Homemade Hot Chocolate

The leaves are falling, the nights are getting longer and the days are getting colder. It's hot chocolate season!!

I love hot chocolate season. I love cuddling up on the couch with a blanket and a steaming mug of hot cocoa. YUM!

But, as I've learned more about partially hydrogenated oils and their health risks and dangers, I've been more and more disappointed to find that all my favorite hot chocolates from the store are chuck full of them. So, I came home and searched for good recipes. So far, this is our favorite.

Ingredients

8 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking cocoa
4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a saucepan, combine the first four ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until the marshmallows are melted, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Ladle into mugs.

Prefer having a mix you can add to hot water in a jiffy? Here's how I adjusted it to make a mix:

Stir together thoroughly the following ingredients:

8 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking cocoa
3/4 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions

Add 1/4 cup mix to 1 cup hot water. Stir and enjoy! (Note: In this case, the marshmallows would just be floating on top).

Don't have or want marshmallows? No problem. We didn't have any either and it's still delicious. Also, on the mix, my husband found he liked it better with a bit more cocoa and sugar. The rest of us loved it as is. Make adjustments until you love it!

Happy Hot Cocoa Season!