Easy Hot Cocoa in a Jar Gift Idea

Hot Cocoa in a Jar is an easy mason jar gift idea packed with layers of hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows.

This hot cocoa mix recipe is super chocolatey, so everyone on your holiday gift list is sure to love it!

Each jar of mix features cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Double chocolate makes each cup of hot cocoa extra rich and sweet.

I love giving jars of homemade hot chocolate and peppermint hot cocoa mix during the holiday season. They’re simple to make and fun to decorate.

I’ve included a printable gift tag below that includes directions for making a cup of hot chocolate.

Why You’ll Love this Hot Chocolate in a Jar Gift Idea

• Hot Cocoa Jars are an easy and cost-effective gift to make, to show a little Christmas cheer. They’re great for giving to neighbors, co-workers, teachers, bus drivers or anyone who loves chocolate.
• This hot chocolate in a jar recipe is easily adapted for any size mason jar. You can even make mini mason jars full of hot cocoa mix for winter wedding favors.
• Making the mix and decorating the jars is a fun family activity.

Hot Chocolate Mix Ingredients

• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Sugar
• Powdered Milk
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• White Chocolate Chips (optional)
• Mini Marshmallows

The gift recipient just adds hot water

Cocoa Powder: Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder since the mix contains sugar. Any brand will do, but for gifts I like to use Ghirardelli Cocoa Powder.

Powdered Milk: Hot cocoa mix with powdered milk makes for a fuller-bodied cup of hot chocolate.

Mini Chocolate Chips & Marshmallows: Whenever possible, opt for the mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. They’re easier to layer in the mason jars, and melt quicker when hot water is added to the cocoa mix.

Supplies to Make DIY Hot Cocoa Jars

• Quart Size Mason Jar (32 oz.)
• Funnel
• Ribbon, Fabric, Paper
• Gift Tag (with directions for making a cup of hot chocolate)

Mason Jar: This recipe makes a quart of hot chocolate mix. If you want to make pint or half-pint jars, just divide the recipe in half or fourths.

Funnel: A funnel isn’t necessary, but it does help avoid spills when filling the jars.

Jar Decorations: Since hot chocolate is a winter treat, I like to decorate the jars with winter-themed, snowflake ribbons, fabric and paper.

If you’re using a mason jar that has a canning lid and ring, cut a circle of fabric (about 6″ in diameter for a quart jar) to cover the lid before twisting on the ring.

You can also use a winter or holiday muffin tin liner to cover smaller lids.

Hot Cocoa Gift Tag: You definitely want to attach a gift tag to the jar with instructions for making a cup of hot chocolate. A free, printable instant download is provided below.

How to Layer Hot Chocolate Mix in Jar

The order the hot chocolate ingredients go in the jar may be varied, but I like to do it this way for an alternating white and brown appearance.

The only rule is, the mini marshmallows should be the final layer on top of the cocoa mix.

1. Using a funnel, add cocoa powder to bottom of mason jar. Slide the jar from side-to-side on a counter to make sure it’s level. Clean any any cocoa off the inside of the jar with a small rubber spatula.
2. Add the powdered milk to the jar and gently pack it down, followed by the granulated sugar.
3. Next, add the mini chocolate chips and carefully pack down.
4. Put the mini marshmallows on top.
5. Seal the hot cocoa mix jar, decorate and add gift tag.

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

If desired, you can use half semi-sweet and half white chocolate chips. They may be combined into one layer for a speckled look.

The marshmallows may be placed in plastic wrap so they’re easy for the recipient of the jar to remove. Plus, it keeps them from drying out.

Printable Hot Cocoa Gift Tag

Mason jar homemade hot cocoa mix is fun to decorate with winter or Christmas ribbons, paper and decorations.

You’ll also want to include a gift tag with instructions for making a cup of hot cocoa.

You can download my hot cocoa mix gift tags below (for personal use only) or write the instructions (provided below) on a tag yourself.

Instructions to Attach to Jar:

Remove marshmallows from jar & set aside. Stir remaining contents of jar together until completely mixed. To make a cup of hot cocoa, combine 4-5 tablespoons hot cocoa mix in a mug with 1 cup boiling water or hot milk. Top with marshmallows.

Adapting the Hot Cocoa Recipe for Other Jar Sizes

This layered hot chocolate mix recipe fills a quart-size mason jar (4 cups), but is easily adapted for smaller jars.

For jars smaller than a pint, I suggest that you whisk all the cocoa mix ingredients in a bowl first. Then layer each jar with the combined cocoa mix on the bottom and mini marshmallows on top.

This hot cocoa mix recipe makes enough to:

• Layer in one quart-size mason jar (11-14 servings)
• Layer in two pint-size mason jars (6-7 servings per jar)
• Fill four half-pint jars with a layer of combined cocoa mix, topped with a layer of mini marshmallows (about 3 servings per jar)
• Fill 14 mini mason jars (4 oz each) for favors with 1/4 cup cocoa mix on the bottom and marshmallows on top (1 serving per jar). To make favors that have two servings per jar, fill 7 mini jars with 1/2 cup cocoa mix packed down and marshmallows on top.

More Mason Jar Gift Ideas

• Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar
• Cowboy Cookies in a Jar
• Homemade Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix
• How to Make Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar
• Easy Pancake Mix in a Jar
• Fluffy Buttermilk Pancake Mix in a Jar

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