Infuse your favorite flavoring into this rich, creamy hot chocolate by adding a couple of drops of peppermint oil or orange oil (available in gourmet food stores).

• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup half & half
• 1/4 cup high-quality Dutch process cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A handful of mini marshmallows

Combine the milk and half & half in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cocoa powder, sugar and cinnamon.  Add a few teaspoons of the hot milk mixture to the
cocoa mixture and blend to make a paste.  Scrape the paste into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture and whisk until smooth.  Simmer for 2 minutes.

To avoid scorching, do not let the mixture come to a boil.  Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the vanilla and serve topped with lots of marshmallows.


Serves 4