by Jac of All Things | Nov 8, 2019
Ever since having kids, the number of people who we give holiday presents to has grown exponentially. Between all of their teachers, their friends, our friends, our family, our babysitter (and more!), there are TONS of people who we want to express a little extra thanks to this year.
The cost of presents has also grown quite a bit, causing us to look for creative, and cost-efficient gifts that will still be loved by all.
Given that one of our family’s favorite winter beverages is hot chocolate, we decided to make homemade hot chocolate on a stick gifts (aka hot chocolate dippers or hot chocolate stirrers.)
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They couldn’t have been easier to make and my kids had so much fun letting their creativity run wild making them. There is little to “mess up” so even my 2-year-old was able to participate and make hot chocolate sticks that looked quite decent!
Finding a gift that the kids could be involved in was important to me as I wanted them to be apart of the process in expressing our appreciation for others.
HOW TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK
Watch video or scroll for text instructions.
SUPPLIES:
- Chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or white chocolate) (I prefer to use a mixture of semi-sweet and milk chocolate
- Mini Marshmallows
- Sprinkles
- Crushed candy canes
- Wooden spoonsor sticks (or you can use white plastic spoons)
- Clear treat bags
- Mini-muffin trayorIce cube tray
- Ribbon
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK
Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 1 minute. Remove and stir. Continue to heat in 30 second increments (stirring in between) until chocolate is melted and smooth.
Scoop melted chocolate into mini-muffin tray or ice cube tray.
Consider the size of your freezer and how much space you may have to freeze your hot chocolate sticks. If space is limited, I’d suggest using an ice cube tray.
Decorate the top with mini-marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and sprinkles. Let your creativity run wild!
After decorating, place a wooden stick (or plastic spoon) inside the middle of the chocolate.
Freeze for 20- 30 minutes or until chocolate is hardened.
After chocolate has hardened, remove from freezer and pop out of mini-muffin tray or ice cube tray. You can do this by gently pulling on the stick. (They should slide right out.)
Place in clear treat bag and decorate with a ribbon.
TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE
Stir the hot chocolate on a stick with warm milk until it dissolves. Top with additional marshmallows if desired. (Note: water does not work well with these; you want to use milk!)
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3.6/5 - (115 votes)
Judi haverlandon December 12, 2019 at 7:38 pm
I really have a few questions.
How many ounces of chocolate chips do you use.
How much chocolate do you put in the mold. And what is the shelf life of the chocolate sticks.
I’m making them as Christmas gifts so do you keep them in the fridge or room temperature while they are bagged and ready to go.
Thanks,
JuduReply
Jen Hunchukon December 16, 2019 at 9:53 pm
Did you get a reply? I’m wondering the same.
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Natalion December 17, 2019 at 10:22 pm
Has anyone gotten a response on shelf life?
Beckyon December 20, 2019 at 12:37 pm
4 cups of chocolate chips works well
Kateon December 28, 2019 at 10:52 am
Hi, I know it’s probably too late for this year, but I’ve seen these on shelves at various small boutique type shops and even similar things at Target. I may be wrong, but I think they would be perfectly fine unrefrigerated once they are set. After all, it’s chocolate for the most part, and Hershey kisses, and chocolate chips are all on store shelves.
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Stacy Brownon November 15, 2020 at 11:58 pm
Your shelf life is the soonest expectations date on your ingredients. Usually your marshmallows have the soonest expiration date where as the chocolate normally has a 2 year shelf life.
Chochschon December 19, 2020 at 5:12 pm
Kein consigne kaffi onkel Karosse
Jill Kinneyon December 14, 2019 at 12:01 pm
See AlsoHomemade Mayonnaise RecipeThe Joy of Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Baking: 80 Low-Carb Recipes That Offer Solutions for Celiac Disease, Diabetes, and Weight Loss|HardcoverRice Krispies Treats RecipeCreamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream RecipeI love this idea! I cannot wait to try it. I am making it for our Christmas celebration for our bible study group. I will make it again for the grands when they come over for Christmas! Thank you for this fun idea!
Jill K.Reply
Beckyon December 20, 2019 at 12:35 pm
4 cups of chocolate chips works perfectly! Enjoy 😉
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Anonymouson December 21, 2019 at 2:07 am
Becky, how many sticks four cups of chips make?
