Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix with Marshmallow Snowflakes

SATURDAY'S FOOD TIP - COOKING WITH KIDS



Most kids love hot cocoa with marshmallows. With adult supervision they'll also love making this easy hot cocoa mix with marshmallow snowflakes. These snowflakes are much more fun (and tastier) than those plain little marshmallows that come in many packaged hot cocoa mixes, and the cocoa mix is quite yummy, too.


HOT COCOA MIX

1 (8 qt.) box, instant nonfat dry milk

1 (1 lb.) box Nestle's Quik

1 (8 oz.) jar coffee creamer

1 c. powdered sugar


Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Store in covered jar or other airtight container.

For each cup of cocoa, add 2 heaping teaspoonfuls of cocoa mix to the cup, then fill with hot water. Stir to mix well, then add a marshmallow snowflake (recipe follows) and enjoy.



MARSHMALLOW SNOWFLAKES

2 c. granulated sugar

3 env. unflavored gelatin

1/8 tsp. salt

2 c. water

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Powdered sugar

Small snowflake-shaped cookie cutter

13x9 inch pan, buttered

Kitchen shears

Wax paper

Large resealable plastic bag


Combine the granulated sugar, gelatin, and salt in a saucepan. Add the water and stir over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Heat for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from stove. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat at high speed for 10 minutes (or until mixture resembles thick marshmallow crème). Pour into a buttered 13x9 inch pan. Let cool.

Heat the kitchen shears and cookie cutter in a bowl of hot tap water.

Cut the marshmallow mixture into strips (as wide as the cookie cutter) with warm shears, and lay the strips on wax paper. Cut snowflakes from the strips with the cookie cutter.

Put about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of powdered sugar into resealable plastic bag. Add the snowflakes and shake to coat each one.

Store the snowflakes in an airtight container at room temperature.

Variations: After you've experimented with these marshmallow snowflakes, you and your kids might want to try making the marshmallows in other shapes and flavors. Add a little red food coloring to the mix (right after adding the vanilla flavoring) for red marshmallows, then cut them out with a heart-shaped cutter for Valentine's Day, or try some peppermint flavoring instead of the vanilla extract. Just use your imaginations and have fun together!


"For those who love it, cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love." - Craig Claiborne