Nothing says romance like sharing a nice hot mug of Hot Chocolate with a Triple Sec kick! RELATED LINKS Top Shelf Cocktail Tips, Recipes and Videos Mixology Masterpieces

"With the orange tones of the Triple Sec, this hot chocolate really is seductive," says New York and Raleigh, N.C.-based food stylist and author Fred Thompson in Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort (Harvard Common Press: 2006).

Garnished with white marshmallows rolled in a few drops of milk and then red and blue sprinkles, the steamy white concoction makes a pleasant sipper as the night air cools on your patriotic picnic, party boat or clambake.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
1/2 cup vanilla syrup
1/8 tsp. kosher salt
1 vanilla bean
6 oz. white chocolate, chopped
2 oz. white chocolate liqueur
2 oz. Triple Sec
marshmallows for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour milk, vanilla syrup and salt into a medium-size saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the mixture is hot. Do not boil.
2. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds to the saucepan.
3. Add the white chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Don't rush this step by turning up the heat, or the white chocolate may seize. Stir in the liqueurs and blend.
4. Pour the hot chocolate into four mugs and serve immediately, topped with marshmallows.

(Courtesy Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort, Harvard Common Press: 2006, by Fred Thompson)

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