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CATHY d BUCKLINon August 23, 2020 at 10:01 pm
Becky? Are these soft enough after decorated and set to just eat rather than melt in milk? Looking for a quick handout gift at Christmas that can be eaten while playing games.
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Jac of All Thingson August 24, 2020 at 10:09 am
Yes, my kids do love to “sneak” some to eat! I would suggest using milk chocolate or another tasty chocolate if eating rather than melting. Enjoy!
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Annie Gilbergon December 16, 2022 at 11:07 pm
How much hot milk do you use for the minis?
Gabby Deeon September 4, 2020 at 2:40 pm
I wonder if instead of using a popsicle stick we can use a candy cane…
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Anonymouson November 4, 2020 at 5:41 pm
So smart love that idea!
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April andersonon November 24, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Do I need to freeze, or just putting it in the fridge be ok?
Casson December 23, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Except you would have to hold the candy cane while stirring which would get sticky. Alternatively you could just let it sit in the cup and stir with something else but it may be crowded.
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Anonymouson December 30, 2020 at 9:23 pm
If you left the plastic on the hook part of the candy cane you could still stir with it without getting sticky. We often use candy canes as stir sticks at our Christmas parties
Ramona Greenon December 20, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Love that Idea I think I’m going to try a few
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Melissaon September 11, 2020 at 7:45 pm
How much milk do you use for each “chocolate pop”?
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Lisa annon September 14, 2020 at 9:52 am
– I get the whole thing of putting the milk in the chocolate chips and just guesstimate on it but my question is do you spray the little muffin pan or will it just popped out without spraying it
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Shannon Ericksonon October 27, 2020 at 12:21 am
I’m going to try these with a cake pop stick. It’s all I have.
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Denise Mitchellon November 11, 2020 at 10:44 am
Love this idea! Question- do you spray the pan ? Thank you
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Kaiton November 21, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Any response whether or not to spray the pan?
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Darleneon November 22, 2020 at 10:21 am
It’s not necessary to spray pan. They should just pop out if they are solid
Debbie Bryanton February 2, 2021 at 10:56 am
I use silicone molds for my chocolate making. It’s easier to pop them out rather than a metal baking mold.
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Teresaon November 18, 2020 at 10:48 am
Love all the great ideas, also you can make the chocolate spoon to stir with . I will try to send a picture when I make mine. Cross your fingers !
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Larkeon December 6, 2022 at 11:17 am
I might try it with a cinnamon stick!
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Tammyon November 28, 2020 at 7:29 am
Thank you Becky! What a great idea. I’m wanting to make a hot chocolate bar & put some on it I have young granddaughters & look forward to doing this with them.
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Libbyon December 14, 2020 at 8:45 pm
Ours did not pop out. We didn’t grease the pan since it wasn’t in the directions, wish we would have. Didn’t stay on the spoon, cracked into multiple pieces. So ours wasn’t very pretty.
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Sherrion December 15, 2020 at 9:13 pm
We had that problem as well, but tapped the bottom of the muffin pan with the thick end of a butter knife and they popped right out, whole!
Leighon December 20, 2020 at 3:25 pm
You likely overheated the chocolate. It is very important to stir stir stir between heating the chocolate in the microwave. I would even do shorter intervals. Or you could use a double boiler where you stir the entire time (Google it).
Ruthieon November 30, 2020 at 9:48 am
We never think the hot chocolate keurig cup hot chocolate is never chocolaty enough, so this is the perfect solution!
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Leslie Barronon November 30, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Just a tip. Don’t bag them up until they have completely come back to room temperature or they will sweat. Store in a coolish room away from sun, heat, moisture. The refrigerator is not ideal as there is a lot of moisture.
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Kristy Owenson December 4, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Thank you for the tip. My daughter and I will be making these for a Christmas party tomorrow night.
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Simoneon December 21, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Used the tip to make in an ice cube tray and worked out great!
Ended up using about 1/4 cup chocolate chips total per cube 😲
Made dark chocolate butterscotch swirl, white/ butterscotch, white peppermint, dark peppermint and dark orange 😍
2 trays and I had 28 sticks!!
Can’t wait to give them out!!
