Hot chocolate with homemade marshmallow topping

Make cocoa the kids will go coo-coo for! The trick? Homemade marshmallow topping. Follow this recipe from Sarah Kosikowski, executive pastry chef at Chicago’s Sixteen Restaurant.

Ingredients

Hot chocolate

• 2 cups chocolate milk
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped (Sarah prefers Valrhona 62%)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Marshmallow topping

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 egg whites

Directions

To make hot chocolate:

1. Bring milk to a boil.
2. Slowly pour boiled milk over chopped bittersweet chocolate, mixing constantly until fully incorporated.
3. Add vanilla extract.
4. Spoon marshmallow topping onto the hot cocoa.
5. Serve immediately, and reheat if necessary.

To make marshmallow topping:

1. While boiling milk, combine corn syrup, water and sugar in a saucepan. Cook to 238° F, monitoring with a thermometer.
2. Begin whipping whites on medium speed in the bowl of a stand mixer.
3. Slowly pour in hot sugar mixture.
4. Whip for 5-7 minutes or until slightly cooled and thickened.
5. Top hot cocoa.