Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow

First, let me tell you about the ingredients used. The simplest, let's say, children's version of hot chocolate can be made using just milk and chocolate - and it is already very delicious. But sometimes you want something more intense, more festive, with adult flavor accents of chocolate delicacy. In this case, I add cream for a more silky, creamy taste. You might say extra calories, but just don't use fatty cream, 10% is perfectly fine. High-quality cocoa powder is desirable - it contributes to a more intense chocolate flavor. Ah, chocolate... Here, without a doubt, we choose good dark chocolate with a high cocoa bean content, without extra vegetable fats. Now, about the spices. Here, for spiciness, you can choose your favorites: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger - each time you will get something new. And for a more invigorating effect, you can add a bit of alcohol. What it will be - rum, brandy, liqueur (let's say, coffee) - follow your preferences and desires. In my version of hot chocolate, as you may have noticed, there is no sugar in the recipe. Instead, I add homemade marshmallows at the end. For this purpose, I specifically make these tiny marshmallows (for comparison, here is a photo of a regular marshmallow). Don't want to bother with making homemade marshmallows? Then you can simply buy the well-known small marshmallows.

With the introduction out of the way... Making hot chocolate is very simple. First, pour milk and cream into a suitable pot, add cocoa powder to them, and place over medium heat.

Stirring with a whisk, bring to a boil, making sure the cocoa powder is completely dissolved, without leaving lumps.

Next, reduce the heat to low and add pieces of broken chocolate to the resulting hot mixture. Stir and wait until the chocolate is completely dissolved. Finally, add a pinch of salt and the chosen spice (or spices), as well as an optional alcoholic addition.

Pour into your favorite cup and top with the desired amount of marshmallows. Enjoy!