When the weather is cool like this, I love nothing more than a chocolatey cup of hot cocoa, warm fuzzy socks, and a good book. I’m always looking for simple homemade gift ideas for my friends and family. I thought it would be fun to put a twist on my favorite hot cocoa mix recipe and surprise my friends with a fall flavored treat. I added some candy corn to the mix to spice things up a bit.
Hot chocolatey goodness…..
This homemade hot cocoa mix recipe is the best I have ever tried. The mini semi-sweet morsels give it that extra punch of chocolate. It’s simply divine!
Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients:
3 cups nonfat milk powder
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder, sifted
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups mini semi-sweet morsels
In a large bowl, combine first 4 ingredients. Mix well with a whisk, until all ingredients are combined. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
What You’ll Need for Hot Cocoa Gift Bags
clear disposable pastry
twist ties
ribbon
2 bags mini marshmallows
2 bags candy corn
To create the gift bags you’ll need clear disposable pastry bags. I purchased mine from Amazon, because the ones at my local craft store have a Wilton label on them.
Carefully spoon about 1/3 cup of mix into the bottom of the bag. Add about 1/2 cup mini marshmallows on top of the mix. Sprinkle approximately 1/4 cup candy corn on top of the marshmallows. Seal the top with a twist tie and tie on a pretty fall colored ribbon.
I was easily able to get 12 gift bags from my mix, after setting aside some for my personal use.
To serve, add approximately 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix to a mug and stir in 1 cup very hot water or milk. If desired, top with marshmallows and candy corn. Enjoy!
What do you think? Do you make your own hot chocolate?
6 Days Left 
6 Days Left
Twitter: frugalgreenmama
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We make our own hot chocolate mix ourselves too! It is on my to-do list for next week
Love adding a little bit of color too, they are so cute!
Amanda recently posted..Prolonging Your Harvest: How to Store Potatoes
Twitter: GiveawayBlogdom
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My boys are really loving hot cocoa as the weather is turning colder. Nothing tastes better than homemade and your recipe is so simple! Thanks.
Twitter: simmworksfamily
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what a creative idea. this would be a great favor for my playgroup Halloween party. maybe with a little pumpkin pie spice?
The pumpkin spice would be an awesome addition! Wish I had thought of that!
Twitter: FamilyNLifeLV
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Love this idea! What a great gift for neighbors or teachers!
Emily recently posted..Favorite Fall Foods! @Restaurant_com
Twitter: anishka56
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that sounds so yummy I will get the ingrediants and definitely try it.
Twitter: LauraOinAK
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I love how pretty they look when pulled together.
Laura O in AK recently posted..Think Back Thursday ~ Autumn
Twitter: scentednights
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That is such a cute idea for a gift!
Ellen Christian recently posted..How to Attract Birds to Your Yard to Enjoy Birds in Your Backyard
Twitter: longwait4bella
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Yummy! We just purchased hot cocoa mix last week. My 4 year old loves it. I will have to show her this one, she’ll want to make it for sure. I shared this on Pinterest as well. Very nice!
What a great idea for little gifts at family christmas parties. It would be nice to send everyone home with a gift of hot chocolate. The recipes sounds yummy too.
Great gifts for teachers, and our scouts.. Love the idea! the packaging is so cute!
Twitter: nickieandremus
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this is a great idea for teacher gifts. And you could always make a few extra to keep on hand for last minute gifts!
Twitter: BillElliott2006
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Great idea, my Grandchildren love both hot chocolate and candy corn.
Thanks for the recipe and for having a great blog.
Twitter: BillElliott2006
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Oops, here is my twitter- @BillElliott2006
Twitter: sweeptight
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This is the cutest!!! Change up the candy corn to other holiday favorites for the different seasons, too? I love it.
Jennifer recently posted..Fall Beauty with Mia Mariu Sweepstakes
Twitter: thefrugalette
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How cute are those gifts! I love this idea, and hot I have hot cocoa ready to go on the eve of our huge storm!
Isra recently posted..The Launch of Windows 8 and a New Position!
Twitter: FabFindsbyTiff
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What a fabulous idea for gifting. Very cute.
Tiffany Revels-Cruz recently posted..Sweet and Savory Recipes for Fall
Twitter: formulamom
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I never thought to make a mix for autumn! Love the candy corn!
Mariah recently posted..Very Busy Spider Web Craft
How cute! There is another cute fall food/craft that uses candy corn that we like to do: Mix together salted peanuts and candy corn, get the cone-shaped ice cream cones and fill with the peanut mixture. You’ll also need tissue paper in yellow, cut in squares, orange, and white, both cut in strips (you’ll have to measure your cones). Use a yellow square to cover the bottom opening up to about 1/3 of the way up and tape, then a strip of orange from 1/3 to 2/3, then a strip of white on the top 1/3 and secure with tape. They are so cute! Hope the directions were clear; it ends up looking like a big candy corn.
I love your idea! I think I would even dip the cone in orange, yellow and white candy melts. Thanks for the inspiration!
Twitter: thomasmurphy40
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This is an awesome idea! Thanks for the recipe
MMM! Looks so yummy and easy!!
Wow, you’re good! I just made some hot chocolate yesterday afternoon, it sounded so good to me. All I had was a boxed instant and I didn’t like that too well. I’ll give this a try. I love the gift bags you made, so creative you are!
Those are so creative!! You are right, nothing better than a warm cup of hot cocoa when it’s nice and freezing outside! My son loves hot chocolate too.. These would make cute gifts for people at the office!
Twitter: MOOOONDOG
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THIS POST IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT WITH HOT COCOA
randy fulgham recently posted..http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pubid=eprizeaddthis
Great idea for small christmas gifts for those that you want to say Thank You too! Love this and pinned it!
Twitter: JenniferHiles
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I’ve never made or drank home made hot chocolate but I would very much like to! I love making gift baskets for Christmas gifts and this would be the perfect personal touch. I’ll have to pin it so I can be sure to find it again. Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: steelstammy
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This is great, but since the Halloween atmosphere has passed, I think making these and putting red hot cinnamon candy’s on top to use would be great!
That’s such a cute way to package your cocoa, how creative! I love homemade hot chocolate but ours always looks so plain compared to yours.
Twitter: bamacandy2002
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So excited that i seen this i have been wanting some good ole fashion hot cocoa
Twitter: AnnJopb
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How can this cocoa mix not be good when you have melted semisweet chips in it! You make so many nice treats to give to friends and neighbors.