Hot Chocolate, Marshmallows and MORE!!!!

Yes, Virginia, they do make vegan marshmallows.  If you aren’t hip to all vegan ingredients, you may not know that marshmallows contain gelatin, which is an animal by-product.  However, don’t let it get you down – there are several brands of vegan marshmallows to choose from.  Two off the top of my heads are Dandies, and Sweet & Sara… there is also a brand in a tub called Suzanne’s that makes a “rice-mellow-creme” which makes super easy & yummy rice krispy treats!

yummy sweet and sara vegan marshmallows

Though I certainly enjoy eating marshmallows straight from the bag, there is nothing like a good mug of hot chocolate filled with them to warm you up when you have been playing outside.  My kids got a play house for Christmas, so, its pretty clear to me that I’m gonna need to be bundling all three of us up to go play outside quite often throughout the new year, fueling our insides and warming our hands with mugs of hot cocoa 🙂

Nothing warms you up quite like a shot - in this case, a shot of hot chocolate! This was my humble little cup - the kids wanted bigger cups (surprise, surprise)!

Vegan or not, homemade hot chocolate is really quite simple to make.  I also have an extra “healthy” hot chocolate recipe that includes pureed sweet potatoes… I know… it’s one of those things that sounds really weird, but trust me – it tastes delicious AND it gives the kids an added boost of nutrients (and they won’t even know it!)!  Give it a try sometime!

Old Fashioned Vegan Hot Chocolate

• 2  1/2 cups soy milk
• 3 Tbsp raw sugar
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• dash cinnamon
• dash cayenne (for those of you who like it *spicy*)

Heat all ingredients together over medium heat, whisking well, then simmer until hot! Enjoy! (tip: it whisks together really easily once it is hot)

Secret-Ingredient Hot Chocolate

• 1  1/4 cup soymilk
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup pureed sweet potatoes
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• dash pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Blend all ingredients together and heat, then serve!

ahhh - I just couldnt resist! Next time I will try to get a picture BEFORE I bite into it!

• 1 regular can mandarin oranges (drained)
• 1 regular can fruit cocktail (drained)
• 1 regular can crushed pineapple (NOT drained)
• 1-2 cups vegan marshmallows*
• 8 oz vegan sour cream (Tofutti brand is my favorite)
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Mix and chill! Devour!