Give a Gift of Hot Chocolate

Give a gift of hot chocolate this Christmas season. Found some great hot chocolate gifting ideas that you can put together to astound your friends and family. I take no credit for the beautiful creations, my only suggestion is to put a Christmas ornament with your gift to make it everlasting. I was browsing on Tip Junkie and ran across the neatest idea for hot chocolate. Hot Chocolate on a Stick! Yes, a chunk of chocolate with homemade marshmallow.....looks delicious!

Heather at Whipperberry.com created this most unusual treat. She has more photos that are stunning and recipes for both the chocolate chunk and marshmallow that look easy to follow. She even has a free printable label for packaging this sweet treat.

You'll want to visit whipperberry.com and plan on spending some time there......she has some great ideas, recipes and crafts.

Another hot chocolate gift idea was found at The Craft Nest. These little packages of hot chocolate mix are perfect for teacher gifts. Our teachers get so many gifts each year from their students that I think it's better to give something disposable......I mean there are just so many knick-knacks that a teacher can keep....Give them something they can eat, drink or use up and be done with it)))

The Craft Nest used a purchased hot chocolate mix but spruced it up a bit with miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips and even mini peppermint candy canes. Ingredients were placed in 4" clear cello bag and wrapper created with cutout window. Instructions are on the site and look simple to follow.

If you'd like to make your own Hot Chocolate Mix here's a great recipe from the Food Network. Last year the above Inge-Glas Hot Chocolate Christmas ornament was featured in the Christmas issue of Food Network)))

Hot Cocoa

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• Hot water

Directions Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water. Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk. If you decide to make your own mix, just be sure to add a little tag with the instructions on how to reconstitute.

Top off your hot chocolate gift with a little bunch of Peppermint Candy Canes for stir sticks.This post is making me yearn for cold weather!