Edible Gifting Week #5: DIY Vegan Hot Cocoa Mix 4 Ways
I’m ending my series of edible holiday gifting ideas with #5, hot cocoa mixes! A cup of hot Cocoa is like the quintessential holiday drink. It’s an icon that everyone can associate with Christmas. Come on, who doesn’t love a hot cup of cocoa to sip on during the cold winter season?
I’m going to assume that you all just did a little cocoa dance, or at the very least are silently cheering with me for the wonderful creation that is sweet and cozy hot cocoa. Now, if you just mentally responded to the negative, then you’d better go find someone else’s parade to rain on because cocoa and I are really having a moment right now and it’s going to take a lot more than rude comments or pointless negativity to mess this thing up. Just sayin’.
I know it’s around the time of year where we’re all searching for the just the thing to get for everyone this Christmas. Well I have great news for you, this is it! Talk about the perfect gift. I mean, of course your friends and family can go out and by generic hot chocolate mix for themselves, but that’s just going to end in a disappointing cup of tasteless, watered-down, artificially flavored, dark colored liquid in a mug. And no, this is not an advertisement for kleenex to mop up all those tears. I’m just being (brutally) honest here.
But you can be super happy now because…..we’re havin’ cocoa tonight!!! It makes it taste even better when the person you give it to knows that you added lots of love to it. I couldn’t decide on just one flavor so I went with four different kinds because that’s what you get when you put indecisive with creative and a side of coo-coo-cachoo. So firstly, I really wanted to make this a more allergy friendly version of this classic gift so I picked up some powdered coconut milk
A. there’s the Mexican Hot Cocoa! If you like a little extra heat to stay warm, it’s for you. I know this weirds a lot of people out, putting hot peppers in chocolate, but it’s amazingness guys. You’ve at least got to do it once. If you’re not a fan I totally get it, but at least you can rest in the knowledge that you’re not wasting a life’s worth of Mexi-cocoa when it would actually be your jam.
2, if you’re as crazy as I am about your peanut butter, then you really need to try the “Reese’s” Hot Cocoa because that one is kil-ler. I had the idea pop into my head when I was brainstorming for this post and I was like, Hey, why have I never had PB in my cocoa? Life changing moments those are. You can make your own peanut butter cups (I have a recipe here.) or use some like these store-bought peanut butter cups
And D, For the peppermint/candy cane fans or those who secretly prefer vanilla, there is the Peppermint Hot Cocoa and following my Reese’s epiphany I decided to use some peppermint patties. You can buy them online -> chocolate peppermint cups
Then there’s the good old classic hot cocoa mix for you purists with some chocolate chips
This is definitely something you need to do. The internet is chock full of printable hot cocoa labels and I made some that you can print if you click the link below. Or you can of course just write them by hand. All you need to add is the instructions to put 4 to 5 tablespoons per 1 cup of hot milk or water.
-> Hot Cocoa Labels <-
Edible Gifting Week #: DIY Hot Cocoa Mix 4 Ways (Vegan + GF)
Give the gift of warm and cozy hot cocoa this season! Choose to make any (or all!) of these vegan flavors of DIY mix for that special someone.
Ingredients
Classic Hot Chocolate:
- 2/3 cup powered sugar
-
1/3
cup
powdered coconut milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- scrapings from 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
-
1/3
cup
dairy free chocolate chips
-
1/3
cup
mini marshmallows
or enough to fill the rest of jar
Peppermint Patty Hot Cocoa:
- 2/3 cup powered sugar
-
1/3
cup
powdered coconut milk
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
-
scrapings from 1 vanilla bean or vanilla bean powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
-
1/3
cup
chocolate peppermint cups
- 1/3 cup candy cane pieces or enough to fill the rest of jar
Reese's Peanut Butter Cocoa:
- 2/3 cup powered sugar
-
1/3
cup
powdered coconut milk
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- scrapings from 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
-
2/3
cup
choppedhomemade peanut butter cups or vegan peanut butter cups
Mexican Hot Chocolate:
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
-
1/3
cup
powdered coconut milk
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
-
1/2
cup
dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
-
Layer ingredients for each mix in 2-cup jars, bottles, or desired container. Decorate with ribbons, yarn, or bows. You can also include extras such as chocolate spoons, cookies, small ornaments, candy canes, or pirouette cookies. Get creative and make them your own!
-
Include the following instructions in a note or tag with jars:
-
Instructions:
Mix contents of jar together. Add 4 to 5 tablespoons of mix per 1 cup of boiling milk or water. Makes 6 - 8 cups
(p.s. Bonus points if you got my holiday A,2,D reference!)
21 Comments
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
This is such a great and cute gift idea for the holidays! So crafty, fun and DELICIOUS all in one! Looks like I need to get my craft on and try something like this for gifts! Thanks for the great INSPIRING idea!
Tori
Thanks Taylor, and you definitely should try these because they really make fun gifts!
Karry
Oh my gosh!! These look so yummy my hot chocolate odemeter just went off the charts when I saw the post!!!! I’m definitely going to try these out:) love seeing your delicious food posts!!!
Tori
Awwww, thanks! It’s good to hear from you hermana de Chile! Miss ya Girl!
Aria
Those all look so good. I love the hot cocoa mix DIY gift, and yours are totally adorable!
http://purrfectlyinspired.com
Tori
Thanks!
Debs @ Wilde Orchard
These look soooo great Tori! I’m a huge sucker for a homemade gift. And let’s be honest the only kinds of gifts I want to give or receive is something that I can eat!!! These are perfect. Like Taylor said, better get my craft on!
Tori
Totally, edible gifts are the best! Thank you so much, Debs!
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Sharon
Under the Reese’s cocoa.. You never added the peanut butter pieces .. Do I use the peanut butter cups.. Filled to top of jar?
Thanks..
Tori
Hi Sharon, so sorry about that. Don’t you just hate typos? You’re right, just add chopped Reese’s to fill the jar. I added the right amount to the recipe now, thanks for letting me know. I hope you’re having a wonderful and blessed holiday!
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Larissa
For the Mexican hot chocolate recipe your article states 1/2 packed brown sugar. Does this mean half a pack of brown sugar or did you mean to say 1/2 cup?! Please let me know ASAP! Would love to make this 🙂
Tori
Yes, it’s 1/2 cup and I’m so sorry for the mix up. Merry Christmas and I hope you love it, Larissa!
Amanda C Bollinger
Looks delicious! Is the cocoa powder sweetened or unsweetened?
Tori
I always use unsweetened. Merry Christmas, Amanda!
crystal Smith
Hi! Is there a way to use these recipes without powdered milk? Somehow layer in a jar with a tag to specify how much real milk to add when ready to serve? I have everything but the powdered milk.
Tori
Hmmm, I’m sure you could do that. If you add instructions to use whole milk instead of water it should be fine with just adding the other ingredients. Merry Christmas Crystal!
Brad
Is your list of ingredients per jar or meant for multiple? Stupid question I know. Making these today with my daughter for a last minute gift…need help
Tori
Haha, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Thanks for reading Brad and the lists are each for a single jar but multiple servings. Merry Christmas!