Homemade Hot Cocoa With Marshmallows

There’s nothing quite like warming up with a steaming mug of hot cocoa after braving the chilly weather. While instant mixes are convenient, making it from scratch with cocoa powder, sugar, milk, and vanilla is just as simple—and so much more delicious!

Though “hot cocoa” and “hot chocolate” are often used interchangeably, they aren’t the same. Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, while hot chocolate uses melted chocolate, which is often sweetened. For a richer chocolate flavor, try adding a bit of melted bittersweet chocolate to your hot cocoa or an extra tablespoon of cocoa powder to the sugar mix.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Miniature marshmallows, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan until it’s just about to boil.
2. While the milk is heating, combine the cocoa powder and sugar in a small bowl.
3. Add about 1/3 cup of the hot milk to the cocoa-sugar mixture and stir until smooth.
4. Pour the cocoa mixture into the saucepan with the remaining hot milk. Add the vanilla and whisk everything together until smooth and well blended.
5. Serve the hot cocoa in mugs, topped with mini marshmallows. For a special touch, dust the marshmallows with a little extra cocoa powder.

Enjoy!