From Daryl aka Avery:
There's nothing that feels better during the holidays than making something to give. Something from the heart. It could be a card. A personal ornament. A batch of cookies.
Or hot cocoa.
This is a luscious gift your recipient can savor now, or in the months to come. Because this particular gift doesn't go "bad." Granted, it might not be as good a year from now, but it'll keep well for at least three months in a sealed tight jar. [I dare you to keep it that long!]
I learned about this recipe after seeing a picture on Pinterest last year, a few days before Christmas, but I didn't have a chance to share it with you. I have to say that the people I gave it to were so excited. Big smiles. What's not to like? It's rich and satisfying.
Enjoy!
PS I can't for the life of me find the recipe via Pinterest again, so I'm sorry for "borrowing" from the Internet without making note of who designed this easy recipe.
Hot Cocoa for Christmas Gifts
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (use a high-quality brand; I used Penzey’s)
2 ½ cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Small
marshmallows * (see note Gluten-free)
Dump the
ingredients into a bowl. Stir. Distribute into jars with lids. You can top with
some marshmallows. Close the lid.
Add some
ribbon and a tag with directions for your recipient to fill a mug half full
with mix and then add steaming hot water.
Stir and enjoy!
You can handwrite a card...
Or print one out like this:
Note: * if you have a gluten-free recipient, don’t
add marshmallows unless the marshmallows are gluten-free. FYI: Kraft Marshmallows
are!
Last gasp: I had one cup left over after filling 6 jars. What to do? What to do?
Duh. I made myself a mug.
Savor the mystery!
Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!
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What a marvelous gift! I've tried similar gifts...coffee beans or tea in cups was a big hit! kat8762@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI think homemade gifts really make people smile.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
What a great post! They turned out great and look so pretty!! Please enter me!! I'd love to win!! Happy holidays to you and your family!!
ReplyDeleteNo winning today. No giveaways. There was a giveaway yesterday for Cleo, so you might want to go back and click on comments below Cleo's post!
Delete~Daryl / Avery
Great recipe for gifts. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletediannekc8@gmail.com
You bet.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
What a lovely gift idea. Thank you for the recipe and instructions.
ReplyDeletemyrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm glad you like. :)
Delete~Daryl / Avery
Very pretty gift! By the way..no marshmallows. .EVER!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteejbs3s@yahoo.com
You're not a marshmallow fan? I know many who aren't.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
I used to make this year's ago. Delicious! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteangelhwk68@yahoo.com
Isn't it fun to revisit a recipe?
Delete~Daryl / Avery
Beautiful, Daryl, and so simple! thanks for sharing. xo
ReplyDeleteI'm into simple right now. :)
Delete~Daryl / Avery
If you are gifting to celiacs check the powdered milk for wheat products.
ReplyDeleteGood note! I use Kroger's (which is the generic at my Ralph's supermarket) and it is wheat-free.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
I did this last year and it was a hit!
ReplyDeleteYay!
Delete~Daryl / Avery
Simple, delightful, and from the heart=perfect gift.
ReplyDeleteI used to make hot chocolate for my husband to drink after he finished shoveling the snow. I usually added a shot of something extra, like brandy. (We now live in south Florida and don't have the snow to deal with any more. And we do not miss it.)
I also would add some coffee to this mix. Or, perhaps, make it with coffee! Oooo Instant mocha delight.
Make it with coffee. Lovely!
Delete~Daryl / Avery
My Mom still makes me hot chocolate whenever I go over to shovel snow for her.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
Aw, sweet. Shoveling snow is HARD WORK.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
I really like this idea, Daryl! I wonder if one could omit the powdered milk and heat it up with fresh milk instead. Homemade gifts are the best! :-)
ReplyDeleteI would bet you could. Easily. Great idea.
Delete~Daryl / Avery
I recommended this to my sister last weekend for her office mates. She went with bags of M&Ms and lottery tickets wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon like Christmas crackers (another of MY ideas). Luckily, at my office we don't do any of that.
ReplyDeleteacm05atjuno.com
Anne, that's a fun office gift.
Delete~ Daryl / Avery
What a great idea, Daryl! Almost everyone loves hot chocolate. Hard to go wrong with this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Krista.
Delete~ Daryl / Avery
We used to mix that up often so we could have a quick cuppa'.
ReplyDeleteI love this gift idea. Thank you for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteI love this gift idea. Thank you for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteA great recipe to follow.
ReplyDeletegloriawalshver@yahoo.com