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Chocolate Oaxaqueño

From Oaxaca’s market stalls comes Chocolate Oaxaqueño, a traditional hot chocolate that fuels Oaxacan mornings.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 15 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Traditional Oaxacan hot chocolate with cinnamon

From Oaxaca’s market stalls comes Chocolate Oaxaqueño, a traditional hot chocolate that fuels Oaxacan mornings. Made from coarsely ground cacao, cinnamon, sugar and almonds pressed into tablets, it is dissolved in milk or water and beaten to a thick, fragrant foam with a wooden molinillo. Sipped with pan de yema or poured over tamales, it is comfort in a clay cup.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick and a pinch of salt in a saucepan until steaming, but not boiling.
  2. Add the chopped chocolate, sugar and ground almonds, if using, and stir until completely melted.
  3. Beat the chocolate vigorously with a molinillo, rubbing the handle between your palms, until a thick layer of foam rises — about 3 minutes.
  4. Serve immediately, pouring each cup with a high stream to raise the foam, with pan de yema or cookies alongside.

💡 Chef tips & storage

A molinillo is the traditional tool and worth owning, but an immersion blender or vigorous whisking produces a fine foam too. Oaxacan chocolate tablets vary in sweetness — taste before adding sugar.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook15 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →