A soul-warming non-caffeinated drink for a winter’s day: Vanilla Steamer with Rose-flavored Marshmallows.
We’ve reached the Cat and Mouse phase of winter. The charm of the first snows, the Ugg boots, down parkas, shoveling the walk has begun to wear thin. Brutally frigid temps around the US have paralyzed schools and travel making winter not so fun.
Here in Colorado we are experiencing another face of winter we know all too well: the Tease. Howling winds bring temperatures in the teens to their knees with wind chill. Slow morning drives to avoid spinning out on ice make us feel like we are driving like 90 year old Grandparents with poor vision. Then as if Old Man Winter stepped out for a few minutes, our temperatures will spike the sixties.
We are radiated by the sun making us want to bask all day in the nourishing rays. Birds are singing. I can’t sit still for wanting to be outdoors walking or organizing my house (go figure). It lasts a few days until the next wintery blast arrives. It’s a bit like being adrift at sea, bobbing below the waves, rising for a huge inhale and going under again…..that may be a bit dramatic but the closer to spring we get, the more tormenting these swings begin to feel!
Special treats tend to take the edge off the harsher days. One drink we love are Steamers. Discovered originally when my kids would come to coffee houses with me and wanting to break free of hot chocolate as the only option, Steamers were suggested by the baristas.
A Steamers is cup of milk steamed to a frothy finish, lightly sweetened usually with flavored syrups. They are comforting, delicious and something my kids love. I love them too finding them more soul-warming than a cup of coffee or tea on a cold day.
Get Rid of the Winter Chill with a Vanilla Steamer with Rose-flavored Marshmallows
As I was thinking up recipes to pair with the Rose-flavored Marshmallows recently shared, a simple Vanilla Steamer seemed perfect. Though the marshmallows would be fine in cup of hot cocoa, the delicate flavor and pink color dancing in a Steamer adds a bright, warming touch to these cold, cold days.
There are several ways to prepare the steamer to gain the frothy top (all described in the recipe). I tend to use whole cow milk as the higher fat content adds to the whimsy of the froth but they may be made with any fat percentage of cow milk or plant-based milks; the consistency of the milk when prepared will differ with various milks but the flavor will still be delicious!
Vanilla Steamer with Rose-flavored Marshmallows Recipe
Recipe
Vanilla Steamer
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Milk (can substitute lower fat or plant-based milk if preferred)
- ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½-3/4 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a coffee cup; stir to fully incorporate.
- Using a milk frother on an expresso machine: Steam until milk is fully heated and frothy on top. Using a hand frother: Heat the milk mixture in a microwave on high until fully heated (1 ½-2 minutes depending on the microwave), insert the frother into the cup and froth until bubbly on top. Microwave: Heat on high for 1 ½-2 minutes until the milk is heated through and frothy on top.
- Add 1-2 rose-flavored marshmallows and enjoy!
Kita says
Truth? We have been super lucky. It’s been cold, but really a mild winter as every store has (lucky for me) narrowly missed us. I’ll take it… but really, I could use a few more cozy days that require beautiful concoctions like these!!! I have yet to really need to bust out the hot drinks… but I may just have to pretend.
Toni Dash says
I’m not quite sure how you’ve escaped this winter, Kita?! What’s your secret….I promise I won’t tell! I would miss winter if it skipped us by so I hope you’ll get some fire-in-the-hearth weather soon to try these!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
What an amazing idea! I love the concept and the photos are gorgeous. I’ve made marshmallows before but never ones as exotic as yours. A winning winter treat all the way around.
Toni Dash says
Thank you Laura, I’m so glad you like it all. These are so easy to make and in the fridge already. Tuck the recipe away for a rainy day!
Melanie | Melanie Makes says
What a perfect treat to ward off the Winter chill!
Toni Dash says
I agree Melanie! We undoubtedly have a few more months of winter so this brings a lift to dreary days.
Sabrina Modelle says
Oh Toni, this looks so perfect. Though our temps are in the 70s here in California, we’re supposed to get a good rain storm in the later half of this week. I certainly hope we do. Both because we need it, and because I really need these vanilla steamers in my life 🙂
Toni Dash says
I think rain is often more chilling than our snow so these would be perfect!!!
Sara Thompson says
Steamers were the only way I survived the no coffee during my pregnancy. They were also the way I got my picky eater to drink milk. Now here we are 18 years later and steamers are really our favorite “coffee” drink.
Toni Dash says
I love knowing this Sara. They really do drink like a ‘coffee drink’, don’t they? We love this one in particular…and that we can make it at home with as satisfying an end result.
Sara Thompson says
I’m excited to try this. We stopped making them at home when I stopped buying coffee syrups so this inspires me to try making them again.
Toni Dash says
This method is so easy Sara and its not syrupy sweet as some of the syrups can be. I think it’s very natural tasting and you undoubtedly have all the ingredients already!
heather @french press says
Toni this is absolutely gorgeous! What a perfect way to warm up the day, and those marshamallows, I have been thinking about them for days
Toni Dash says
Heather you as so kind! I’ve been eating them for days; not a bad thing! Our weather has been so cold, spiked with these weird ‘yeah-sure-there’s-no-such-thing-as-global-warming’ temp days. Having them on hand to weather the meteorological mood swings is nice.
Beth says
I didn’t know what a steamer was until last fall when someone ordered a pumpkin spice steamer at Starbucks, and I thought it was genius! I love this, off to see the marshmallow recipe!
Toni Dash says
Maybe Starbuck’s created them because I’m sure that was where we learned of the too (though our locally based coffee shops have them too)! However we stumbled upon them, I’m glad we did and also love making them so easily at home too!