For our teacher gifts this year, I made a variety of gifts in a jar.  I’ll share the rest soon, but the hot chocolate mixes were the most popular, so let’s start there.

I made three different mixes:

• double chocolate hot cocoa
• peppermint hot cocoa
• mocha hot cocoa

Here are the recipes. I made them a little less sweet than other recipes out there – they’re still plenty decadent, don’t worry, and I did not put in powdered milk, since many people have a preference for alternative milks like soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk. I made some in almond butter jars , which hold 1.5 cups each, and some in pasta sauce jars, which hold about 2.5 cups.  I used the same recipe but added marshmallows in the larger jars.  For each recipe, layer the ingredients for a festive look.  To finish off the jars, I printed some labels with ingredients and instructions and them stuck them on decorative papers and finished off the gift with a ribbon.

Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Recipe

• 3/4cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (the mini chocolate chips will melt more easily)
• optional: 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Recipe

I enjoy a hint of peppermint in my hot chocolate, but I didn’t want this recipe to be too strong. These Ghiaradelli peppermint bark chocolates made the perfect addition.

• 3/4cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (the mini chocolate chips will melt more easily)
• 3 Ghiaradelli peppermint bark chocolates, chopped
• optional: 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows

Mocha Hot Cocoa Recipe

• 3/4cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (the mini chocolate chips will melt more easily)
• 2 servings instant coffee powder (I used decaffeinated)
• optional: 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows

Instructions:

These are the same for all the recipes.

For the mixes without marshmallows: “Mix ingredients thoroughly.  Add 1/4 cup mix to 1 cup of hot milk.  Stir and enjoy.”

For the mixes with marshmallows: “Mix ingredients thoroughly.  Add 1/3 cup mix to 1 cup of hot milk.  Stir and enjoy.”

I will warn you that these gifts are very heavy!  I walked around school this afternoon with baby J in the Ergo carrier on my back and a tray of 15 glass jars.  Truly ’tis better to give than to receive!

It was worth it, though.  I hope our teachers enjoy their gifts.  Hot chocolate by the fire is just the best!  Trust me, I’m speaking from experience.

“Jewels”