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Champurrado (Mexican Chocolate Atole)

Hot · Spiced

Champurrado (Mexican Chocolate Atole)

A thick, comforting Mexican chocolate drink thickened with masa harina: a holiday and Día de los Muertos favorite with tamales.

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Serves
4
Calories
255

HotSpicedHolidayFor a crowdCaffeine-free

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Champurrado is an atole: a warm drink thickened with corn masa. It’s thicker than hot chocolate, with a toasty corn flavor and cinnamon warmth.

Ingredients

4 servings

You’ll need: Small saucepan, Whisk

Method

  1. Whisk the masa harina into the water until completely smooth.

  2. In a saucepan, warm the milk with the cinnamon stick, chocolate and brown sugar, whisking until the chocolate melts.

  3. Whisk in the masa mixture. Simmer gently, whisking constantly, for 8-10 minutes until thick.

  4. Remove the cinnamon stick, stir in the vanilla and serve hot.

Tips

  • Whisk constantly once the masa goes in: it scorches easily.

  • Thin with more milk if it gets too thick as it sits.

Nutrition per serving, approximate

Calories
255
Protein
7g
Carbs
36g
Sugar
29g
Fiber
1g
Fat
10g
Caffeine
4mg

Estimated from standard USDA values for the ingredients listed; brands vary.

Variations

  • Piloncillo: Use grated piloncillo instead of brown sugar for a traditional flavor.

Nutrition at a glance

One serving has about 255 calories, 29 g sugar, 7 g protein and essentially no caffeine. Values are estimates from USDA data for the exact amounts listed; your chocolate brand and milk change them: check your version with our chocolate drink calorie calculator.

Storing and reheating

Leftover hot chocolate keeps in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, whisking well: the chocolate settles as it cools. A skin on top is normal; whisk it back in.

Choosing your chocolate

For drinks made with cocoa powder, Dutch-process gives a darker, smoother, mellower cup and natural cocoa a brighter, fruitier one. For melted chocolate, use a bar you’d enjoy eating: chips contain stabilizers that resist melting. See our cocoa and hot chocolate mix reviews and cocoa powder guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is champurrado the same as Mexican hot chocolate?

No: champurrado is thickened with masa, making it thicker and more filling.

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Gear for this recipe

Nestlé Abuelita Mexican Chocolate Tablets

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for mexican hot chocolate and champurrado

Sweet, cinnamon-spiced chocolate tablets made for whisking into hot milk. The classic base for Mexican hot chocolate.

Type
Mexican chocolate
Size
6 tablets (about 19 oz)
Cost
about 25¢ per oz
Make with
Melt into hot milk
From $5Check price Full review

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