Spiced up Cocoa and Hot Cocoa

Have you ever given or received a Holiday Gift in a Jar? Consider preparing this recipe for Spiced up Cocoa and/or Hot Cocoa as a gift. Just layer the dry ingredients in a jar as instructed in the first recipe. (For picture of layered jar, see Minty Rich Cocoa.) Copy the second recipe below and attach the recipe with a gift tag to the jar using raffia or ribbon. (*See 11-5-09 post for Jar-Assembly Tips.)

Spiced-Up Cocoa Mix

1 cup granulated sugar, divided
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon chili powder
Mini marshmallows

1. Combine 1/4 cup sugar, cocoa, flour and salt in medium bowl; stir well. Pour into 1-pint wide-mouth jar with tight-fitting lid. Pack down well. Combine 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, cloves and allspice; stir well. Pour into jar. Pack down well. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and chili powder. Pour into jar. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and chili powder. Pour into jar. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place marshmallows in resealable plastic food storage bag; place bag in jar. (Add or remove marshmallows as space allows.) Seal jar.
2. Cover top of jar with fabric. Copy recipe for Spiced-Up Cocoa and attach with gift tag using raffia or ribbon. (Makes one 1-pint jar.)

Spiced-Up Cocoa

1 jar Spiced-Up Cocoa Mix
1/3 cup water
4 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1. Remove bag from jar; set aside. Pour contents of jar into medium bowl; mix well. Pour mixture back into jar.
2. Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Whisk 3/4 cup cocoa mix into boiling water, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until thick and smooth.
3. Add milk and vanilla; heat to steaming (not boiling), stirring constantly. Pour into 4 mugs; top with mini marshmallows. (Makes 4 servings.)

Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer
Dash salt

1. Combine all ingredients in large bowl; stir to blend well. Store in tightly covered container. To fit into 1-quart wide-mouth jar with tight-fitting lid, pour mixture into jar a portion at a time, packing down lightly between layers.
2. Cover top of jar with fabric. Copy recipe for Hot Cocoa and attach with gift tag using raffia or ribbon. (Makes 3-3/4 cups mix.)

Hot Cocoa  

Place 1/4 cup mix in heatproof cup or mug, add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir to blend. Serve hot, topped with marshmallows, if desired.

 (Makes about fifteen 6-ounce servings.)

(Recipes taken from Holiday Gifts from a Jar, Publications International, Ltd.)