Marshmallow Milk Foam: My new favorite way to make lattes
A fun and tasty recipe for getting collagen into your day and protein-boosting your favorite hot cuppa
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I’m going to do the recipe writer thing here and blab a bit so if you just want my marshmallow milk foam recipe, you can scroll past to the bottom of the post.
Many of us by now have heard about the importance of collagen for holistic well-being. Representing nearly a third of the overall protein make-up in our bodies, collagen is a key protein essential for many features and functions throughout the body.
From a “look good” standpoint, collagen supports elasticity, hydration and wound-healing, helping our skin to appear (and feel) its healthiest.
From a “feel good” standpoint, collagen provides structural support to our bones, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and veins. For example, studies have shown that varicose veins, which form when weakened veins fail to pump blood back through the body toward the heart, is associated with a lack of collagen supporting the vein structure. Collagen strengthens our bodies and helps it to keep elasticity alllll throughout. With this knowledge, awareness and intention of consuming collagen-rich foods has increased, and collagen supplements have become very popular over the past few years.
While our bodies produce their own collagen, consuming collagen-rich foods and supplementing with it can support our bodies’ process of production due to the amino acid content, especially as we age and our own collagen production slows down. The amino acids found in animal collagen, including arginine, glycine, glutamine, lysine, proline, and more, are building blocks for collagen, among the other nutritional benefits they provide.
What about gelatin? Both collagen and gelatin contain the same amino acids and protein, and are derived from animal sources of skin, bones, and connective tissues.
What’s the difference?
Collagen peptides have been hydrolyzed to be broken into smaller pieces, molecularly. When added to liquid beverages, collagen is easily dissolved and the liquid maintains the same consistency, no matter the temperature.
Gelatin is essentially the cooked form of collagen. Its larger, minimally processed molecular size means that it is only soluble in hot liquid and gels up once it cools after being heated. If you have ever enjoyed marshmallows or jell-O, you’ve enjoyed gelatin! It also naturally occurs when you cook a chicken, ribs, or any other bone-in meat (you know how the meat juices gel up after your leftovers have cooled in the fridge? That’s gelatin!)
There are a variety of ways to prepare gelatin to enjoy it for its benefits, including making your own jello, gummies, and marshmallows. My friend Balkis recently shared with me her hack for making super foamy milk for her lattes using gelatin, and I have been OBSESSED with it ever since. It makes my Element Matcha and hojicha lattes extra special, and it’s a total game changer when added to hot cacao.
Today, I’m excited to share with you how you can make heavenly marshmallow milk foam yourself and enjoy the benefits of collagen support in a fun and tasty way.
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Marshmallow Milk Foam
What you’ll need
1 tbsp gelatin powder, divided into 3 tsps, I use Thrive Market brand or Perfect Supplements grass-fed beef gelatin powder ― both are great quality, though the Thrive Market brand is more economic
1/8 tsp or 8 drops vanilla extract
6-8 oz milk of choice, I’m a grass-fed cow’s milk girlie myself
handheld electric frother or milk frother (this is the standing milk frother I have from Amazon)
optional:
a touch of honey, maple syrup, or 4-8 drops monk fruit or stevia extract to sweeten, more or less to taste
Making it
Milk frother instructions
If your frother has warming capability, pour milk up to minimum or maximum line for frothing depending on the volume of beverage you’re making. Add vanilla extract and sweetener if using, and turn on the frother. As it warms your milk and starts to whisk it, slowly shake in gelatin power, one teaspoon at a time, until three teaspoons (totaling one full tablespoon) have been whisked in. Let the frother do its thing, and once finished, pour over your favorite beverage and enjoy.
Here’s a video showing how:
Handheld electric frother instructions
Warm your milk and add vanilla extract and sweetener if using. Hold handheld electric frother in one hand, and start to whisk. With the other hand, slowly shake in gelatin powder, one teaspoon at a time, until three teaspoons (totaling one full tablespoon) have been whisked in. Continue to whisk for about a minute or two until a thick creamy foam develops—you will notice a change in consistency when it’s been combined well. Pour over your favorite beverage and enjoy.
Using it
Pouring the milk foam into your beverage can create a pretty marbling effect, while pouring your beverage into the milk foam will leave a pretty white foam on top that’s deckled with your latte.
Important note: Gelatin will thicken up and can harden once it’s cool. Remember to rinse your milk frother and whisks right away to make cleaning easier while it’s still in its liquid form. Hardened gelatin can be softened and scrubbed away with hot water.
If gelatin film is leftover in your mug after it’s cooled, you can add or heat hot water in your mug and it will liquify again for easy cleaning! Similarly, if you let your drink get cold, the gelatin will turn it into a full-on marshmallow! In this case, you can add a splash of water or milk and reheat it to liquify it again.
Heaven in a mug.
This hack really has elevated my matcha, hojicha, and hot cacao. The ~9g of protein you get from one 1 tbsp serving of gelatin gives a nice boost to any meal you make this beverage to accompany, or can make for a comforting cup of warm milk that’s powered by amino acids for a supportive night of sleep. I truly look forward to having one or two servings of this in my daily bevs.
Let me know if you try it! I’d love to hear how you enjoy your marshmallow milk foam.
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Yours in nourishment,
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yum!