Servings: 4 6-ounce servings

¼ cup dark (European-style) cocoa powder ¼ cup dark (European-style) cocoa powder
½ cup brown sugar ½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 pinch salt 1 pinch salt
⅓ cup water ⅓ cup water
2 cups milk 2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Put the cocoa powder, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan and stir with a whisk to mix. Add the water and whisk until smooth. Put the pot on a burner over high heat and continue whisking until the mixture comes to a full, rolling boil.
Gradually stream in the milk, whisking all the while. While adding the milk, keep the mixture hot and steamy, just below the boil.
Reduce the heat to medium and stir gently for 3 to 5 minutes, or just until the mixture is thickened and beginning to boil. Remove the cocoa from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Ladle it into cups and serve right away, or pour it into a vacuum jar to keep it hot.