Every year, one song sort of emerges as my Official Song for Christmas. Last year, it was “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” The year before that was the Jars of Clay version of “Little Drummer Boy.” “Little Drummer Boy” was never one of my favorites growing up until I heard their version. Incredible…you’ve got to check it out! Martina McBride’s had a song on the list in a past year…actually, I forget which one because the whole album is fantastic. Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Amazing? Bing Crosby has a ton of great ones too. “The Wonderful White World of Winter” is technically not a Christmas song, but it made it one year.
Each year, something just stands out. This year, it’s been Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree.” It’s a rather catchy tune…just makes me want to dance! There have been the classics like “O Holy Night,” new classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” and new versions of old classics…and of course, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey. I kinda love that song!
Funny enough, I have a handful of folks that contact me each year when they hear the Hippopotamus song. Evidently, I‘ve made a big deal of it singing it amongst my friends…and…well…it makes them think of me. I’ll take it! One of these days, when I have kids, you better believe my family will be marching around in single-file line around the house, up and down and over the furniture to that song! (Something my Dad did back in the day.) So much fun!
I just love music and several years ago, I used to make a mixtape each year, with a fully designed album cover and liner notes of my favorite Christmas songs of the year that I would give away as Christmas gifts. The mixtapes developed into CDs. The first year of making the CD, my friend Jonathan Bereza let me borrow use his computer because he had a computer with a CD burner on it.
Funny how the World goes, good things don’t always last forever. I don’t even have a CD burner on my computer anymore….it came and went faster than the local Blockbuster Video Store. And, well, there is something not as festive just emailing a song list from Spotify. Don’t get me wrong, LOVE Spotify…but without the tangibility of the gift (and the many hours of happy frustration when the CDs wouldn’t burn or the printer ran out of ink); it just doesn’t feel the same to me.
So on to new things. Bigger and better things as they say. One thing I love just as much as music is cooking. And so, a new style of gift emerges. The gift of food! A couple of years ago, it was Biscotti. Last year was Hot Cocoa mix and this year, we’re going full Chocolate with these great Hot Chocolate Spoons.
Wrap these little gems up and give them away with a mug and some Biscotti and you have a really nice gift. Not to mention, each year when they bring out the mug, you better believe they’re going to think of you.
I get excited about these types of gifts because homemade gifts are my favorite. I still have an ornament that a girl in high school made for me. I remember her every year I bring that ornament out. I just love that. The holiday is about people, family and friends. That’s what brings me joy each year.
The great thing about this recipe is that you don’t need a ton of free time to put it together. It literally takes about 5 minutes to make the Hot Chocolate Spoons and maybe 20 minutes to really set in the fridge.
Here are some of the other items you’ll need if you want to turn them into a full-on gift:
The mugs I picked up at Kmart for about $3 a piece….can’t beat that! Here is a link to those:
Party bags:
Tags: you can buy them HERE if you’re short on time or make them yourself by downloading this Word template: Hot Chocolate Spoons – Tiny Kitchen Big Taste that you can print on cardstock or on a standard sheet of 30 labels (grab them here: Avery Labels for Inkjet or Laser).
And of course, if you want to make the Biscotti too, you can grab that recipe HERE.
The Hot Chocolate Spoons are great to make with kids and they’ll make perfect gifts for their teachers or for their friends. And they’ll feel proud of their homemade creation!
I hope you have as much fun making these Hot Chocolate Spoons as I did. And while you making them, think about putting on some Christmas music and find what song stands out to you this year! Let me know what it is in the notes below!
Hot Chocolate Spoons
Ingredients
SO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED IS:
- 12 ounces Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Cooking Spray
YOU'LL ALSO NEED:
GIFT GIVING ITEMS:
Instructions
- Line Mini Muffin Pan with the Mini Muffin Cups. Spray the Cup with Non-stick Cooking Spray.
- Place Chocolate into Large Glass Measuring Cup. Heat in the Microwave on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir.
- Place back in the Microwave (at 50% power) and continue to cook (stirring every 15 seconds) until the Chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Pour melted Chocolate to the top of each Mini Muffic Cup. (Note: it is about 1 ounce of Chocolate per Mini Muffin Cup.)
- Top with Optional toppings like Mini Marshmallows, Crushed Peppermint or holiday-colored Sprinkles/Jimmies.
- Place Disposable Spoon Directly into the center of the Chocolate and allow the Chocolate to harden. (Note: you can speed up the process in the refrigerator or freezer.) Keep an eye on them until the Chocolate hardens as sometimes the spoons start to fall. Adjust them as necessary so that they stay straight.
- Serve with 1 cup of Hot Milk.
Nutrition
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