Chop the chocolate: Finely chop the dark chocolate into small pieces to ensure it melts smoothly.

Mix the cocoa powder and sugar: In a small bowl, combine the cocoa powder and sugar. This will help to evenly distribute the cocoa flavor throughout the hot chocolate.

Warm the milk: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it’s warm but not boiling.

Combine cocoa powder and sugar: Add the cocoa powder and sugar mixture to the warm milk, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming.

Add the chopped chocolate: Stir in the chopped dark chocolate. Continue to whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth.

Prepare the cornstarch mixture: In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a couple of tablespoons of cold milk to create a slurry.

Incorporate the cornstarch: Slowly add the cornstarch slurry to the hot chocolate mixture, whisking constantly.

Simmer and thicken: Allow the hot chocolate to simmer gently for a few minutes, continuing to whisk until it reaches your desired thickness. It should be creamy and slightly thicker than standard hot chocolate.

Add a pinch of salt: Stir in a pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate flavors.

Serve hot: Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs.

Top with whipped cream: Add a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each mug.

Add finishing touches: Sprinkle with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for an elegant finish.