A hot chocolate to warm the cockles of your heart

There’s something about a steaming cup of cocoa that just screams winter. 

So, when the cooler weather arrives in town, we turn to our local purveyors for a guaranteed good ol’ cup of hot chocolate.

Grounded Pleasures: made in Ballarat

We might be a little biased of this locally-made cocoa but trust us, once you get the taste for Grounded Pleasures powdered goodness, you’ll understand why it’s loved by so many. 

Alchemist Craig McKenzie’s cocoa is fairly traded and minimally processed (which means very high levels of flavonoids and antioxidants).

So rather than a guilty pleasure, these ones are actually good for you. It’s also vegan.

Just some of the Ballarat cafes where you’ll find Grounded Pleasures hot chocolate:  

• Drive 
• Eclectic Tastes 
• Fika Coffee Brewers 
• Higher Society 
• Hydrant Food Hall 
• Johnny Alloo 
• Lola 
• Webster’s Market and Cafe 
• 1816 Bakehouse 
• Common Ground
• Hideaway Coffee Bar
• Pat’s Sandwiches
• The Turret Cafe
• The Lane at The George (opposite the Art Gallery of Ballarat)
• Refuel Hub

Looking to take some home with you? Browse online for your favourite blend or pick up a box at local stockists Wilson’s Fruit and Vegetables and Campana’s. 

This cocoa can also be used for baking, so while you’re online why not seek out some inspiration from the Grounded Pleasures recipe collection.

You’ll find recipes for double chocolate cookies, pumpkin and chocolate chunk muffins, S’mores and choc cinnamon loaf. 

Bushfoods Hot Chocolates

Keen cooks will also want to check out Saltbush Kitchen‘s photogenic store in Ballarat Central. The bushfoods purveyor creates salt rubs and spice mixes with a focus on native flavours.

This winter, they’re bringing an Australian twist to the classic hot chocolate with four unique native bushfood flavours.

Try each flavour including Roasted Wattleseed that has a rich nutty salted caramel flavour, Aniseed Myrtle with a delightful liquorice flavour, and native Pepperberry (think chilli chocolate but even better).

You can even add a tasty homemade marshmallow made by cake Queen Sara Kittelty.

Saltbush Kitchen is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.