Hot Cocoa Mug Gift Ideas
Hot Cocoa Mug Gift Ideas - Learn how to put together a cozy and festive DIY hot cocoa gift basket in a few minutes with homemade hot cocoa mix (easy recipe included), marshmallows, chocolate bars, and some other fun treats (like warm chocolate bombs). This is a simple but thoughtful gift for all ages and any occasion.
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Hot Cocoa Mug Gift Ideas
It's time for another themed gift basket! I'm quite addicted to making them now, so I hope you're not sick of them yet. It's super fun to collect (especially with little themed trinkets) and I enjoy seeing people's reactions to receiving it. Last December I shared a self-care gift basket (I didn't know it would be so timely for 2020), a few months ago I posted a wine and cheese gift basket (mmmm), and now I'm working on something delicious.
a breakfast-themed one (coming soon). Today's gift basket is hot chocolate and themed hot chocolate because it's something everyone loves! Well, almost everything. They are weird who don't like chocolate. It's careless for them, right? ;) If so, coffee is probably a safe bet. Or twenty.
Or something spicy, savory. Do some online research on your people and find out what they like. If you need tips on this, read my personal care gift basket post (link above). Or choose something at random from my round of homemade food gifts. Since we're so close to Christmas, this gift basket makes a great last-minute holiday gift, but it's also great for a random "thinking of you" care package (this should be more common) or a thank you gift to show off.
What To Put In A Hot Cocoa Gift Basket
Your appreciation for someone who helped you recently. Housewarming gifts, bridal showers, and baby showers are also excuses to make one. I mean, why do we need an excuse? Not when chocolate is involved. There are tons of food and non-food options included in the hot cocoa gift basket (I share tons of ideas later in the post).
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However, there are three main things you should always include: If you give this gift to someone who lives nearby, you can also include perishable items such as whipped cream, chilled milk (dairy or non-dairy) or warm chocolate bombs (picture). below). My favorite chocolate bar that I'm using right now is from Divine and Bar & Cocoa, and for chips, it's Ghiradelli (although I have a bag of Guitard that I'm going to try soon).
If you are giving this to a chocolate lover, I highly recommend ordering some chocolates through Bar & Cocoa. Castronovo Dark Milk Chocolate (pictured in today's cart) is my favorite. You can read more about them in the Double Chocolate Banana Muffins post. Now back to the cocoa mixture.
If you're in a rush or don't want to buy ingredients to make homemade hot cocoa, pick up some pre-made mixes from the store. Look for packages, containers, or jars of hot cocoa made with high-quality ingredients like cocoa powder, sugar, powdered milk (optional), and vanilla.
Ingredients For Homemade Dry Hot Cocoa Mix
Swiss Miss is one I don't recommend because it gives me (and some people I know) an upset stomach after drinking it (it's loaded with additives and emulsifiers). I love the individual packets of Ghiradehlli hot cocoa that are meant to be mixed into hot milk.
But really...it's really easy to make your own mix by mixing a few pantry ingredients. Here's everything you need for a basic hot cocoa mix that you can whip up in minutes: You may have noticed that the dry mix does not contain milk powder.
Source: hispanickitchen.com
I left it out on purpose. Why? It's not a common pantry ingredient (unless you're an avid baker or prepper), so I thought I'd save you some trouble and trouble by making a version without it. That being said, this hot cocoa mixture tastes best when combined with some type of milk for extra creaminess.
I usually use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Do you only have water? Here's a tip to make it taste better: Chop a few squares of chocolate and melt it into hot cocoa. Cocoa butter in chocolate makes it taste richer and creamier (no need for milk).
Hot Cocoa Gift Basket Ideas
Or, check out my hot chocolate recipe to learn how to make it from scratch without cocoa powder. I am planning to test another recipe with coconut milk powder and shaved chocolate bar (or chips) included (meant to stir in hot water), so look for it here in the future.
In addition to the basic ingredients (hot cocoa, marshmallows, and chocolate bars), there are tons of other fun things that can be added to complete your gift basket in a fun and functional way. Here are some ideas for inspiration (including what I'm using today - bonus points if you can find hot cocoa or other chocolate-related items): Hot chocolate bombs are very popular this year, so I had to include them in this gift basket.
I'm also curious if they will live up to the hype. So, I ordered an 8-pack of Indulgent Treats (pictured above), which I customized with different chocolate toppings. If you live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, definitely check them out on Instagram. You'll be supporting women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses.
Source: www.thehappierhomemaker.com
) So... how about the bomb? I made these for Thanksgiving and they were ah-mazing!!! The inside is Ghiradelli hot cocoa mixture with some crushed candy cane, and the outside is either dark, white, or milk chocolate (all Ghiradelli except the last one) sprinkled with more peppermint candy cane.
How To Make Your Gift Basket Extra Special: Include Hot Chocolate Bombs
I pour hot water over them and they come out so creamy and rich (but not too rich). They are perfect! NOTE: If you prefer the DIY route and can find the required round shape, here is a tutorial from my blogging friend Carissa: How to Make Hot Cocoa Bombs with Marshmallows.
Tip: It has a thin layer of chocolate, so it is better to keep it in the refrigerator until close to serving. So if you're putting it in a gift basket, add it before you leave for your destination. It is also a good idea to wrap them in plastic or put them in a plastic bag to prevent fingerprints (if you have warm hands).
Here's everything I included in my cart if you want to repeat it, otherwise use it as a template for your own version: SWEET: This cocoa mix is less sweet than most (which is how I like it), so if you want. taste close to the classic packaged cocoa mixture, which usually has sugar as the main ingredient, add an additional 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sweetener.
MILK VS WATER: This mixture is best mixed in milk (dairy or non-dairy) as it does not contain milk powder. If you want to use water instead, I recommend adding a few tablespoons of chopped chocolate bars or chocolate chips to add a little creaminess to the cocoa.
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