At my old job, lunch usually meant running downstairs at 3 p.m. to grab a grilled cheese sandwich to eat at my desk. But occasionally I did leave the building. One such jaunt was with my friend and former co-worker Heidi, to Good Stuff Eatery.

Heidi always knows the best places to eat. Good Stuff is owned by Spike Mendelsohn, who was a contestant on Top Chef Chicago. The menu is just burgers, fries, shakes and salads. But everything is fantastic — especially the toasted marshmallow milkshakes. It’s the best milkshake I’ve ever had. Even better than Shake Shack (although those are pretty amazing as well).

So, I was beyond excited to see the recipe for toasted marshmallow milkshakes on Joy the Baker’s blog. AND they are super easy. I just needed an occasion.

Toby’s birthday seemed like the perfect time to set some marshmallows on fire. I used a fondue fork to stab the marshmallow and toasted it over the flame on my gas stove (it’s much easier if you take the metal part the pots sit on off first). I always set my marshmallows on fire, because they’re best when they’re blackened on the outside and gooey on the inside. You don’t have to set yours on fire, but make sure they are really toasted — with dark brown or black spots — so you get the toasty flavor in the milkshake.

Warning: After you make these milkshakes, you will have an undeniable urge to make s’mores at some point. So you may want to get some graham crackers when you’re at the grocery store.

Make sure you save a toasted marshmallow to put on top of the milkshake!

Toasted marshmallow milkshakes (By Spike Mendelsohn, as adapted by Joy the Baker) Makes one 16ish-ounce or two 8ish-ounce milkshakes
8-10 marshmallows (the big kind, not minis)
3 large scoops/heaping cup of vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toast the marshmallows over the flame on your stove (or broil in the oven, but watch them very carefully). Save a toasted marshmallow for the top of each milkshake.

Place the rest of the toasted marshmallows in a blender with the ice cream, milk and vanilla. Blend. Add more ice cream to make the milkshake thicker, or more milk if you’d like it thinner. Blend again.

Serve immediately, topped with a marshmallow.