Peppermint Cocoa

Have you been outside lately? Mother Nature is definitely giving us some payback for the spring-like December because it. is. cold.

Like, some Fargo shit.

Since I can’t afford to crank my heat to the 85 degrees I would like it to be, I have to find other ways to keep warm. When the sweaters, blankets, fuzzy socks, slippers, and scarves all failed me- I knew I had to start warming up from the inside.

My first thought was “oh soup would be so good!” And then I got up and realized standing in open air for more than five minutes was not an option. Just going to my kitchen, I swear I could feel the hypothermia set in.

So that was out.

Then it hit me- hot cocoa! Quick, simple, HOT! Everything I need in my life right now.

And probably what you need, too. Hence, here we are…

For me, though, just plain old cocoa isn’t good enough. No, no, no. I hail from the Starbucks generation, where us basic bitches don’t like basic anything.

That’s where peppermint comes in. It’s the smallest little addition, but it takes cocoa to a whole new world.. might I say, a dazzling place you never knew.

My first trick to excellent cocoa is starting with a good base. Milk is good, but not the best.

Instead…

CASHEW MILK! It’s already sweet and has a new exciting flavor, plus it’s nice and creamy.

If you’re making a large batch, stove top is best. But for single cups, go with the microwave. Just fill your cup and heat it up for about 2 minutes. You want it REALLY really hot so that all of the ingredients can combine.

When it’s done (be careful, obv!), take it out and toss in your peppermints. I like lots of minty-ness, so I use two.

After those go in, you can just add your other flavors; sugar and cocoa powder.

You might have some lingering chunks, but those are the best part!

At this point, if you’re no fun at all, you can drink it right up.

But I like to live dangerous, so I throw on an absurd amount of marshmallows and top it with some crushed mints for another bonus!

The marshmallows will melt into the mints and it will all get soaked in cocoa, and you will soon forget that your toes may or may not have frostbite.

You go peppermint cocoa!

Recipe

8oz cashew milk

1 tsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp sugar

2 round peppermint candies

Heat up milk in microwave for 2 minutes or until scalding

Immediately add mints and stir well

Add sugar and cocoa, mix until combined