Hot Cocoa with Heart Shaped Marshmallows

If it looks like Valentine’s Day is going to be a cold one for you and your sweetheart (and, unless you’re very lucky, it probably will be chilly) you might want to think about a gift that is hot to keep both of you warm. Of course, I’m talking about hot chocolate. The You Warm My Heart Hot Cocoa Mix comes with a pair of heart-shaped marshmallows to top off the warm and cozy version of Valentine’s day chocolates. It’s a really cute gourmet gift, especially if you pair it with some seasonal mugs.

If you’re like me, however, you’ll probably want to make your own. Just make up a batch of homemade marshmallows and, instead of pressing them into a square pan, spread the marshmallows into a relatively thin layer (1/2-inch or so) on a baking sheet that has been lined with plastic wrap and lightly greased. Then you can use heart-shaped cookie cutters to press your own once the marshmallow cools and sets up. You’ll get much neater cut-outs if you spread the marshmallow into the thinner layer, and greasing the cookie cutter will help the shapes come out as cleanly as possible.