This cold weather has me cuddling up with a cup of hot cocoa fairly often these days!
This post isn't a recipe...it's just a discussion of some choices if you're looking for some marshmallow options that do not contain animal by-products. Most marshmallows you can buy in the supermarket contain gelatin. Despair not! There are some other great alternatives.
I've been munching on vegan marshmallow s'more sandwiches by Sweet & Sara for years now. They have them at my nearby health food store, and they are deliciously addictive. A graham cracker base, with a vegan marshmallow on top, all covered in chocolate. What's not to like?! They're awesome.
I have to admit, even for all the joy those s'mores sandwiches give me, I hadn't even considered buying their marshmallows to make actual s'mores. But you can, and I don' think you'll be disappointed. They can be used for rice crispy bars, too! And you can find them at many natural foods stores, including many Whole Foods locations (see their site for details).
The Sweet & Sara marshmallows are large and in charge. Great for s'mores, rice crispy treats, and lots of other baking options! Personally, though, I like something a bit smaller for my hot cocoa...and a few weeks ago I tried out a new brand, Dandies Marshmallows.
They are very tasty! Nice and soft, a bit airier than the Sweet & Sara brand, although both have a really great, vanilla marshmallow taste!
They also have a larger size available, which would be great for roasting over an open fire, or throwing in some rice crispy treats or sweet potatoes.
The only disadvantage? Both options are a bit more expensive than traditional marshmallows. But if you're looking for a little sweet indulgence, they're completely worth it.
It's hard to believe that it's taken me so long to explore all of the options for one of my favorite winter beverages (hot cocoa!)...but I am so glad I did. And if you're looking for some vegan hot chocolate options, check out my recipe, here.
Enjoy!