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Home » Recipes » Holidays and Events Recipes » Christmas Recipes

Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (in a Jar)

Published: Dec 15, 2021 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Sep 15, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Mix

This Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (in a Jar) is a great last minute edible Christmas gift and tastes delicious! The best part is that it's also very easy for the receiver of this lovely homemade handmade edible Christmas gift to make. They just empty the contents of the jar into a pot of milk and water and have a delicious homemade hot chocolate in 10 minutes!

candy cane hot chocolate mix in a jar with a mug of hot chocolate beside it

Popular during the holiday season, this hot chocolate edible gift is easy to make in 15 minutes, and a festive and a fun treat to gift teachers, your coworkers, neighbors and friends! Or you can simply make it for yourself (and/or the kids) to sip away at while watching a holiday movie!

Jump to:
  • 🥘Ingredients
  • 🍽Equipment
  • 🔪Instructions
  • ☕To make Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
  • 📖Substitutions & Variations
  • 👪Serving Size
  • 🌡️Storage
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋 Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (in a Jar) Recipe
  • 🎄More Edible Holiday Gifts

🥘Ingredients

For this homemade hot chocolate mix, you'll need:

hot cocoa mix in a jar with a scoop in it
  • powdered milk
  • unsweetened cocoa
  • candy canes *crushed
  • red and/or green sanding sugar (affiliate links) *you can also make your own (see variations)
  • cornstarch
  • white chocolate chips

See recipe card for quantities.

🍽Equipment

For this hot chocolate recipe, you will need 500 ml/16 oz wide mouth mason jars (affiliate link) or 1 pint canning jars *you could use any jar, as long as it's this capacity, a rolling pin (or a hammer or meat tenderizer), red string, (affiliate link) bows and tags.

You can buy some simple tags (affiliate link), handwrite or print the directions on them (my printer was broken so I had to write it out by hand). Or you can also order really awesome tags from Etsy that you can have personalized, then download and print (affiliate link).

hot chocolate jar with label

🔪Instructions

This homemade hot chocolate mix is easy to make with a few ingredients layered into a jar.

  1. Stir together dry milk powder and cornstarch. In a 500 ml/16 oz wide mouth mason jar (or any jar this capacity), layer half the milk mixture.
  2. Add cocoa.
  3. Add remaining milk mixture.
  4. Add red colored sanding sugar.
  5. Add green colored sanding sugar.
  6. Break candy canes into a few smaller pieces and place in a thick ziplock bag.
  7. Place bag of candy canes on a cutting board and roll over with a rolling pin. You can also crush with a meat tenderizer or hammer.
  8. Add candy canes pieces.
  9. Add white chocolate chips.


Hint: When you are adding each layer, use a spoon to gently pour the ingredient evenly on top of the layer underneath, then gently tap the jar on the table.

Collage of 9 photos showing how to make hot chocolate in a jar

Seal with lid. Then I add a little bow, a little ziplock baggie of extra sprinkles and a small candy cane (to add as the garnish on this Candy Cane Hot Chocolate)

hot cocoa mix in a jar with bow, label and candy cane

☕To make Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

  1. Set a medium sized pot on stovetop.
  2. Pour contents chocolate drink mix in jar into pot.
  3. Combine 3 cups whole milk and ¾ cups hot water in pot.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cook, stirring often.
  6. When slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes, it will be ready.
collage of 6 photos showing how to make candy cane hot chocolate

If desired, serve with whipped cream, sprinkles and candy canes

candy cane hot chocolate in a clear mug with whipped cream, green sprinkles and crushed candy canes

📖Substitutions & Variations

  • Lactose-free or Dairy-free - use lactose-free or dairy-free powdered milk (affiliate links)
  • Sanding sugar- you can make your own colored sanding sugar
  • Candy Canes - you can use different colors or flavors of candy canes (i.e. cherry)

👪Serving Size

This recipe for hot chocolate jars makes 1 gift jar (2 cups of dry mix and fits into a 500 ml/16 oz jar).

When the mix is made into hot chocolate (add the milk and water), it yields 4 cups of candy cane hot chocolate. However, you can double it, triple or quadruple it by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card - you'll need more jars. Just click on the blue serving size (it's highlighted in blue) and select the number of servings you’d like and the ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.

🌡️Storage

Store this hot chocolate mix for up to 3 months in a cool dry place. Once prepared, the hot chocolate will store in the fridge in a sealed juice container for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave for 1- 1 ½ minutes.

jar of homemade hot chocolate mix being held up in front of Christmas Tree

Hot Chocolate in a Jar is an easy, fun and festive gift to give and receive. So, if you're looking for an easy edible gift, you'll love this Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Mix!

