This Hot Chocolate in a Jar is the perfect little gift to give this Christmas! In a world full of 'things' why not try something new with an edible gift that your friends and family will love! This hot chocolate recipe is beautifully rich and creamy, and so cozy to share together!
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Why We Love This Recipe
Edible gift giving is the best type of gift to give (and receive!). I have always found that wrapping up food gifts is a great and affordable way of celebrating birthdays, Christmas and other occasions.
Take the stress out of Christmas gift buying with these gorgeous hot chocolate in a jar gifts. This recipe yields the most decadent, creamy and thick hot chocolate and they're SO cute!
They take a few minutes to whip together, and you can batch make them.
Office gift? Mum's group gift? Stocking stuffer? These are so versatile!
Recipe Ingredients
This hot chocolate mix comprises of four simple ingredients:
Cocoa Powder - use good quality cocoa powder for this. I loved Hershey's hot chocolate when I was in the US, and love Cadbury cocoa powder in Australia. You will need 4 tablespoons.
White Sugar - white sugar balances the bitter chocolate and makes it nice and sweet. You will need 4 tablespoons as well.
Cornstarch/Cornflour - this is the ingredient that makes the hot chocolate super creamy and thick! You will need ½ a tablespoon
Dark or Milk Chocolate Chips - add an extra layer of chocolate with chocolate chips! See below for more alternatives!
Recipe Equipment
To make these you'll need the following:
8oz/half pint/300ml glass jar - these are really affordable and easy to find at local dollar stores, supermarkets, Kmart or Target. You need jars that have a secure lid.
NOTE - if you're making double, you will need a larger jar to serve 4 people.
Each small jar makes hot chocolate for 2 servings.
Funnel - this will help to layer the ingredients and make it look a little cleaner. This is optional however or you can make one out of plain paper.
Ribbon - to tie up the instructions and give them a festive feel
Gift Tags - to write the cooking instructions on them
How to Assemble the Jars
To layer the jars, use the following method. This ensures your layers are easy to see.
- Cocoa Powder
- White Sugar
- Cornstarch/Cornflour
- Chocolate Chips
1. Cocoa 
2. Sugar 
3. Cornflour 
4. Chocolate & Marshmallow
To bring this whole present together, I tie a red ribbon around the top of the Mason jar, and add a little gift card with the instructions.
Recipe Instructions
The instructions I usually write out are as follows.
- Pour ingredients into a small saucepan.
- Add two cups of milk of your choice.
- Heat, stirring over medium heat until it becomes thick and smoothy
- Serve and enjoy!
You can handwrite these, or use Canva for an easy instruction card.
Hot Chocolate Variations
To change things up a little, you can also add different ingredients for different hot chocolate flavours.
Chili Hot Chocolate - add ½ a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the mix.
White Hot Chocolate - substitute the dark chocolate chips for white chocolate chips, and omit the cocoa.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate - add a layer of crushed candy canes.
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate - add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
There are so many different variations you can make, and I love that these are totally customizable! They really do make the best little gifts.
Tips and Tricks
What size jar do I need?
As mentioned, you'll need about an 8oz/250-300ml glass jar, preferably with a lid. You can buy these from most supermarkets, retail stores or dollar stores.
How Do I Wrap These?
These are so simple to wrap. Once I've made my jars I put a ribbon around the top of the lid, and secure a gift tag.
Can I Make this Vegan?
Absolutely! Simply substitute the chocolate chips for vegan chocolate, and change your gift instructions for 'plant based milk'. Coconut milk or almond milk would go so beautifully with this hot chocolate!
Is the hot chocolate rich and thick?
Yes! If you don't want it to be as thick, then omit the cornflour. Similarly if you want it thicker, add 1 tablespoon instead of ½ a tablespoon.
If you're looking to really surprise your friends and family with a thoughtful gift this holiday season, a homemade hot chocolate mix should definitely be on the cards!
Georgie x
📖 Recipe
Hot Chocolate in a Jar
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon cocoa
- 4 tablespoon white sugar
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Layer the cocoa, sugar, cornstarch in an 8oz/half pint Mason Jar.
- Top with dark chocolate.
- Place a lid on the jar, and tie together with a string and instruction card.
Instruction Card
- 1. Place ingredient in a small saucepan.
- 2. Add two cups of milk of your choice
- 3. Stir over medium heat until it's thick, creamy to to your preferred temperature.
- 4. Serve and enjoy!
Heather says
Silly question, but when putting marshmallows on top of jar, I'm assuming the person making the hot chocolate should not put them in the pot when warming?
Georgie says
Either or you can scoop them out which I know is a little annoying. Alternatively you could pack a little snap lock on the side or something!
Stanley Johns says
If I wanted to also add peanut butter chips, or peppermint would that change the amounts of the othet ingredients?
Georgie says
Ooo that sounds like a great idea! It shouldn’t do I haven’t tried with peanut butter cups but I imagine it would be a bit more chocolatey!
Katie says
Hi! How far ahead can these jars be made?
Georgie says
Hi Katie - as long as the recipe ingredients are in date I'd say!
Katie Donohue says
Thank you!!
Mandy Applegate says
This hot chocolate was heavenly!
Georgie says
thanks Mandy glad you loved it!
Shashi says
Such a FANTASTIC idea for gifting this holiday season! Love this! Thank you!
Georgie says
isn't it just the sweetest gift!
Danielle Wolter says
Love this idea for Christmas gifts. So fun! Plus, they sound delicious!
Georgie says
and they're so easy too!
Tavo says
Looks like a real treat for a Sunday morning! Saving it for the upcoming halloween morning Sunday!
Georgie says
great idea!
Michele says
These make great Christmas gifts. I always loved receiving them. This year I'm going to make them and send them out as gifts.
Georgie says
they are so fun and easy to make I love them!
Bonnie says
Can I make it ahead? By 2 weeks?
Georgie says
Hi Bonnie - yes for sure. the ingredients are all dry ingredients so they should keep 🙂
Jana says
Is this unsweetened cocoa powder?
Georgie says
Hi Jana, yes unsweetened. I used Cadbury cocoa or Hershey's cocoa powder
Adriana Lopez Martin says
This mason jar is a great little gift for Christmas nothing better than something coming directly from your kitchen and made with so much love and precision. I need a cup now =)
Georgie says
I 100% agree, it's a beautiful little gift to give!
Natalie says
Looks so delicious and perfect for Christmas morning ♥
Georgie says
absolutely! or Christmas eve with a little Baileys 😉
Tracy says
I made these for a work gift exchange and it was a huge hit. Everyone thought they were so cute and a really good idea. Thank you!
Georgie says
oh that is so great to hear Tracy!! I'm so glad everyone loved them!
Jillian says
Mason jar gifts are so fun to make and so fun to receive! You have some very lucky friends and neighbors!
Georgie says
ha ha, they do benefit a lot from me being a food blogger! I love giving edible gifts!
Tisha says
Hot chocolate is so good, these make such cute gifts!
Georgie says
hot chocolate is my favourite winter drink! thanks Tisha 🙂