Homemade chocolate syrup

Homemade Chocolate Syrup makes great chocolate milk

In trying to keep with a sort of theme for Earth Day this week, here’s a recipe that can actually help you become greener.  Homemade chocolate syrup is seriously good and super simple to make.  And by making your own, you control the ingredients that go into it, you aren’t purchasing a plastic bottle, and you’re saving money.  There’s just no downside to it.

This syrup is delicious in chocolate milk and on ice cream.  But don’t stop there.  Be your own barrista!

If you enjoy treating yourself to mocha coffee drinks, why not make them at home with your own chocolate syrup?  That’s a definite green alternative to visiting the local coffee counter. You can choose Fair Trade coffee (we buy Dean’s Beans and love it), you’ll save money, plus you’ll be doing the environment a favor by not adding more plastic cups, straws, and trash to the landfills.

(If you’d still rather stop by the coffee shop, at least get yourself a refillable travel mug or a water bottle to take along.  Even if you only visit the coffee counter once a week, that’s 52 times in the next year that you won’t be adding a cup, straw, cup cozy, etc. to a landfill.  How awesome will you be?)

{one year ago:  chocolate frozen yogurt ~ with or without an ice cream maker!}

Recipe:  Homemade Chocolate Syrup

1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. water

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

3 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Whisk cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a pot until combined.  Add water and whisk or stir until well blended.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Boil 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove syrup from heat and allow to cool.  When cooled completely, stir in vanilla extract until well combined.  Pour syrup into an airtight container and refrigerate.  Makes approx. 1 3/4 c. of syrup and will keep nicely in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.  (Trust me, it’ll never last that long!)

“Till now man has been up against Nature;
from now on he will be up against his own nature.”

~Dennis Gabor

Celebrate Earth Day on April 22.