⭐ Reviews

Did you make this hot cocoa recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

lease SUBSCRIBE  (get my FREE E-cookbook) and be sure to FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

jar of homemade hot chocolate mix being held up in front of Christmas Tree
Food Meandering Logo

📋 Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (in a Jar) Recipe

This Candy Cane Hot Chocolate in a Jar is a great 15 minute edible Christmas gift and tastes delicious! This homemade hot chocolate mix is easy to make, as well as a festive and fun treat to gift teachers, your coworkers, neighbors and friends!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: beverage, drink
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Keyword: candy cane, cocoa, hot chocolate, mix
Special Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 1 jar
Calories: 1341kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon cornstarch
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup red and/or green decorating sugar
  • 4 red, green and white candy canes crushed
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips

Garnish

  • whipped cream
  • red and green sprinkles
  • small crushed candy cane
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Stir together dry milk powder and cornstarch.
  • In a 500 ml/16 oz wide mouth mason jar (or any jar this capacity), layer half the milk mixture, cocoa, remaining milk mixture, colored sugar (s), crushed candy canes and white chocolate chips.
    Collage of 9 photos showing how to make hot chocolate in a jar
  • Seal with lid. Then I add a little bow, a little ziplock baggie of extra sprinkles and a small candy cane (to add as the garnish on this Candy Cane Hot Chocolate)
    hot cocoa mix in a jar with bow, label and candy cane
  • For gift tag:
    To make hot chocolate:
    Combine 3 cups milk and ¾ cups water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking.
    Reduce heat to low, cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. If desired, serve with whipped cream, sprinkles and candy canes.
    *Visit https://foodmeanderings.com/candycanehotchocolate for step by step directions
    * Makes 4 cups
    collage of 6 photos showing how to make candy cane hot chocolate

Notes

*See post contents for important recipe information and tips!
Nutrition Facts
📋 Candy Cane Hot Chocolate (in a Jar) Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 jar)
Calories 1341 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 21g131%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 38mg13%
Sodium 604mg26%
Potassium 2636mg75%
Carbohydrates 233g78%
Fiber 14g58%
Sugar 195g217%
Protein 48g96%
Vitamin A 2119IU42%
Vitamin C 7mg8%
Calcium 1441mg144%
Iron 7mg39%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1jar | Calories: 1341kcal (67%) | Carbohydrates: 233g (78%) | Protein: 48g (96%) | Fat: 36g (55%) | Saturated Fat: 21g (131%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 38mg (13%) | Sodium: 604mg (26%) | Potassium: 2636mg (75%) | Fiber: 14g (58%) | Sugar: 195g (217%) | Vitamin A: 2119IU (42%) | Vitamin C: 7mg (8%) | Calcium: 1441mg (144%) | Iron: 7mg (39%)
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
Rate this Recipe

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bernice

    December 21, 2021 at 3:31 pm

    What a fun project for gift giving. I'd much rather give (and get) something homemade than spend countless hours in the mall.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      December 27, 2021 at 8:13 am

      I agree, Bernice! And the mall this year was far from the best place to be!

      Reply
  2. Colleen

    December 21, 2021 at 3:54 pm

    Thank you! I was looking for last minute homemade gift ideas for neighbours and I'm tired of baking, lol. These jars are perfect!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      December 27, 2021 at 8:13 am

      That's great, Colleen! I agree - you get to a point where you want to give something other than baking 🙂

      Reply
  3. Vanessa

    December 21, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    The layering looks so beautiful! Such a great, easy gift that will definitely be appreciated after a day out in the cold!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      December 27, 2021 at 8:12 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Melissa

    December 21, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    oh my gosh what a sweet gift idea. Hot chocolate is always better with a little mint flavour anyway!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      December 27, 2021 at 8:12 am

      Thanks, Melissa! I agree 🙂

      Reply
  5. Joss

    December 22, 2021 at 8:59 am

    I love this fun and festive hot chocolate! It will be a great gift for my kids.

    Reply
  6. nancy

    December 24, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    what a fun idea! all the kids loved it!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      December 27, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Glad to hear that, Nancy!

      Reply
  7. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady

    January 03, 2022 at 10:42 am

    What an adorable homemade gift idea! I can't wait to make these next Christmas!!

    Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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