These hot cocoa stirs make a great holiday gift for neighbors, teachers, family and friends.

They are super versatile…you can make candy cane, cinnamon or any other flavor that would be yummy in cocoa….!  Have fun!

I was inspired to make these by tokyoterrace.com

Happy Baking!

~ Gena

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Makes about 24 stirs

4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 T cocoa powder

3 candy canes

2 T cinnamon

Materials:

2 ice cube trays

candy sticks or bamboo skewers

plastic bags and ribbon for packaging

Directions:

• Remove plastic wrappers from candy canes and place into a sealed plastic bag.  Using the back of a spoon, pound the candy canes into small pieces, trying not to overdo it.  (The big chunks are pretty!) I put a dish towel over the top to keep the bag from getting holes in it.  Evenly distribute crushed candy canes into bottoms of half of the ice cube trays.
• Fill the other half of ice cube trays with a little sprinkling of cinnamon.
• Melt chocolate chips in a large glass bowl in the microwave or over a double boiler.  (about 1 1/2 minutes)  Stir until smooth.
• Stir in cocoa powder until smooth.
• Place melted choc. in a large ziploc bag.  Cut the corner off the bag and pipe into ice cube trays, filling to the top but not overflowing into the next cube.
• Tamp down chocolate by gently tapping tray on counter, making it smooth.
• Sprinkle a little of the candy canes or cinnamon on top if desired.
• Place candy sticks or skewers into the choc. and let set until hardened.  (I let mine cool on the counter for a couple of hours and then put in the freezer for about 15 min.)
• Remove hot cocoa stirs by gently twisting tray, as you would to remove ice.
• Package in pretty plastic bags, tied with ribbon and directions.
• To make hot cocoa, heat a 6 oz mug of milk and add Hot Cocoa Stir.   Swizzle around in milk until melted.  Enjoy!!