Thank you 😊
Sandion December 9, 2020 at 12:20 pm
If you use a good quality chocolate it will temper and be shelf stable. If you use melting chocolate (often found in discs-altho’ good quality chocolate can be found in discs too) it will not temper, and be soft. Also, if kept in the fridge to long melting chocolate will absorb the smells of the fridge and turn white-ish. I don’t add milk/cream at all – just melt the chocolate and make the pops. The cheaper chocolate will melt quicker when added to hot milk, but often doesn’t have the depth of flavour I am after. I do use the melting disc chocolate for decoration. If tempered the chocolate will last – I place mine into cellophane bags.
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Kimon December 9, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Does anybody know how much warm milk to put this in
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Cheri C Wickamon December 16, 2020 at 12:24 am
Oh My Gosh! This is just the cutest idea ever! Thank you for sharing this idea! – – – – – – I used 2 extra large bags of chips and made 36 pops. – – – – – – – – – TIP: I thought it would be a cute idea to put sprinkles or peppermint pieces into the muffin tin and then pour the chocolate over it. DON’T do it. LOL Most if not all of the sprinkles stay in the tin when you pull out the frozen pop. That was a waste.
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Shervinon December 25, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Unfortunately I could not find a way to make the stick stand up. I tried wooden stick different thick ness, different spoons, different consistency of the chocolate. Non of them worked 🙁
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Anonymouson December 4, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Try putting a grated cooling rack over top of your muffin pan and then the sticks can’t fall far if at all.
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Maryon October 11, 2021 at 3:09 pm
The kids will love these!
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Barbon November 10, 2021 at 6:44 pm
Use plastic shot cups. It gives more height so sticks stand up better. Place cups on cookie sheet and put in freezer.
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Melindaon November 13, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Thanks for the suggestion. I saw the cups at $ store in a pack of 24. Going back to get some. Can’t beat that price.
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Ramona Greenon December 21, 2022 at 11:55 pm
Would this work with spoons? I’m also worried chocolate would be to hot for shot glass, worth trying thanks going to try spoons
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Deborahon December 5, 2021 at 10:11 pm
Love all these ideas, grands are going to love making these.
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Nsmon December 8, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Mine had to be dug out of the muffin tin and I followed the directions to a tee. I make all kinds of chocolates so it’s not the fact I don’t know what to do.
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Kylee Con December 17, 2021 at 9:38 pm
Hit the back of the muffin pan with the back of a butter knife they come easily
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Barbaraon December 9, 2021 at 9:30 am
Ladies,
These or any others Chocolate Sticks can be stored on your countertop for 3-6 months. I go ahead and make them up, bag them individually so that when a friend comes in it is a quick gift to take home.You can use variations to your mixtures…if your recipe call for 4 C of Semi-Sweet then instead you may use…
2 C. Semi- Sweet chocolate Chips
2 C. milk Chocolate ChipsToppings…
Sprinkles, Mini Marshmallows, crushed Candy Canes, mini M&M’s, white Chocolate Chips, etc.If you have other questions feel free to ask me.
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Angieon September 24, 2022 at 12:31 pm
How much hot milk per chocolate stick?
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JPon October 26, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Just a mug of warm milk!
jo Ann Hamilon December 21, 2021 at 8:07 pm
Line your small muffin tins with the small muffin paper liners. You can pull them out by the stick.
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Nancy Jeschkeon January 3, 2022 at 8:38 am
Jo Ann, Can you take the liners off after you take them out (after they are cooled)? Or do you have to leave them on?
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Deborahon November 19, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Thanks for all your ideas & tips! I’ve made these several Christmases ago. However, I was in a hurry & made many mistakes. All the tips really help answer my many “mistakes.” 🤗🎄Thanks again!
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Anonymouson December 13, 2022 at 9:13 pm
No way my freezer has that much upright space to fit ice cube with sticks or spoons sticking out the top.
Fridge or counter work too?Reply
Saraon December 15, 2022 at 7:12 pm
There’s no way you didn’t grease your muffin tin. Biggest waste of my time and resources. Now I have to go scoop hardened chocolate out of 36 mini muffin cups. I tried tapping them from the bottom with a knife but they don’t budge. The sticks come right out. Now to go figure out another gift for my kid’s teachers before next Tuesday.
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Kristie Morrison December 22, 2022 at 4:34 pm
I made these but made them using a double boiler. The chocolate was creamy and easier to handle. I also used a little bit of Crisco on the muffin tin. Once they came out of the freezer, they popped right out and I put them in little bags to share.
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