Hot chocolate gift basket ideas

[gate_pourri]

I am working on a couple of hot chocolate gift baskets for both of my parents and their spouses. This will be one of multiple gifts per person/family, so I don't want to go overboard or spend too much money. Right now, I have 2 mugs, 4 hot chocolate sticks I got in Belgium and a Christmasy jar with cinnamon sticks and a small grater that I got at Big Lots. But, the baskets look a bit bare. What else can I add to bulk up the baskets without spending a lot? My only idea is whipped cream, but that won't work because we put presents under the tree early.

 

[dakcp2001]

Marshmallows!! Candy canes! Oh how about chocolate covered spoons?

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Mini marshmallows, cookies, chocolate squares to use with grater

 

[lizabu]

Some cookies to dunk in the hot chocolate too

 

[gate_pourri]

Marshmallows!! Candy canes! Oh how about chocolate covered spoons?

Oh... I don't know why I didn't think of marshmellows. There is a place in the 'burbs with great gourmet marshmellows.

I was also thinking a small bottle of liqueur (like airplane size), but they don't sell those in the city, so I may have to drive around a bit.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[honeydiane1953]

shortbread cookies, choc spoon, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, fuzzy footies.

 

[denisem]

Oh... I don't know why I didn't think of marshmellows. There is a place in the 'burbs with great gourmet marshmellows.

I was also thinking a small bottle of liqueur (like airplane size), but they don't sell those in the city, so I may have to drive around a bit.

Keep the ideas coming.

Ahhh, if you're talking booze, butterscotch schnapps is heavenly in hot chocolate! You mentioned whipped cream, how about some flavored non-dairy coffee creamers?

 

[HelenePA]

peppermint schnapps is also very good in hot chocolate! They also make whipped cream flavored vodka if you'd like to go that route. ETA the flavored vodkas are about 12$ for a large bottle... (i think, its been awhile since I bought it...)

 

[cornflake]

I know you have the fancy hot cocoa mix stuff but it didn't sound like you have a ton of it... you can make your own hot cocoa mix cheap and it's WAY better than the typical envelope stuff, so maybe you could put in some for each basket?

Just get some powdered milk, some unsweetened cocoa powder and put them in some cute mason jars or something. You can do in separate jars, milk powder, cocoa powder (or mix them, I usually do two to one milk to cocoa but try and see what you like, some ppl like 1 to 1) and put in a cute, handwritten recipe of like one spoon this, one spoon that if you go with the separate jars or like, a spoon and a half of mix plus sugar - with suggestions from the above posts for spiked hot chocolate, minted, orange, etc.

I'd also do the mini marshmallows - and maybe a whole bunch of candy canes in different flavours as stir sticks?

 

[MIGrandma]

I've made coffee/hot chocolate baskets occasionally and I usually add a couple pretty (or Christmasy) dish towels/dish cloths and potholders to the basket, sometimes using one dishtowel as the cover for the basket.

 

[Imzadi]

The individual packages of cookies or other small size snacks:

 

[lovetoscrap]

A small whisk-- I prefer to use that to mix it up instead of a spoon

 

[VAfamily1998]

I agree with the shortbread cookie suggestion. I know World Market sells small packages (with 2 cookies each) of Walkers Shortbread.

ETA: Or you can get a big box of the individual packs off Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/OFXW116-Walke...office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1321210372&sr=1-1

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I started making a hot chocolate basket for a raffle last week. It had mugs, packets of hot cocoa, fancy frosted cookies, and a little box of chocolates. Then I added a Christmasy candle and a fleece throw and it became more of a "Winter's Evening Basket."

One thing I saw at the store (but didn't buy) was a battery-powered frother. I didn't want to spend the extra money on a raffle basket, but it might be a nice thing to add to a gift for a relative.

 

[sms]

a nice spoon and "spoon rest" set
set of coasters
butterscotch candy sticks
a can of Piroulines (hazelnut ones are great)
chocolate covered pretzel sticks
gingerbread man cookies