Mar 9
2012

The Naptime Chef’s Chocolate Egg Cream + A Giveaway!

in Book Reviews, Chocolate, Dessert, Drinks, Giveaway, Honey

Chocolate Egg Cream

An egg cream is a drink that consists of neither egg, nor cream, but milk, chocolate syrup, and soda water.  The drink is most often associated with Brooklyn, NY, because of Louis Aster, a candy shop owner in Brooklyn who is alleged to have invented this creamy sweet bubbly drink in  the late 1800s.  National Egg Cream Day, a day that celebrates American soda fountain drinks, is coming up on March 15th, so I thought that Kelsey Banfield’s recipe for Chocolate Egg Creams would be an appropriate choice to help celebrate the release of her new cookbook, The Naptime Chef.

The Naptime Chef, by Kelsey banfield

The recipe for chocolate egg cream is one of many fabulous recipes in the book that shows readers how to strategically use bits of time during their day (like naptime!) to prepare and cook meals, so that great food can still be a part of family life.  The first recipe of Kelsey’s that I tried was her recipe for rhubarb almond cake, which is still a family favorite.  I love Kelsey’s approach to life and food, and her tips and tricks will benefit even the seasoned parent.

Making a chocolate egg cream

The chocolate egg cream recipe is one of her daughter’s favorite treats, and now one of my daughters’ favorites.  Milk and chocolate syrup are whisked together, and then soda water is whisked in, which creates a thick layer of chocolate foam.  Chocolate egg creams are a treat best enjoyed immediately, as the foam gradually diminishes as it sits, and the foam is one of the best parts!

Mixing a chocolate egg cream together

The most traditional syrup for a chocolate egg cream is Fox’s U-Bet Chocolate Syrup, but since I didn’t have any on hand, I whipped up a batch of homemade chocolate syrup to use.  I put the extra syrup in a clean mason jar in my refrigerator . . . now I can make chocolate egg creams whenever the mood strikes me!

Fuji Mama's Chocolate Syrup

If you want to make a quick and easy treat that both you and your kids will love, you have got to try making a chocolate egg cream!  If you’d like to win a copy of Kelsey’s book, enter my giveaway (details after the recipe)!

Delicious Chocolate Egg Cream

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

Chocolate Egg Cream

Used with permission from The Naptime Chef, by Kelsey Banfield

Makes 1 serving

1/2 cup 2% milk
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1/4 cup seltzer water

Pour the milk and chocolate syrup into a tall glass and whisk the ingredients together with a fork. Then pour the seltzer in and whisk everything together as the glass is filled up. Serve with a straw!

Fuji Mama’s Chocolate Syrup

Makes about 1 3/4 cups syrup

1 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Whisk together the water, sugar, honey, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

2. Once the mixture has just begun to boil, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool then transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

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The Naptime Chef Cookbook Giveaway

I’m giving away one copy of Kelsey Banfield’s The Naptime Chef  cookbook, courtesy of Running Press.  Entries to the giveaway will be open until Wednesday, March 14th at 10pm EST.  One winner will be chosen via random.org on Thursday, March 15th  and will be contacted via email.

To enter: Leave one comment below sharing your favorite comfort food to cook.

The Naptime Chef is available for purchase on Amazon, and it will be in bookstores too. It’s official release date is Monday, March 12th. Visit the author, Kelsey Banfield, on her blog: The Naptime Chef, on Twitter and Facebook, for more naptime tips and tricks.

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

Lauren @ Healthy Delicious March 9, 2012 at 1:19 pm

I LOVE egg creams ,and I haven’t had one in what must be years. I think I know what’s for dessert tonight!

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Lisa March 9, 2012 at 1:20 pm

This recipe sounds amazing and I know my children would love to try it out! One of our favorite comfort foods to make at home is kare gohan. :) Mmmm! Thanks for this fun giveaway too!!

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Mimi Avocado March 9, 2012 at 2:00 pm

That chocolate syrup goes right onto the vanilla ice cream. Then we’ll think about egg creams too.

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Ting March 9, 2012 at 2:04 pm

I never had egg cream before. I shall try it since it sounds fun. There are so many food can comfort me, but if I have to pick one, fresh made pasta cooked in a creamy sauce is one among the group.

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Therese March 9, 2012 at 2:12 pm

That looks so delicious! One of my favorite comfort foods is homemade chicken noodle soup.

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LiztheChef March 9, 2012 at 2:24 pm

I love Kelsey too – she was the first food blogger who reached out to help me when I didn’t even understand twitter…My Dad lived in Brooklyn for years and loved to tell the story of the eggless, creamless egg cream. Wish I had one right now – your shots are gorgeous.

