As you may have figured out by the many dessert recipes I’ve tried this year already, I have a bit of a sweet tooth. This week isn’t much different, but I went with one I think even the most steadfast savory fans will still enjoy: mac & chocolate!
To start, grab yourself a cup of microwavable Kraft Mac and Cheese. You can find them for sale at the Jay’s Nest, or if you’re craving a little extra fun in your day, head on over to Giant and pick up some with unicorn or Spongebob-shaped noodles.
You’ll also need your favorite brand of hot chocolate mix. I used milk chocolate flavored Swiss Miss with the mini marshmallows mixed in (of course). You can also add some regular marshmallows, though I suggest using the smallest ones you can find since the cup isn’t very large.
First, set aside the packet of cheese flavoring, then add water to the fill line of your mac and cheese cup. Place it in the microwave for three and a half minutes. Make sure to put a paper plate or paper towel under the cup, especially if you’re using the one in your residence hall’s common area or the Jay’s Nest, since it can sometimes boil over and cover the microwave plate in cornstarch.
Leave the cup in the microwave for an extra minute to finish cooking, then take it out and stir it around to help it absorb any excess moisture. Crack open your pack of hot chocolate and stir it in.
Packets of hot chocolate mix are generally bigger than the cheese flavor packets that come with Kraft Mac and Cheese cups, so you may not need to add the entire thing. Mix it in a little at a time until it’s to your liking. Enjoy!
I tried this recipe with my friend, third-year public health major Cassidy Rohrman. We agreed that it had a similar scent and flavor to the chocolate pudding in the Kid Cuisines from our childhoods, which made it a little nostalgic.
However, it did seem to be missing something. To add some extra flavor, we decided to try mixing in some of the cheese packet as well, which I think really helped.
“The notes of chocolate and cheese really ring together,” Rohrman said. “It’s like a marriage in your mouth.”
And I’d have to agree. If you plan on trying it yourself, I don’t recommend using all of the cheese flavoring. Stir it in slowly like the hot chocolate mix, just enough to get that saltiness the mac and choc seems to be missing. You won’t be disappointed!
