Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar

Surprise friends, teachers and neighbors with this Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix in a jar for the holidays! Calling for just three ingredients, this pepperminty hot cocoa mix is a great easy DIY gift for sharing this time of year. Simply tie the cocoa’s instructions to the jar with a festive ribbon, and this homemade gift is good to go!

The Best Jarred Hot Cocoa Mix recipe

If you’re in the market for great gift ideas, this post is for you.

I love the idea of homemade gifts (because homemade gifts make great gifts!), but I never seem to have a ton of time on my hands to make them.

Whether you’re looking for teachers, friends, neighbors, family or anyone in between, this Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe in a jar is PERFECT for sharing throughout the holiday season and during the winter months.

Why I love this recipe:

Well, if you’re searching for a tasty, homemade present, you’ve come to the right place. Think of this as the homemade version of the pre-packaged stuff we all grew up with as kids.

I highly recommend mixing up a few Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix recipe in a Jar for the folks you want to personalize a present for. These mason jar gifts just feel special!

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• All you need are three simple ingredients, and one of them is NOT dry milk powder. We’re using real food ingredients.
• Read your ingredients, but this *should* be naturally gluten free and vegan.
• You can make a large batch of this hot cocoa mix to divide between various mason jars.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa is a great gift idea. The cocoa is rich without being cloyingly sweet, and the peppermint adds delicious flavor. In fact, you could add more crushed candy canes if you wanted because it’s so tasty!

It’s just as simple to mix up as the kind you find in grocery stores, except it’s so much tastier.

And who doesn’t love this a cup of cocoa during the holidays?

More hot cocoa drinks: Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate | Gourmet Vanilla Hot Chocolate | Strawberry White Hot Chocolate | Pomegranate White Hot Chocolate | Iced Cocoa | Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa | How to make a Hot Chocolate Bar

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Mason jar(s)
• Measuring spoons
• Food processor

Here’s what you need for your shopping list:

• Dutch processed cocoa powder — or regular unsweetened cocoa powder, if you prefer that. This gives our cocoa mix the most intense chocolate flavor. I really like the color that the Dutch processed cocoa powder adds. Dark cocoa powder works, too.
• Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, this sweetens the cocoa powder. You could use powdered sugar in a pinch if you don’t have granulated sugar.
• Candy cane pieces — you can purchase crushed candy cane pieces in bags or you can grind your own in a food processor! This will give our cocoa its peppermint flavor.

Please note that this hot cocoa mix does not call for powdered milk or powdered creamer. Because of this, we will mix these dry ingredients with hot milk when it comes time to make a mug.

This recipe makes enough for one 8 oz. mason jar, but you could very easily make a big batch by doubling, tripling or quadrupling the recipe. I have more information on that below to make these into homemade food gifts. 

What to use to garnish this peppermint hot chocolate recipe in a jar:

• Mini marshmallows (or homemade marshmallows, if you’re feeling fancy)
• Mini chocolate chips
• Peppermint candy, like Andes
• Mini candy canes
• Sweetened whipped cream

How to make Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar

Measure the cocoa powder, granulated sugar and candy cane pieces into a small mason jar.

Shake the jar until the ingredients are combined.

Store in a cool, dark place until all the cocoa mix has been used.

Please note that you can mix this in the jar itself, or if you’re making a double or triple batch, you can very easily combine the dry mix in a large bowl. Just make sure to mix contents well.

How to make a mug of the Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Heat 8 oz. of whole milk in the microwave in 20 second bursts until warm. You may use cow’s milk or nondairy milk, like almond milk. Both work with this homemade hot chocolate mix. Both work with this homemade hot chocolate mix. I do not recommend using hot water because it will not be nearly as creamy.

Measure 1 tablespoon of the homemade cocoa mix into the warm milk.

Stir until the hot cocoa mix dissolves into the milk.

Top cup of hot cocoa with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and a candy cane and enjoy immediately!

How to share this jarred hot cocoa mix:

We love making a large batch of this mix and stashing it in the pantry for when we’re ready to share it. You can keep it in an airtight container or a larger mason jar, like a pint or even a quart jar.

When we want to share it (or realize we need a thoughtful gift for someone last minute), we do the following:

• Hand write the instructions on white cardstock or type them up and print them out onto a gift tag! I made this cute free printable gift tags for you. (Remember: the instructions are to heat a cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of the mix.)
• Wrap a bow around the jar or attach a candy cane to it with string!
• Divide the jarred cocoa mix between several small plastic bags or cellophane bags. Tie a ribbon around them and place the bags into cute mugs to transform this into a hot chocolate gift set.

This is a fun way to spread the holiday spirit… and also an easy way to whip up a cup of hot chocolate whenever the mood strikes.

Now who’s ready to make some Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar for some folks they adore?

Here’s how you can do it: