I have an issue with hot chocolate. I also have an issue with edible, lovingly homemade Christmas presents. I need to talk to you about these things.
So here’s my beef with hot chocolate; it’s not chocolately enough. Everytime I drink a cup, I get this overwhelming urge to complain to someone. I feel cheated. It’s called Hot Chocolate, not ‘Hot, A-Bit-Like-Chocolate But Not As Good’. And whilst I’m on this little rant, do you want to know my issue with edible, lovingly homemade Christmas presents (ELHCP’s for short)? Their shelf life. I eat enough at Christmas, in fact, I’m totally committed to eating lots at Christmas. I plan for it. What I really want for Christmas are ELHCP’s that I can pull out of the cupboard around January time, when I just can’t face putting on my 20 layers to visit the shops. Ungrateful? Maybe. Sorry. It’s okay. I have a solution.
It’s so obvious it hurts. Solid chocolate, on a stick, to melt into hot milk. It makes near damned perfect hot chocolate, keeps for ages (it laughs in the face of January) and looks just beautiful. And, as if that weren’t enough, it gives a use to all those silly silicone moulds I keep being given that I just can’t bake good cakes in. (Is that just me?)
Here it is… the easiest, most yummy ELHCP you ever did see:
Ingredients:
- Dark chocolate (I used 75g per silicone mould but really, it all depends how large your mould is)
- Mini marshmallows. I used these.
Find a gorgeous mug you plan to give as a gift. Then find a gorgeous teaspoon you plan to give as a gift. Next take the silicone mini cake mould and check it fits into the mug. There could be nothing more disappointing than having a lovely chocolate stick and it not fitting into your hot milk.
1) Break the chocolate up into pieces and fill your silicone mould with it until it’s almost full, but not with chocolate poking out over the sides.
2) Place chocolate filled silicone thing into the microwave on the outside of the spinning plate and cook on high for about 40 seconds, but do keep watching it as all microwaves are different in power and you don’t want to end up with burnt chocolate.
3) Open the microwave and have a little poke about with a wooden toothpick. If the chocolate has melted down and left room for more chocolate then add some more and give it another 30 second blast.
4) Repeat step 3 until the mould is full with about 3mm at the top of the mould free of chocolate.
5) Carefully remove the little silicone mould from the microwave – remember it could easily wobble and spill your molten chocolate. Leave on a plate, chocolate still in mould, to cool slightly.
6) When the chocolate is starting to re-set, pop your teaspoon into the middle of it and leave to fully cool and set at a 90 degree angle. If it’s solid enough at this point then you won’t have to hold the teaspoon up.
7) Pop some little marshmallows onto the top of the almost set chocolate and leave to completely set until rock solid, at room temperature. Then remove from the silicone mould and wrap in cellophane type packaging.
8) Write a little label with the suggestion that a tired person swirl the chocolate stick in scalding milk until dissolved, and then drink until feeling very content and sleepy.
(NB: It has been pointed out to me that really one should temper chocolate to ensure it doesn’t get any bloom (white bits) on it when it dries. Well, I didn’t temper and mine didn’t develop white bits on it but if you are a perfectionist and are very worried about this type of thing then do temper your chocolate – use google and youtube to watch and learn how.)
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Holly Bell 
Will definitely try this, having been looking at American blogs and they seem to overcomplicate everything by adding lots of other ingredients. This is much more simple!
I may even jazz them up by adding a little confectioners glitter to the moulds beforehand. Will let you know how I get on. x
Simple is my favourite thing!! x
Just returned to this to recall how you did it – great idea. I’ll be making it again and again.
Thanks Rhaana! X
Holly
Hi Holly, These are fantastic! How long do you think they will keep for? Thanks
As long as the combined ingredients say – so if you use marshmallows then check the use buy, same for the choc. Whatever is shortest is how long it will last. x
So fun! I love how you used the silicon cups. I haven’t had good luck baking with them either. Thanks for sharing. yum.
Hi Holly – i’m on the hunt for table presents for my mum’s 70th and I reckon this would go down a treat in the current baltic climate! Thanks for the inspiration :-)
ah, what a fab idea and a very happy 70th to your ma! x
Saw so many flavours of these at the Germans Christmas Markets selling for a ridiculous Euro price. Much better to follow your recipe and DIY them me thinks!
These are great, but where did you get your heart silicone moulds from?
My mother in law bought them for me from a market but I have seen similar in Sainsbury’s. x
Made these as presents and they were so well received! Thank you for such a simple yet amazing present idea!
Pleased your pals liked them! xxx
Hi Holly, I’ve made these for friends and colleagues and everyone loves it. I am going to write a blog post on it, is it ok to link back to your site? Thanks!
Yes of course my lovely. Don’t mind who uses content as long as they link back and of course enjoy the recipe. xxx
What a great idea, have made these this afternoon when I realised I’d overlooked dancing teachers in the Christmas gift plans (never let your kids do any clubs, Holly, with school alone the number of cards/gifts/etc gets ridiculous without adding extra into the mix!). They’re just setting now looking very amusing with the spoons all held aloft!
Unlike everyone else, however, I don’t have any problems with silicone cupcake cases except for people’s reaction to them, I’ve had everything from throwing it away (there are a few missing now) to “Can I eat this?”
