The blog community is pretty amazing (that means YOU) and I feel like I'm often marvelling at just how connected and inspiring a group of likeminded people (who have never even met in real life) can be! Isn't it amazing!
Anyhow, in addition to the awesomeness of this blog community, I am also a big Twitter fan. I have discovered so many new things through my Twitter friends, received help almost instantaneously when I've asked for it, and again it is just such a great community that I love being a part of.
In any case...all this rambling leads me to a recent tweet I sent out asking for recommendations on yummy homemade hot cocoa mix recipes, as well as the ins and outs of making your own marshmallows. The response was great and I thought it would be fun to share the results with you all here.
Thanks to these guys for helping me out: Splendidblog recommended this recipe, Tenthings recommended wrapping this up with cinnamon sticks, cwkessle and Bandersen both recommended this recipe, Theseawithin suggested the recipe found in The Joy of Cooking cookbook, Niceetc recommended this one from Daily Candy, HammocksHighTea shared her own recipe, and CarlaFelix suggested a recipe from a past issue of Real Simple. I also had help with a few marshmallow questions from: Mrsmeringue, Engineerbaker, Christeno, PepperGlenn, Melissapher, fayeandco, lisaverdi, and Splendidblog.
I ended up choosing the hot cocoa mix recipe recommended by Caitlin Holcomb because it looked simple (the video really helped), yummy, and I've secretly always wanted to make something using real vanilla beans. It was as easy as can be and the end result was ridiculously delicious (even without the addition of alcohol). Next I made up a batch of Alton Brown's Homemade Marshmallows which were as scrumptious as they sound. I don't own a stand mixer and used a hand-held mixer in its place. My adaptation worked, but was quite challenging - as the mixture thickened and expanded it began clumping up and almost ate the underside of my machine. But as they say: "All is well that ends well"...and they most certainly did (end well that is).
To make them gift-ready we measured out equal portions of cocoa mix into cellophane treat bags (purchased at our local craft store) and then divided the marshmallows up into separate bags as well. Both mix and marshmallows were then placed inside some kraft coffee bags left over from Marichelle and my Nice Package shop days, and attached a little tag with directions for making up the hot cocoa on the back.
My tags are specific to the kind of mix I made, but I've created a little printable tag for you to use on a Hot Cocoa gift of your own (there are also non-food specific versions you can use) if you'd like. Just download, print on heavy-weight paper, and hang on your gifts.
There might not be enough time left before Christmas to whip up many more batches of homemade marshmallows, but the hot cocoa mix is incredibly easy and would make a perfect last minute holiday gift or stocking stuffer. Adding store-bought marshmallows in place of homemade is still really tasty (that's what we did for my daughter's teachers), and the addition of a candy cane makes the presentation minty sweet!
{Image from Ruffled Blog}
Ruffled Blog (for example) has a simple tutorial on making up charming Hot Cocoa Favors that would suit this season perfectly. Enjoy! xo Ez