DIY Stocking Stuffer: Mini Hot Chocolate Jars Three Ways
I'm not the craftiest member of the HGTV.com team when it comes to homemade gifts, but boy do I love to prepare food and beverages for my loved ones. One year my mother-in-law gave me a can of hot chocolate mix made from real chocolate shavings, and I've never looked back to powdered drink mix. Making your own to give away is so easy, and the recipe is flexible to suit the taste of your gift recipient. Here's how:
Holiday Hot Chocolate 3 Ways 01:03
The final ingredients in the jar get whisked into a cup of hot milk for near-instant chocolatey goodness that will warm anyone's belly and soul. Read on for three different hot chocolate recipes and instructions on how to assemble your jars.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Materials Needed
- 3/4 oz. milk chocolate
- 1/2 oz. dark chocolate
- 2 mini candy canes
- mini marshmallows to fill top of jar (about 1/4 cup)
- 4 oz. mason-style jelly jar
- ribbon, greenery or other garnishes
- gift tag
Chop Ingredients
Coarsely chop chocolate and crush candy canes with a sharp chef's knife. Chopped chunks of chocolate should be about the size of small peas to keep the chocolate from melting before the desired time.
Fill Jelly Jar
Scoop all of the chocolate and candy canes together and place in jelly jar. Fill in any leftover space at the top of the jar with as many mini marshmallows as will fit.
Tie Ribbon on Jar
Place just the lid without the band on the top of the jar. Set the jar on top of a long strand of ribbon or twine and tie a loose knot around the top of the jar.
Add Band and Tie Bow
Slide the tails of the ribbon through the center of the jar's band. Rest the band around the lip of the jar while tightening the previously tied knot. Twist the band around the jar lip to secure the lid and ribbon to the jar.
Garnish
Slide a gift tag with punched hole onto one ribbon tail and tie ribbon in a bow. Garnish with mini candy cane, greenery or other seasonal adornments. Tip: Write instructions for whisking jar ingredients with 1 cup of warmed milk on the back of the gift tag before tying it to ribbon.
Aztec Hot Chocolate
Materials Needed
- 3/4 oz. dark chocolate
- 1/2 oz. milk chocolate
- cinnamon stick for garnish
Chop chocolate. Fill jelly jar by spooning in cinnamon and chili powder and layering chopped chocolate on top. Top with mini marshmallows. Add lid, ribbon, band and gift tag and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
Boozy White Chocolate
Materials Needed
- 1 1/4 oz. white chocolate
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. orange zest
- mini bottle of hazelnut liqueur
Chop chocolate and zest orange. Fill jelly jar by spooning in orange zest and nutmeg and layering chopped chocolate on top. Tie mini bottle of hazelnut liqueur to jar with ribbon and place lid on top of jar. Tighten band onto jar so that it grips upper part of ribbon, securing it to the jar. Tie ribbon in a bow and add gift tag.
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