks. Throw the ice cream, chocolate syrup and cocoa powder into a blender and hit the button. Once it is all blended but still slightly thick you pour it into a tall iced glass, top with whipped cream and grate some chocolate on top for good measure. Take it out to the terrace and enjoy!
Mint Chocolate Cocktail
When you are feeling a little naughty and want something nice to sip beside the pool then you need this chocolate cocktail in your life. Chocolate has never been a main ingredient when it comes to cocktails but chocolate and alcohol are actually great friends. This minty chocolate cocktail will leave you feeling utterly divine. Simply blend milk with a rich Santa Barbara pure cocoa powder, shake it up to ensure it’s mixed to perfection. Add plenty of ice and a shot of peppermint liquor and finish in a tall glass with a sprig of mint and some grated chocolate.