Nate Bakes a Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate for a Holiday Special

For this New York City Rockettes inspired Holiday Special, I created a special peppermint hot chocolate recipe, crafted from the outfits the Rockettes wear for their Holiday Spectacular. The Hot chocolate comprises of a velvety hot chocolate base, made from purely milk and melted chocolate, topped with a freshly made whipped cream and homemade peppermint marshmallows.

Recipe:

Hot Chocolate:

Ingredients:

1 quart whole milk

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup of semi sweet chocolate

1/2 cup of milk chocolate

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Combine the whole milk and condensed milk, along with the chocolates in a pot. Bring the milk to a boil.

2. Stir around the pot to combine the milk and chocolate until at least most of the chocolate is melted.

3. Once the mixture is combined, strain through a sieve into a bowl.

4. Mix in salt until dissolved.

Whipped Cream:

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl

2. Whip the entire mixture until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over mix or else it will become a sweetened butter.

Peppermint Marshmallows:

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup lukewarm water, to bloom gelatin

3 packets of Knox Gelatin

Pinch of salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or contents of 1 vanilla bean

1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup of water in a sauce pan, and bring to a boil.

2. While the sugar mixture is boiling, combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of water to begin blooming the gelatin.

3. Back to the sugar mixture: Cover with lid for 2 minutes, while boiling

4. Take lid off and wait until the mixture reaches 240-245 degrees F.

5. In a mixing bowl, pour the sugar mixture down the side into the gelatin mixture, while the mixing bowl is turned on. Make sure not to pour the sugar directly onto the gelatin, otherwise you can scald the gelatin and it will not be usable.

6. Whisk on high until the mixture is tripled in size, cool to the tough, and soft ribbons form.

7. Oil a 9x13 sheet pan, and then pour marshmallow mixture in.

8. Top with crushed candy canes.

9. Let set for 6 hours or more.

10. Cut the marshmallows into any size squares, covering with the powdered sugar so as to make the marshmallows not stuck together.

Plating:

1. Ladle hot chocolate mixture into your favorite VERY LARGE mug.

2. Put a couple marshmallows on top of the hot hot chocolate mixture, and then top with many scoops of whipped cream.

3. Top with more marshmallows, crushed peppermint candies, and a candy cane.

4. Enjoy!!