Hot Chocolate Mix (Perfect Gift for Teachers and Neighbors!)

Pay attention to this, everyone: It's Almost Christmas!

Last year, I had this crazy notion that I'd be making homemade gifts left and right for everyone I knew.  And I did make a few (homemade sugar scrub, HOLLA).  But, it wasn't quite like I imagined, where I'd pass out cute little mason jars of soup mixes to the neighbors on Christmas Eve and all that.

But this year will be different.

As long as I've been married (12 years!), Charles has been telling me about the awesome hot chocolate mix his mom used to make when he was a kid.

So this year, I hit her up for the recipe and actually MADE it.  And I even packaged it in cute jars.

The neighbors (and Jack's teachers) are going to love it.  Because it is delicious.

Here's what you need to make it:


- 8 qt. package of dry milk
- 16 oz. jar of dry cream (I used coffee creamer - not sure if that's the same thing or not, but it worked, and Charles said it tasted exactly the same as his mom's recipe)
- 3/4 box of powdered sugar
- 2 pound box of Nestle Quick
- A Really Big Bowl (no, really - it needs to be big)
- Jars/Reusable Containers/Whatever you want to present it in

Ingredients.  All easy to find at your local grocery store.

A Very Big Bowl.  I could probably fit a toddler in here.

Dump all the ingredients in the bowl and mix very, very well.  Then, scoop out the mix into jars (or whatever you want to put it in).

Of course, before you give any away you'll want to try some yourself. To make sure you got the recipe right, of course.  For science.

Fill a mug 1/3 - 1/2 full with the mixture (not rocket science, but just depending on your taste - I am a "half full" kinda gal, myself).  Add boiling water (this is what my mother-in-law did, but I just microwaved some water for two minutes and poured that in to the mug with the mixture), stir, and get to drankin'.  That stuff is good.

I like to throw in a dozen a few marshmallows (because, MARSHMALLOWS).  Today I used a candy cane to stir with (not only giving it a minty kick but also looking a little extra festive, too).

I made several jars of this for Jack's teachers.  I also filled several plastic containers to give to neighbors and to send to family who live in Faraway Places (mostly because plastic is a lot lighter and less expensive to mail).

I purchased the jars at Hobby Lobby, but actually found them quite a bit cheaper at the grocery store a few days later (of course).

Be sure to add a label with directions for preparing the hot chocolate and ingredients (especially if you're not sure of the dietary habits of those you'll be giving this to).  I just threw some labels together with scraps leftover from my scrapbooking project, and it's clear I didn't spend much time on these (but that's what happens when the only time you have to work on this kind of stuff is when the baby's asleep and OMG THE BABY NEVER SLEEPS and the one time she does sleep long enough for you to get something done your four-year-old is chattering at you NON-STOP and demanding help with every.little.thing. and has lost all capability to play by himself because he can clearly see that you are TRYING TO WORK ON SOMETHING IN PEACE).

For a teacher, I think it would be cute to include a mug filled with a couple of candy canes and some marshmallows.

I thought it would be cute to put the marshmallows in the actual hot chocolate mix (like in the top of the jar, for example), but when I tried this, the logistics of actually getting to the hot chocolate were kind of a nightmare.  It just makes a big mess.  Don't do it.

And if you think this is awesome (which you will, if you make it), just wait.  My mother-in-law is hooking me (and you!) up with some of her greatest (and easiest, because I'm actually going to make them) recipes.  In fact, I'm going to make it a regular feature on my blog.  Next week, I'll make a formal introduction and share with you my favorite side dish EVER (if you need something easy to take to upcoming holiday events, I've got you covered).

Until then, drink hot chocolate and be merry.