This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
It’s not Christmas until there is a tamal in one hand and a cup of champurrado in the other. I have seen different recipes for this drink, but there is none better than my mom’s.
During one of her visits, I asked her to teach me her secret on how to make this authentic Mexican drink.
More Mexican Drink Recipes: Atole de Chocolate, Café de la Olla, Agua de Plátano
How to Make Champurrado
- Add water and cinnamon in a large stock pot.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.
You start by making a cinnamon tea in a large stock pot. There is no way around it. You must use whole cinnamon.
None of the ground stuff. You can’t make it quick. You gotta use the stick.
While this is happening, work on the masa mixture.
Masa harina is a type of corn flour used in many Mexican recipes like corn tortillas, sopes, masa for tamales.
That’s why this drink is so often had with tamales.
It will help thicken your Champurrado. You CAN’T substitute masa harina for corn flour. Accept no substitute. If they don’t use masa harina, it is not champurrado.
- For those of you in Mexico, you can buy a small amount of masa from the tortillería for just a few pesos.
- Here in the US, make your own as we are doing here, or you can buy it at a local Mexican restaurant.
It’s seriously easy to make. Masa harina and water. That’s it!
My mom and I made gorditas that day and had leftover masa dough.
I love this picture of my mom’s experienced hand covered with masa and all.
My mother is old school. She makes the masa mixture by hand. That’s the way she was taught, and that’s what she’ll do.
Never mention store-bought masa to her if you want to remain welcomed in her kitchen.
- Add water to the masa.
- Mix thoroughly to get out all the lumps.
For all of you who enjoy good food but don’t want to spend hours cooking, make this in blender or use a hand mixer.
It’s much faster and not as messy.
Mexican Joke for the Holidays:
Question: What state makes the best tortillas, tamales, and champurrado?
Answer: Masa-chew-sets 🙂
Back to our cinnamon tea…
Do you see the color? It’s an auburn brown color and smells incredible. It’s not a sin. It’s cinnamon. 🙂
Don’t worry about the champurrado getting too cold. It retains its heat because of the thickness.
That’s another reason why you need to let it rest for a few minutes before serving. You do not want to burn anyone’s tongue.
- Add the masa mixture to the cinnamon tea.
- Then, add a little water to the container.
- Just enough to get any remaining masa mixture and add that to the pot as well.
Leave no masa behind. Good to the last drop.
Don’t stop stirring, or it will form lumps. No Lumpy Dumpty. Or your champurrado will have a great fall.
Are you an Abuelita or Ibarra fan? The debate rages on throughout Mexico and beyond. Truth is, Abuelita is not made in Mexico. Ibarra is the only true Mexican chocolate.
That said, I like Abuelita better. I was raised on it, and I can’t abandon the traditions that I know and love.
How to Make Your Own Mexican Chocolate:
- Use 1 bar of dark chocolate
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Drop of almond extract for every ounce of chocolate
- 4 cups of milk go into the pot.
- Continue stirring.
Pour it alllll in and look what you’ve got.
Types of Milk to Use: You can use skim milk, whole milk, 2% milk. Whatever you choose as long as it’s 100% milk.
Soy milk, coconut milk, goat milk, almond milk, none of those will do. Only cow juice to make an authentic Mexican champurrado.
- Add sugar to the pot.
- Continue stirring.
- Taste it. Add more sugar if needed. If it’s too sweet, add more milk.
Sugah. Sugah. No honey, honey.
Pro Tip:Instead of sugar, some people will make the cinnamon tea with piloncillo to sweeten their champurrado. I say, whatever works!
Atole vs. Champurrado
They are not the same thing no matter what you may have heard.
- Atole de Chocolate or just regular Atole is thickened with cornstarch.
- Champurrado is thickened with masa.
Both are equally delicious and great for the Holidays.
What to eat with this yummy Mexican champurrado?
Beef Tamales, Pork Tamales, Chicken Mole Tamales
Champurrado
Ingredients
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 cups of water
- 1 cup of masa harina corn flour
- 1 Mexican Chocolate tablet 6.5 ounces
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup of sugar
Instructions
- Place 6 cups of water in a large stock pot along with the cinnamon stick.
- Bring to a boil.
- Let simmer for 5 minutes.
- In the meantime, in a medium bowl, add the remaining 2 cups water and mix with the masa harina.
- You can use a blender or a hand mixer to dissolve any clumps.
- Add the masa mixture to the stock pot with the cinnamon tea.
- Stir constantly.
- Add the Mexican chocolate tablet to the stock pot.
- Melt the chocolate while stirring. About 3 minutes.
- Add the milk and sugar.
- Stir constantly.
- After about 8 minutes, the mixture will begin to thicken.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
This looks delicious and I would love to try it! I didn’t think it would take as short of time, so it definitely seems manageable! Thanks for the thorough step-by-step!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
So glad you liked this champurrado recipe. It’s not hard at all. Hope you try it.
Sounds delicious and heartwarming. I will definitely give it a try this winter!
Yes! Champurrado is like a big hug during the winter.
This drink looks so warm and toasty! I’d happily sip this all winter long.
I wish I could drink Champurrado all year long. lol. It’s one of those Mexican recipes that only pops out during Christmas.
I’m not sure I have ever had this before but sounds so delicious! Love that it is nice and thick too! Yum
Yes, champurrado is thick and delicious. 🙂
Looks delish! My daughter loves hot cocoa, might have to give this a try!
Oh, I’m pretty sure that your daughter will love a cup of champurrado. 🙂
Hi, I’m not clear on When do u add the chocolate and how much. . I’m not mexican but love mexican foods and traditions, love champurado, I always wondered how it’s made, I will definately try making this along with your beef tamales recipe. Thanks for sharing!
After you add the masa, stir constantly. It will begin to thicken. Once it starts to thicken, add the chocolate, milk, and sugar. More stirring. Once it’s starts to thicken AGAIN, it’s ready. The beef tamales recipe is my grandma’s recipe. This champurrado recipe is my mom’s. Hope you enjoy my family’s recipes!!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It was so easy and took little time. Best of all it came out just like my Amas (Grandma’s) Delicious ? good memories.
Awww… That makes me so happy to hear. Glad you liked the champurrado.
I cannot wait to try this recipe with the holidays coming up thank you for sharing
We are in the UK, my daughter came home from school telling me she made a Mexican spicy hot chocolate at school and she didn’t know what it was called but wanted to make it for me. So we found your site and just made it. It was lovely thank you!
So glad you enjoyed this!
Perfect recipe for the holidays! Thank you!
Thank you! Hope you try it
This reminds me of my childhood, thanks for sharing!
Hope you try it!
This is my first time having Champurrado! It’s delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you liked it Capri!
Can’t wait to try this chocolate drink. Never heard of it before but it sounds delicious! And your joke on Massachusetts is too cute!
Hope you try it! It’s delicious