This candy cane hot chocolate mix is a homemade gift that just about anyone would love to receive.
This candy cane hot chocolate is a super-simple homemade gift for the holidays or to enjoy yourself on Christmas Eve. It is deliciously exactly what it sounds like: crushed up candy canes mixed with hot chocolate powder.
Christmas-y Hot Chocolate
This candy cane hot chocolate looks really pretty in a jar and tastes like Christmas when mixed with hot milk or hot water in a mug, making it the ultimate homemade food gift.
The instructions below make about 1 and ¼ cups of Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Powder, which is plenty to fill a small jar to give as a hostess gift. But the recipe can be doubled, tripled, or whatever to fill any sized jar you’d like.
Because crushing the candy canes can be a tad messy, I like to make a quadruple batch, store it in a larger container, and then spoon some into a jar when I’m ready to take it as a gift to someone. Make sure to include a note with how to prepare it. The usual amounts for most brands of hot chocolate are 2 tablespoons of powder to 8 ounces of hot milk or water.
Making Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Powder
Measure the hot chocolate powder of your choice into a small jar and set aside. Put the peppermint candies or candy canes into a large ziptop bag. Seal the bag and smash the candy through the bag using a rolling pin or a heavy bottomed skillet. Keep smashing until a lot of the candy is powder but there are still some bigger pieces with the identifiable red and white swirl. These are just so that the powder in the jar looks pretty. Don’t worry – they will dissolve in hot liquid rapidly enough as long as there aren’t too many big pieces.
Pour the crushed candy into the jar. Put the lid on the jar and shake it once or twice so it’s nicely mixed.
When you’re ready to enjoy, add a couple tablespoons to hot water or milk. Yum!
Another easy homemade food gift to give during the holidays is this Christmas coffee blend.
Are you ready to learn how to make this homemade food gift?
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Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 and 1/4 cup mix 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
The instructions here make about 1 and ¼ cups of Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Powder, which is plenty to fill a small jar to give as a hostess gift. But the recipe can be doubled, tripled, or whatever to fill any sized jar you’d like. Because crushing the candy canes can be a tad messy, I tend to make a quadruple batch, store it in a larger container and then spoon some into a jar when I’m ready to take it as a gift to someone.
Make sure to write out a note to go with the gift that says how much powder to combine with how much liquid. The usual amounts for most brands of hot chocolate are 2 tablespoons of powder to 8 ounces of hot milk or water.
Ingredients
- 1 cup hot chocolate powder
- a small jar
- 3 ounces of peppermint candy (that’s about 6 regular-sized candy canes)
- a large heavy duty plastic zipper bag
- a gift tag
- a ribbon
Instructions
- Measure the hot chocolate powder into a small jar. Set aside.
- Put the peppermint candies into a large ziplock bag. Seal the bag. Smash the candy through the bag using a rolling pin or a heavy bottomed skillet. Keep smashing until a lot of the candy is powder but there are still some bigger pieces with the identifiable red and white swirl (these are just so that the powder in the jar looks pretty. Don’t worry – they will dissolve in hot liquid rapidly enough as long as there aren’t too many big pieces).
- Pour the crushed candy into the jar. Put the lid on the jar and shake it once or twice.
- Write out your gift tag and string it onto the ribbon. Tie the ribbon around the jar. Give to someone as a token of thanks for being warm and kind enough to invite you into their home.
This post originally appeared in November 2012 and was revised and republished in December 2020.
janie says
I love the hot chocolate idea! I’m going to try it! Merry Christmas to you and yours! :-)
Christine Pittman says
Janie, So happy you like it. It’s a real treat. My kids ask for it all the time, even in the summer! If you try it, let me know. I’d love to know what you think.
sel says
how long does it last?
★★★★★
Paula says
Delicious gift idea :)
Samantha says
I’m definitely using your tags, Christine. I will let you know what I put them on when I figure that out…Maybe this hot chocolate. I need something for my boyfriends parents but I have absolutely no idea what they would like.
Christine Pittman says
So happy you like them! Stay tuned because I have a spiced coffee mix coming up soon that might work, if they’re coffee drinkers.
Ruthy says
I love this! One of my favorite Christmas treats is a candy cane dipped in hot chocolate, so this is a perfect hostess gift. And your tags are adorable. Thanks!
Christine Pittman says
Yay! So happy you like the tags and the hot chocolate idea, Ruthy. You’re welcome.