Homemade Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

Mint and chocolate has always been a combination I simply cannot resist. That’s why I love this homemade peppermint hot cocoa mix.

It’s extra chocolatey and bursting with lots of peppermint flavor.

And the recipe for making jars of mint hot chocolate could not be easier. Basically you combine the cocoa with sugar and milk powder and layer the mix with crushed peppermint candy and marshmallows.

Make a jar for yourself and decorate some in a peppermint-colored winter theme for giving to friends and family.

The mix makes the most delicious cup of hot chocolate everyone is sure to love.

Why You’ll Love this Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar Gift Idea

• Peppermint hot chocolate mix is an inexpensive, homemade gift. It’s a nice to give to a hostess, teacher, bus driver, neighbor, or anyone you want to thank with a tasty wintertime treat. Here’s my recipe for hot cocoa mix in a jar (without mint).
• Making jars of hot chocolate mix is a fun family activity. The kids can get in on the spirit of giving, from measuring and stirring to decorating the gift jars.
• This recipe has just six dry ingredients and it only takes a few minutes to make a jar. It’s easily multiplied to make more jars or one larger jar.
• For smaller mason jar favors, the peppermint hot cocoa mix is easily divided.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix Ingredients

• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Sugar
• Powdered Milk
• Peppermint Candies or Candy Canes
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• Mini Marshmallows

The only thing that needs to be added to make the hot chocolate is hot water or steamed milk.

Cocoa Powder, Powdered Milk and Sugar are combined together in equal parts to make the hot cocoa mix base in the jar. This recipe is super chocolatey, so feel free to cut back on the cocoa and add a little more sugar in it’s place, if that’s your preference.

Mini Chocolate Chips make the hot chocolate even more rich and creamy. For gift jars, I like to layer the chips on top of the powdered cocoa mix, but you can also stir them into the mix. That’s what I do for shorter, party favor-sized jars (see below).

Crushed Peppermint Candies are the star of the show! Not only do they provide all the minty flavor, but they look festive layered in a glass jar.

If you’re prepping hot cocoa jars before holiday candy canes are in the stores, use starlight peppermint candies.

For reference, about 20 candies equals 1/2 cup of crushed peppermint. Yes, I did the counting, crushing and measuring for you.

Mini Marshmallows are the top layer in this hot cocoa mix. Put enough in to fill the jar and pack all the ingredients in place.

How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix

1. To make the hot chocolate mix, whisk together the cocoa powder, milk powder and sugar. Layer it in the bottom of a one pint mason jar and swirl the jar to level it. And chocolate chips on top of the powder mix and gently pack down.
2. For the peppermint layer, crush peppermint candies or candy cane into a fine powder. You can do this by placing the hard candy in a plastic bag and using a rolling pin or use a food processor.
3. Add peppermint on top of the chocolate chips and then put marshmallows on top of the peppermint.
4. Add a lid and tag with instructions for making a cup of hot chocolate.

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

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Directions

1. Remove the marshmallows from the jar and combine the peppermint, chocolate chips and cocoa powder mix.
2. Add 1/4 cup hot chocolate mix to a mug per 1 cup steamed milk.
3. Top the hot cocoa with marshmallows and other toppings.

Supplies to Make the Gift Jars

• Mason jar with a lid
• Canning funnel (optional)
• Ribbon, paper and embellishments
• Gift tag with instructions for making a cup of hot cocoa (see below for free printable tags)

Mason Jar: This recipe is for a pint size jar but is easily multiplied or reduced.

Canning Funnel: If you’re making a lot of hot cocoa gift jars, it’s worth getting a canning funnel. I like to use one especially when I’m filling jars with powdery ingredients.

Decorations: This is the fun part. I went with a winter/holiday theme and cut out sparkly red paper circles (from Michaels) for the lids.

Then I added a snowflake sticker. Red and white snowflake ribbon and peppermint-striped string were the final touches.

Gift Tags: You will need card stock for printing the gift tags.

For best results, I print mine with the self-print printers at Office Max. They always give me a few sheets of card stock for free.

Free Printable Peppermint Hot Chocolate Gift Tag

Get a free pdf with 7 gift tag designs. Pick one or print them all.

Mason Jar Hot Cocoa Mix for Favors

Mini mason jars make nice party favors.

Wide-mouth, half-pint jars work best. I use these Kerr jars (which are way cheaper at Walmart than on Amazon).

Since the jar is shorter, I stir the chocolate chips into the hot chocolate powder layer.

• Prepare cocoa mix layer with chocolate chips stirred in. Divide the mix evenly between three, 8 ounce mason jars. (about 1/2 cup mix per jar)
• Put crushed peppermint candy on top of the hot chocolate (about 3 tablespoons per jar).
• Finish off each hot cocoa favor with mini marshmallows (about 1/3 cup per jar).

More Mason Jar Gift Ideas

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

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