Peppermint hot cocoa

This year I once again, majorly failed at stocking up Vitasoy Peppermint Chocolate soymilk, which has arguably the best workings for a hot cup of cocoa. So with one lonely soymilk sitting on my shelf, I decided I would try and recreate my own recipe. The result was awesome, and I think I like it even more then the packaged stuff (gasp). What makes it even better though, is that you can make sure your chocolate is fair trade and ethical. If you don't have coconut milk, you could probably sub out something else creamy like a soy creamer, if you buy those things? Or good old H2O if you get really desperate. I just had some opened in the fridge that I needed to use up.

Peppermint hot chocolate

1/2 cup sugar (I use raw stuff that needs to dissolve, so the instructions are geared towards that)

1/4 cup fair trade baking cocoa (I like equal exchange)

1/8 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon of peppermint flavor extract

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

4 cups soy or almond milk (not the sweetened stuff)

Heat up coconut milk, water, and sugar over medium heat in a saucepan until hot. Add in cocoa and cinnamon, and stir until mixed and boiling. Reduce heat, and add in soy or almond milk and extracts making sure to heat, but not boil again.

Serve with optional soy whip and sprinkles and extra cinnamon.

Makes about 3 big mugs. The extra stores really well in an empty tomato sauce jar. Just shake and re-heat.