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LiztheChef March 9, 2012 at 2:25 pm

ps Favorite comfort food is noodles eaten with chopsticks – honest!

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sara March 9, 2012 at 2:34 pm

My favorite comfort food to cook is my mom’s recipe for vegetarian lasagna.

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Brady March 9, 2012 at 2:37 pm

My favorite comfort food is grilled cheese!

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Paloma March 9, 2012 at 2:43 pm

Thank you for the recipes and the opportunity. Our favorite comfort food here at home, by unanimous vote, is chicken and dumplings.

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Cat March 9, 2012 at 2:52 pm

I need to make this, sounds amazing with the homemade chocolate syrup. Favorite comfort food would have to be garlic mashed potatoes, so simple, yet warm, tasty, and filling.

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Kimiko March 9, 2012 at 3:16 pm

When I think of comfort food, I immediately think of chicken pot pie. It is by far, my favorite dish, and I have a great go-to recipe that I can always depend on.

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Julie U March 9, 2012 at 3:25 pm

One of our favorite comfort foods is ochasuke…and cookies of course!

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Cassidy March 9, 2012 at 3:52 pm

Twice-baked potatoes…and cookies. Carbs and starches galore.

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Tracy March 9, 2012 at 6:07 pm

OMG! I’ve never heard of an egg cream, but it looks delicious and couldn’t be easier (so it seems…) I can’t say I’ll attempt my own chocolate syrup, but I will attempt an egg cream.

My favorite comfort food is cookies, bread, pasta, like Cassidy above – anything carby! Mostly cookies and bread, though – and mostly quick breads like banana bread, zucchini bread, etc. Mmmm.

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Schmidty March 9, 2012 at 7:39 pm

Anything sweet …. or with lots of cheese. Baklava or mac and cheese.

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Maureen March 9, 2012 at 7:46 pm

Never had egg cream in Maine growing up but we sure had lots of ice cream sodas. I’ll have to try this just to see if my inner child is happy. LOL

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Deb Harris March 9, 2012 at 7:51 pm

One o f my gave comfort foods is my baked Mac & cheese. I’m actually trying to win this for my daughter. She has 3 beautiful little ones 4-2& 4 months. Her gave comfort foods are also my Mac & cheese that she now makes for her family. She has always loved choc syrup in choc milk. She allows choc milk as spec treat for something done well I know she’ll love the syrup in this recipe & will make it. She loves to cook her husband is actually pickier than the kids, they try everything. Thanks for the chance to win this great book.

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Jeannette March 9, 2012 at 8:16 pm

My most favorite comfort food to make is homemade pizza: pumpkin pizza dough, lots of sauce and cheese, turkey pepperoni. Perfect!!

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Sarah LeDoux March 9, 2012 at 9:00 pm

Wow, this looks fantastic, not least because of the awesome recipe for homemade chocolate syrup! How long would you say it keeps in the refrigerator?

My favorite comfort foods are mashed potatoes and homemade macaroni and cheese. I don’t have a set recipe, it’s a little of this and a little of that added to a plain bechamel base, so it has different types and amounts of cheese and spices every time.. regardless, give me a salty starchy carb and I am a happy momma!!

I would love to win this cookbook and will probably purchase it anyway. My mom was a stay-at-home mother who always had delicious home-cooked meals, but I have to work out of the home and I am saddened by how many thrown-together, half-processed meals I feed my kids. I need to become a weekend nap-time chef and get myself a chest freezer!

Thanks for this post!
Sarah

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Vrushali March 9, 2012 at 10:05 pm

Am I the only one who is missing the egg in ‘egg cream’ ? Absolutely stunning drink and homemade chocolate syrup sounds the best ever idea! heading to the kitchen straight away!

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Amy March 9, 2012 at 10:30 pm

What a wonderful cookbook and I love this chocolate egg cream drink. Looks delicious and tempting.

My favorite comfort food to cook is a pot of traditional Chinese soup. Usually has pork bone, chicken, and many other Chinese herbs in it…simmer on stove top or electric double boiler for hours. :)

amy [at] utry [dot] it

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Abigail (aka Mamatouille) March 9, 2012 at 10:58 pm

I’ve never had a chocolate egg cream–sounds yummy. One of our favorite comfort foods around here is…nori!

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Heidi March 9, 2012 at 11:18 pm

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had an egg cream so it’s damn straight about time to start! Eggcellent recipe to share. DOH!