I have just made these to give to friends- they are fantastic and so easy! I added some white chocolate stars as well.
Ooh, that’s a really good call. Very festive! If you have a pic do upload to fb or twitter. Would love to see it. X Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Will be giving this idea some thought as I already have mugs and chocolate sachets, so thinking this would be a good addition
I have made a budget version!!! Knocking out a bundle of 4 tea spoons wrapped in cellophane (with marshmallows) for about £1!!!!!! Making them for endless teachers, helpers, nursery! For my 3 kiddies!!!!
Loving your work! X
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Wow! That looks amazing Holly :-) you’re taking after Willy Wonka this festive season!x
These look fab!
What a lovely gift, you are full of great ideas Holly. Thank you. I am sure you are going to have a lot of happy friends this christmas xx
Oh what a great idea! And using dark chocolate then it’s suitable for my dairy-free friend too as she can just stir it in to her soya milk.
I use silicone moulds successfully for muffins, but not tried them for cupcakes yet.
What a fabulous idea…I’ve got over 20 silicon moulds in which I agree, not good cakes AND you don’t want to give silicon mould ones away, as baking should be! …you dancer!
I totally agree with you, hot chocolate is never choccy enough, you just dont get that feeling when you drink a mug, and lets face it, its the feeling your after to make everything ok when you need a perk up, I think i will have to have a go at these.
What a lovely idea! I haven’t really got my head around the edible gift thing, as I always think once it’s eaten, there is nothing left as a lasting reminder for the recipient of the giver. But buying a cool teaspoon – or hunting round carity shops for odd vintage teaspoons – would really work. Especially for someone you know drinks lots of tea of coffee!
So true! I feel exactly the same. Chutneys and pickles are a good option too!
http://www.thekitschcook.blogspot.com/
I agree with the whole feeling cheated by hot chocolate comment Holly, I have to say though, hubby & I had a visit to Harrogate where I tasted heaven! Betty’s Tea Room, they have one in York too, I had a cup of hot chocolate & it really was just a cup of chocolate that was hot. Moorish for me too :)
Go have one & help it down with a Fat Rascal (fruit scone, but ma-hoosive)
Great idea, these could be like cake pops only chocolate pops and would be fab :)
sounds amazing!!! i must try it :)
Love it! I am on a tight budget for Christmas pressure this year and I think I just found the answer. Thanks.
I love it – so simple, and yes a great idea for those silicone cupcake moulds that just don’t work for cake!
When I was in Bruges recently, I saw these in all the shops but I never thought of making them myself. I bought a couple for my young cousins and they loved them. They also had some that came with a small shot of booze for a more grown up treat. Delicious!
Is there any specific dark chocolate you would recommend? You’ve totally inspired me to make these as little extras for my friends and family :) x
I’ll be honest with you, I often use regular choc for melting – own label stuff from the supermarket, but really it’s up to you. You could also buy flavoured choc to make orangey hot choc sticks etc. xx
Yum, and I know what you mean about the silicone moulds: I use them to make new wax crayons from the nubs of old ones.
Brill idea Holly! I thought I was starting to get to the bottom of my homemade gifts list but I will have to add this on too!
Fab idea!! And no, I can’t do the whole silicone mould thing either!! The only good thing about them, is that they squish down into a box for storage!!
I think this along with one of my christmas gnomes ( http://cartwheelsandbubbles.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-gnomes.html ) will make the perfect christmas gift. I cant wait to give them a go! Thank you!
Brilliant idea. I bought lots of these when I was in Belgium but never thought to make my own! Thanks!
Have to agree with you and your sticks are the perfect solution I believe!
They look fantastic if you dip the bottoms into white chocolate and then place on chocolate transfer paper. Wooden tea spoons are also nice.
I had hot chocolate that tasted like pure melted chocolate when I was in Poland- delicious- never thought of doing this though!
Great gift idea Holly. I totally agree with your ‘beef’. I always microwave chocolate for 2-3 minutes on the lowest setting. More similar to melting over water on the hob, and less risk of burning.
I used paper cupcake cups a few weeks ago to make it a gift.
But without the marshmellow. With the marshmellow it looks really great.
http://missgefreubel.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/chocolademelk-lollies/
They look fab! Love the wooden lolly sticks. x
Would it not be easier to melt the chocolate in a bowl and then pour it in to the mould!?
If you prefer to do it that way, go for it. I was saving on washing up.
How do you make sure your chocolate doesn’t melt when giving the gift? Because in the past I’ve made chocolate lollies but they’re close to melting when I present them to friends
Dunno. It doesn’t for me. But then I gift these in winter.
I have made these very things :) I was going to make the dipped spoons version but with it having to set between each layer I looked for another idea which was my silicone mini muffin cases! I wish I had thought of the marshmallows as well though, nice touch Holly :) There is a chocolate shop in Moray who sell pure hot chocolate made with lquid Willy Wonka river-esque chocolate added to hot milk, totally divine!
Fab idea!!
WOW what a fantastic idea i’d love to get one of these in a christmas hamper, ps I can’t work those moulds either xx
Ha ha – they’re rubbish aren’t they Jo? xx
love it!! Very good gift idea :)