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”
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