Witchy Holiday Gifting: Homemade Hot Chocolate
There are few things more synonymous to the winter holidays than enjoying a mug of hot chocolate. People tend to gravitate towards this classic body and soul warming beverage during the colder months due to its deep nostalgia factor and rich, sweet flavor. While the brands we find in the grocery store perhaps hold the most sentimentality for many of us, there is something truly special and decadent about making your own hot chocolate at home. Beyond the fact that in my mind homemade is 100x more delicious, it is also dead simple to make and the ingredients are all things that are easy to find in any store; all wonderful reasons to whip up a big batch of it for yourself and as presents for friends and family.
The Alluring Magic of Chocolate
Chocolate is certainly one of those foods that as a society we have formed deep emotional and psychological ties to and for good reason. Cacao and items made from it contain various chemicals and vital compounds such as theobromine, caffeine, anandamide, phenylethylamine, and tryptophan. These contribute to the sensations of alertness, euphoria, and pleasure after eating it and along with the sugar usually found in said products, create that feeling of craving that some of us get for chocolate. Cacao in its raw form boasts more antioxidants than green tea and red wine and processed cocoa and dark chocolates also carry higher antioxidant capacity than many other foods.
Chocolate has been revered as a symbol of longevity, divinity, and opulence since antiquity, with preparations dating back to pre-Olmec civilization. The most popular method of consumption was chocolate being prepared as a drink, which was adopted by almost all of the ancient Mesoamerican peoples. Today across the globe, you can find all manner of different varieties of drinking chocolates and hot cocoas that still capture that same sense of luxury.
Magically speaking, chocolate in all of its forms is a wonderful ingredient to utilize when looking to share and spread joy. Baked goods or confections made with white or milk chocolate can be gifted to others with the intention of fostering affection, friendship, or passion or can be eaten with the intent of improving self love. Darker chocolates, cocoa nibs, and unsweetened cocoa can be used in spellwork focused on encouraging romantic love, drawing in money or wealth, and promoting positivity and grounding energies.
The Recipe: Rich Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Rich Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 16 oz granulated sugar (joyful dispositions)
- 16 oz unsweetened dark cocoa powder (grounding)
- 24 oz bittersweet chocolate chips (positive energies, love)
- 4 oz cornstarch
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (happiness, affection)
- 1 tsp sea salt (purification, protection)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and blend the mixture until homogenous. There may be some fine pieces of the chocolate chips left over, that is okay, they will melt into the liquid when prepared.
- Remove and place into clean and dry airtight jars or canisters. This mix will keep for upwards of a year if stored properly.
- Place 8 oz of milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it just comes to a gentle simmer. You can use any milk you prefer for this recipe, I personally love oat milk!
- Once your milk is heated, whisk in 3-4 Tbsp of your dry hot chocolate mix until completely combined and any small chocolate pieces are melted. You can adjust the amount of dry mix you add per your taste preference.
- Pour into a mug and serve. If looking for a classic cup of hot chocolate, serve with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and marshmallows. You can also get creative and top with crushed peppermint or caramel candies or festive sprinkles!
Getting Creative
As I said in the intro, homemade hot chocolate is an absolutely lovely and easy holiday gift idea for your friends and family, witchy or not and the base recipe for this particular hot cocoa is great on its own. That being said, I encourage you to play around and add different flavors and different intentions to jazz up the mix. Below, check out a few ways that you can customize this hot chocolate to tailor it for each person on your list this year (including yourself!).
Deluxe Peppermint Hot Chocolate: If you want a hint of seasonal flavor to your blend and as well as a refreshing and uplifting intentional twist, you can opt for adding a 5-6 drops of peppermint extract to the hot chocolate as you are mixing it together in the food processor. When you are packaging the mix in the jar of your choosing, layer in crushed peppermint candies for an extra pop of sweet, minty flavor.
Espresso Hot Chocolate: . Add in 1 to 2 Tbsp of espresso powder to the dry mix as you are blending it for an easy and stimulating mocha flavored pick-me-up any time. Tie a small bag of chocolate covered espresso beans to the jar to complete this coffee lovers dream gift.
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate: For a slightly savory-sweet twist on your hot chocolate, adjust the salt in the recipe to 2 tsp and layer crushed hard caramel candies into the jar as you are packaging the mix. The addition of extra salt is excellent for when you need a little boost of protective energy and is sure to hit the spot for any salted caramel lover.
Spiced Orange Hot Chocolate: Perfect for those who love a little kick in their drinks or when you are looking to add some “heat” to your spellwork! Add the zest of one orange, 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon and 1-2 tsp ground cayenne pepper (depending on your heat tolerance!) to the food processor while blending your hot chocolate.
Boozy Hot Chocolate: If you are giving to someone over the age of 21 and want to add a little extra “cheer” to the gift, you can pair small bottles of alcohol with the hot chocolate. Some of my favorite pairing recommendations are vanilla vodka, coffee liquor, Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, raspberry liquor, cinnamon whiskey, Irish whiskey or spiced rum.
