Homemade hot cocoa with chocolate covered marshmallows is the perfect way to stay cozy this Valentine's Day. Rich and decadent, and lusciously thick, homemade hot chocolate is an indulgent treat like few others.

Why limit yourself to instant packets, when making hot chocolate from scratch couldn't be easier? What's even better is that you can customize your hot cocoa to make it as special as you and your loved ones. Add a little cinnamon or a pinch of chili powder to give it a spicy kick, or add a splash of liqueur for a grown-up twist. To fancy it up even more, you can top it with a dollop of whipped cream or these chocolate covered marshmallows which are as delightful on their own, as they are topped on hot cocoa.

No matter how you choose to make it, homemade hot chocolate is a luxurious treat that is sure to make this Valentine's Day extra special. So, put on your favorite romantic tunes, and whip up some delicious homemade hot chocolate, paired with chocolate covered marshmallows, because it's sure to be a hit!

Yes, that's two layers of chocolate.

Ingredient Checklist

Chocolate. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate both work fine, as does white chocolate. This is purely a matter of preference.
Marshmallows. Large marshmallows are what you will need for today's easy recipe.
Sprinkles. Purely for decoration. I also used rose gold sugar dust to add a little shimmer to these candies.

Tips for Making the Best Hot Chocolate

Use high quality chocolate. While this probably goes without saying, chocolate is the star of the show in this recipe, and that means you want to use the best quality chocolate you have available. That does 'not' mean using super expensive chocolate. Instead, it means that if you enjoy the chocolate on its own, it's good enough for the hot chocolate.
Use whole milk. For a richer flavor, you absolutely 'must' have the fat present in whole milk. As stated in the ingredient list, you might even consider substituting about a third of the milk for heavy cream.
Vanilla. A splash of vanilla enhances the flavor of the chocolate by balancing the sweetness and countering the acidity.

Tips for Getting Fancy with Hot Chocolate

Candied Nuts. Considering top your hot chocolate with crushed candied nuts for added texture, and a delightful layer of flavor complexity that's equal parts sweet, salty, and nutty.
Fancy Whipped Cream. Consider getting fancy with whipped cream by swirling it with caramel, or butterscotch, or cherry or strawberry extract for added Valentine's flair.
Make It Boozy. This one's as simple as stirring in your favorite liqueur. Consider two tablespoons of amaretto, or Kahlua, or rum.
Coffee-Hot Chocolate. Here again, this one's fairly simple to pull off. Simply brew a few ounces of coffee (preferably dark roasted coffee or espresso), and simply add that into the recipe.
Spice It Up. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Sweet and Spicy is one of my favorite combos!

More Hot Chocolate Treats to Love

Best 3-Ingredient Hot Cocoa. I server today's chocolate covered marshmallows with this recipe that is my tried and true go-to. It's easy to whisk together and delicious indulgent.
Hot Chocolate Ice Cream. Here you're basically using the hot chocolate as a flavoring agent. Using my recipe for homemade, no churn vanilla bean ice cream, simply add in four ounces the hot chocolate (cold), and mix.
Hot Chocolate French Toast. For Hot Chocolate French Toast, simply replace the milk used to coat the bread with hot chocolate. For example, in my Pumpkin Spice French Toast, simply substitute the cup of whole milk for a cup of this hot chocolate, and proceed with the rest of the recipe as is.
Hot Chocolate Fudge. This is super simple. Take a basic fudge recipe, one using sixteen ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips, four ounces of heavy cream, two tablespoons butter, and simply add in four ounces of hot chocolate. Then simply prepare the fudge as you normally would. It's that simple.