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Kristin March 10, 2012 at 12:58 am

I really love chicken fried steak with cream gravy…I’m still working on getting the gravy down, but it’s my all time favorite thing!

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Alicia March 10, 2012 at 1:16 am

My favourite comfort food to make is macaroni and cheese! :)

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Mb March 10, 2012 at 8:09 am

grilled cheese!

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hanzabean March 10, 2012 at 8:21 am

One of my newest favorite comfort foods is scrambled tofu. Spices make the dish, and it tastes way better than the poorly-scrambled eggs I tend to make! It’s also pretty quick, and nutritious.

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Jessica March 10, 2012 at 10:37 am

I love making biscuits and gravy… probably my family’s favorite comfort food! That, or brown sugar meatloaf. Yum! Those egg creams look delicious!

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Kelly G March 10, 2012 at 11:01 am

mmmm comfort food would def be meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

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Sarah H.P. March 10, 2012 at 11:30 am

One of my many favorite comfort foods is cream of potato soup and dumplings!

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Kenny March 10, 2012 at 12:51 pm

A nice homemade mac & cheese always works for me!

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rose March 10, 2012 at 1:08 pm

we are a thousand miles away from family, so when i need some comfort food i whip up one of my grandma’s recipes… like her sausage and rice casserole, or her recipe for southern meatloaf. its not grandma’s cooking, but its the next best thing.

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Dorothea March 10, 2012 at 2:28 pm

For me, nothing beats homemade mashed potatoes for comfort food!

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Urban Wife March 10, 2012 at 2:43 pm

I’m fascinated by egg creams but have never actually tried making one! This recipe makes it easy enough – no more excuses. :)

Our favorite comfort food is creamy tomato soup + grilled cheese sandwiches. Yummy!

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TK March 10, 2012 at 2:59 pm

I’ve never had egg creams before but they look so delicious! And for comfort food, I love making mac and cheese with lots of extra cheese on top!

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Corinne March 10, 2012 at 3:41 pm

I love to make mac and cheese but can’t have dairy while I am nursing!

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Jeanna March 10, 2012 at 6:41 pm

I love soup. Chicken wild rice in particular. It’s instant comfort.

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Jayne March 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm

Any form of noodle soup soothes my soul. Ramen, egg noodles, kuey tiau, mee hoon… heck, even cup noodles can brighten us a bleak day.

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SANDY March 12, 2012 at 5:41 am

beef stew

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Miranda March 12, 2012 at 7:42 am

Mac and cheese all the way! We add broccoli.

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Kristina March 12, 2012 at 9:05 am

will you believe I have never had an egg cream? this sounds delicious!

one of my favorite comfort foods will always be cheesy enchiladas. any kind.

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Kristi March 12, 2012 at 10:57 am

I have heard of chocolate milk and shakes, but not of cream. I’ve seen it, but just assumed it was a chocolate shake. I have been missing out and that’s going to change soon.

My favorite comfort food is beef stew. Over the years, I’ve been working on the perfect recipe for my slow cooker. Last time, I added butternut squash, as well as red potatoes. I just loved it. I haven’t got it right just yet, but it’s getting close.

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Kankana March 12, 2012 at 11:00 am

That looks so delicious and with chocolate .. why not! :)
I would so love t win that book! To answer your question.. well, there are so many comfort food to cook in my list. But if I have to pick one it might be biryani. I love how it fills the house with spice aroma.

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Scorpio Woman March 12, 2012 at 12:43 pm

My favorite comfort food to cook is beef roast and mashed potatoes

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BBQ Grail March 12, 2012 at 2:10 pm

I want an Egg Cream and some Yakisoba. Not necessarily in the same meal.

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Tine Hauge March 12, 2012 at 2:25 pm

Comfort food for me and my children is Pasta pesto where I mix in a fried chicken (only meat) that I have cut into pieces. And for dessert apple pie, still warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream.

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Jacqui Guglielmino March 12, 2012 at 2:31 pm

My favourite comfort food is a recipe my mother made. It uses chicken pieces button mushroom and a tomato sauce and then you add rice and it cooks in the sauce. It was served to me whenever I had travelled with my parents for many
hours and we were exhausted

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Marla March 12, 2012 at 3:43 pm

LOVE the book + the egg cream recipe :)

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Kellie March 12, 2012 at 8:39 pm

My favorite comfort food to cook is definitely curry! Usually, I just use the vegetables which I have on hand, and if I’m feeling adventurous, I make my own curry paste in the food processor. Hands down, though, katsu curry has to be the best comfort food ever!

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