Zuppa al Cioccolato

Makes 6 servings

5 cups milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated or chopped fine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ground cinnamon
Brioche or pannettone, torn into pieces, or hard buttery cookies

Stir 1/2 cup of the milk and the flour together in a small bowl until smooth. Bring the remaining 4-1/2 cups milk just to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Ladle 1 cup of the simmering milk over the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, let sit a minute, then whisk to dissolve the chocolate. Stir the chocolate mixture into the simmering milk. Strain the flour mixture into the saucepan, then stir in the sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Return to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand a minute or two. Ladle the soup into warm bowls. Pass the brioche, panettone, or cookies for dunking separately.