Holiday Hot Cocoa Chocolate Stir Sticks

I'm always looking for fun, simple and unique DIY edible gifts during the holiday season. These Holiday Hot Cocoa Chocolate Stir Sticks totally fit the bill. They are inexpensive to make, fun to have the kids help with and make great little gifts. They'd be awesome tucked into a new Christmas mug along with a candy cane and a small packet of hot cocoa for gift-giving.

These little chocolate stirrers totally amp up the flavor and richness of a basic mug of hot cocoa ... the result is like, next level hot chocolate.

To put these together, you'll need an ice cube tray (I used a square-welled silicone one) or a mini muffin tin. You'll need, also, to decide on some type of "handle" to insert (I used striped paper straws that I cut in half). Popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks would work great, too.

Then, you'll melt down a bag of chocolate chips and spoon the melted chocolate into the tray wells. Once your "handle" is inserted, embellish with whatever you choose (crushed candy canes, chopped chocolate mints, sprinkles, finishing sugar, etc.) Once the chocolate hardens in the fridge or freezer, you're all set to serve them up or package for gifting.

If you look closely in the photo above, you'll notice that I placed one stirrer in a small, clear bag along with some mini marshmallows. I finished the package with some festive ribbon.

Note that the number of stir sticks you'll get will fully depend on the size of the wells of your ice cube tray or mini muffin tin. One twelve-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips yielded twelve stir sticks in the tray that I used (size shown in photo above).


Ingredients:

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
Variety of crushed candy canes, chopped chocolate mint candies, chocolate sprinkles, chopped chocolate, finishing sugars or topping(s) of your choice

Materials Needed:

Ice cube tray, silicone mold or mini muffin tin
Festive paper straws, popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks
Any packaging desired for gifting

Directions:

In a small bowl, melt chocolate chips by heating on 70% power for thirty seconds. Stir. Continue by microwaving on full power in twenty seconds intervals - stirring in between each interval - until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. (Be sure to stay right by microwave and watch carefully so that the chocolate does not burn.)

Working quickly, spoon into molds. Leave a small amount of room for toppings, if desired. Insert straw sticks, popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks. Embellish with topping(s) of your choice. (It's best to have toppings completely ready to go before starting this process.)

Place in refrigerator for thirty minutes or freezer for fifteen minutes to harden.

Carefully remove from mold(s). Store in airtight container until needed.

Serve with hot cocoa or package for gift giving.