Christmas Gift Idea: Hot Cocoa Stirrers

I loooove Christmas. There is something about the hustle and bustle that just makes me happy. I could sit on a bench in the mall for hours just people-watching and call it a great day. I love the spirit of giving that is in the air and the festivities that surround the holiday, all the parties and get-togethers. I love the food (of course) that is usually only made for Christmas (cinnamon almonds anyone? That will be up on the blog soon too!). I don't loooove the cold weather, but the best part about cold weather is hot chocolate. When the weather dips down low, I get to finally break out my Cocomotion and go to my happy place (which is somewhere warm and tropical).

This year, we put together these fun gifts for our kids' teachers- hot cocoa stirrers! They are fun ways to stir your hot cocoa and flavor it all at once! They were super simple to make and we just used things we already had in our pantry. You can doctor these babies up any way you want, and you can give them to anyone you want (neighbors, friends, teachers, yourself...). They were easy and fun to put together and would be a fun addition to your treat plate too! We are putting ours in a fun mug with some hot chocolate packets and wrapping in cellophane.

Marshmallow, peppermint and peanut butter hot cocoa stirrers.

For the marshmallow (and peanut butter), mound some marshmallow cream or peanut butter onto your plastic spoons. Then pop them in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Mmm... peanut butter on a spoon. I could just eat them like that!

After the peanut butter has set for about 10 minutes in the freezer, dip the spoons into your melted chocolate. You can do them halfway like we did, or however you like. If you've never had peanut butter in your cocoa, you are missing out!

For the marshmallow cream, drizzle on some of your melted chocolate. Very pretty and easy!

Fancy, huh?

For the peppermint, dip your spoon in the chocolate and let the excess drip off.

Sprinkle on some crushed candy cane and pop these into the freezer immediately (the weight of the candy canes will make the chocolate fall off the spoon if you don't!)

Wrap them in lollipop bags (found at Michaels for a couple bucks) and tie with a festive ribbon. Easy, cheap and so fun!

Hot Cocoa Stirrers

submitted by Carissa @ Girls in Aprons

Chocolate for melting (we used milk chocolate, but dark or white chocolate would be great!)

Creamy peanut butter

Marshmallow cream

Candy canes

Plastic Spoons

Lollipop bags and ribbon

Melt your chocolate in a double boiler, stirring constantly (or in a microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each one, until smooth).

For the peanut butter spoons: Spoon some peanut butter onto your spoons and chill in freezer for 10 minutes. Dip into the melted chocolate and let set before you wrap them up.

For the marshmallow spoons: Spoon some marshmallow cream onto your spoons and chill in freezer for 10 minutes. Drizzle melted chocolate over the marshmallow cream and let set before you wrap them up.

For the peppermint spoons: Spoon some melted chocolate on the spoons (front and back) and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Immediately place in the freezer until set. Wrap in lollipop bags.

Please, be creative! If you want to drizzle the peanut butter spoons instead of dipping them in chocoalte, go for it! Use white chocolate to drizzle over your peppermint spoons (after they've set in the freezer!) to fancy them up. Use what you have and have fun!