Marshmallows for New Year
A cozy accompaniment for keeping warm inside
Happy new year all!
I’ve been in the middle of moving house throughout the season, and have finally begun 2026 in a new permanent home surrounded by boxes and thoughtful about the year to come. I’ve been thinking a lot about what defines the style of Violet as my chefs and I regroup and want to bring those qualities – luxuriousness, fullness, looseness, seasonality, balance, lightness of touch, all with intention – with me into the coming months. It’s shaping up to be an exciting year, and there’s some really cool projects on the horizon for me and Violet.
I’m also feeling really creative! Looking back on the past two decades last year as Violet turned 20, and writing these Substacks every week, was really inspiring and I’m excited to keep creating and sharing recipes with you. I’m feeling drawn to simple recipes that have a big impact – in baking as in life it’s easy to get overwhelmed with big complicated plans when sometimes, oftentimes, simple is best.
Let me know if there’s anything you really want to see as well!
Over the break I spent time in Wales, which felt like something magical out of a story with rolling hills and fog and bogs, and of course I got sick, but it was really lovely. My friend Tish Weinstock who I went with wrote all about it far more funnily than I could on her Substack, so check that out.
Now, back in London where the wind is freezing and the rain hasn’t stopped, it’s definitely weather for hot cocoa and marshmallows and curling up on the couch.
Claire x
Vanilla Marshmallows
At the bakery we make our hot chocolate with shavings of 75% dark, single origin chocolate from Pump St. who also supply the chocolate we use in our cookies and Tahini Halva Brownies. They’re an amazing company based in Suffolk who work closely with cacao farmers from around the world and make their chocolate bean to bar by hand. At their bakery in Orford they serve hot chocolate with a marshmallow topping, and I urge you to make hot chocolate this way at home as well. Melt dark chocolate into hot milk, add a pinch of salt and sugar to taste. Top with these homemade marshmallows and snuggle up.
