I created these adorable Hot Cocoa Gift Jars for Christmas gifts. Most everyone makes hot chocolate during the holiday season and I have so many people to buy gifts for anyway. I made a few extra for our family, so after shopping or on Christmas eve I can easily make a really delicious homemade hot cocoa.
I used half pint wide neck Kerr brand canning jars that I sanitized in the dishwasher. The only layer that takes some effort is the peppermint layer. For peppermint layer I put starlight candies in a large ziplock bag, and with a rolling-pin, crushed them.
For making the prepared jars of cocoa mix into hot cocoa, add the entire jar of prepared cocoa mix, and a 1/2 gallon of whole milk to a 5-quart or larger crock pot and cook on HIGH for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally. Or for the stove-top, cook on medium heat until melted and heated through.
This cocoa prepared is not overly sweet, it is just right. This makes about 8 servings of cocoa, I put the leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the microwave for the next night, still tastes great.
Hot Cocoa Gift Jars
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker – 5 quart or larger
Ingredients:
Per Jar (1/2 Pint Size Jar, I use Kerr wide neck)
- ¼ cup white sugar (regular granulated sugar, not powdered)
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup crushed peppermint candies candy canes or starlight candies
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips
For Serving
- ½ gallon whole milk
Instructions:
- Mix together the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the white chips in a small bowl, set aside.
- Add the layers down evenly into a ½ pint wide neck canning jar, starting with the sugar and ending with the chocolate chip mix. Place the lid on, and decorate if desired. Don't heap any of the measurements or you won't be able to get the lid on. Add a handwritten label with instructions.
To prepare the hot chocolate:
- Slow Cooker: In a 5-quart or larger slow cooker, add the contents of the gift jar and a ½ gallon whole milk. Stir, cover and cook on HIGH for about 1.5 hours until warm and everything is melted completely, stirring occasionally.
- Stove-top: In a large pot, add the contents of the gift jar and a ½ gallon of whole milk. Heat on medium-high heat until warm and everything is melted completely, stirring occasionally.
This is a great recipe! We decided to make these for teacher and neighbor gifts but, I wanted to try it too to make sure we liked it. I’m happy to report, it’s delicious! I put a pot on while we were washing the jars and unwrapping the candy canes. I used the pressure cooker, instead of the crock pot and set it for 10 min. It was perfect! We made a dozen jars in about an hour (including washing jars and cooking/sampling the test pot). If you’re wondering how much to buy, we used 4 dozen candy canes, 1.5 bags of chocolate chips, 1 bag of white chocolate chips, less than one tub of cocoa powder and 3 cups of sugar. I just need to make labels and they’ll be ready to go.
great tips, thank you for sharing!
Granulated sugar or powdered sugar?
granulated
I love this idea! I plan on substituting the peppermint candies with purple melty mints and using these as wedding favors…since the mason jars seal so tight, there shouldn’t be a problem doing these a few weeks in advance, right?
I did mine a few weeks in advance, the sugar and mints kind of stick together, but unpacks easily from the jars. If you are substituting the peppermint layer, do a test jar to make sure that layer will be sweet enough for the cocoa. 🙂
It looks like more than 2 tbsp of the cocoa powder?? Or is it just layered around the edges to make it look like more?
Yes 🙂 The jars are small (1/2 pint) and 2 Tbsp. is just a little smaller than a 1/4 cup. I hope this helps
Thank you for sharing! So lovely an idea!
I love this idea and I especially love the rudolph mug. Can you tell me wherevyou got it? Have a happy holiday!!
I think it was ShopKo about 5 years ago. Sorry that’s really no help. If you search Rudolph Mug Set on Ebay a few show up. 🙂
Very cute idea for holiday gifts!
Everyone loves hot chocolate — what a “sweet” gift! I bet it tastes even better reheated!
I love the directions are for crock pot too! What a fun idea! Thanks
Love this! Such a cute, homemade gift idea 🙂
These are adorable, easy and perfect gifts! Love!!
I love making edible gifts and these look so fun! I’m sure they will be greatly appreciated by many friends and family on my holiday shopping list!
absolutely adorable, I love giving and getting gifts like this!
You have gone a long way to solving one of my gifting problems, Sarah. With my son, daughter in-law, stepson, stepdaughter, and seven grandkids, all living in snowy upstate New York, I will be making and shipping them a case of these gift jars. I will also be making these for my friends here in the Springs.