Pumpkin carving is synonymous with Halloween and the tradition can be traced back to ancient Celtic culture, where originally Turnips and not Pumpkins were carved into frightening figures to act as a deterrent to keep Jack (of-the-lantern) away. In the 1800s, Irish settlers who migrated to America found that Pumpkins were far better for carving than Turnips and the tradition is still going strong to this day! In a world that’s growing ever more conscious about the consumption and wastage of natural resources, people have become increasingly interested in elaborate ways to make use of the pulp from inside of the pumpkin. There are a vast number of amazing pumpkin recipes out there, including bread, cakes and soups, however, when we saw recipes for pumpkin-spiced hot chocolate, we just couldn’t resist recreating our very own as it just seemed so fitting for the Autumn season. The thought of getting cosy on the sofa with a mug of spicy, warming pumpkin cocoa personifies everything that’s great about this time of year!

Here’s how we made our very own Pumpkin Caramel Spiced Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 180ml milk
• 120ml double cream
• 50g pumpkin caramel
  • To make the pumpkin caramel you will need:
    • Pumpkin pulp
    • Splash of Water
    • Sugar
• 65g chopped chocolate
• 3tsp cocoa powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• 1 pinch of ginger
• 1 pinch of cinnamon

To make the pumpkin caramel-

1. Blend the pumpkin pulp with a splash of water.
2. Transfer the pulp mixture to a pan and place on a low heat.
3. Slowly add the sugar and stir until a caramel forms.
4. Take off the heat and place to one side.

To make the hot chocolate!

1. Add the milk, cream, chocolate and cocoa powder to a pan. Warm through on a low heat until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
2. Whisk in the pumpkin caramel, vanilla and spices until fully combined.
3. Ensure the mixture is warmed through.
4. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
5. Finally, curl up on your sofa and ENJOY