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I’ve made a ton of holiday gifts in reusable jars to give this year, and one of my favorites is this Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa in a Jar. Who doesn’t love a mug of hot chocolate to warm you up! This gift is not only simple to make and pretty to look at, but a delicious way to say thank you to those you love and appreciate!

Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Last-Minute Holiday Gift: Need a quick gift? Hot Cocoa in a Jar is your holiday hero! Keep a few prepped or whip one up in minutes for those “oops, I forgot!” moments.
- Customizable and Fun: From marshmallows to chocolate chips, you can tailor each jar to match the tastes of anyone on your list!
- Perfect for Everyone: From cocoa lovers to anyone with a sweet tooth, this jar of chocolatey goodness is a hit with all ages. Looking for another edible holiday gift idea? Try Pumpkin Spice Mixed Nuts and Seeds or Easy Winter Chili In A Jar.
The Ingredients

- Unsweetened cocoa powder: The base of this mix, it gives the hot cocoa its rich, chocolatey flavor. Make sure to use high-quality cocoa for the best results.
- Granulated sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the cocoa’s natural bitterness.
- Chocolate chips: These melt into the hot cocoa for an extra layer of creamy, indulgent double chocolate goodness.
- Cinnamon stick: A fun and festive touch! It infuses a warm, cozy spice when stirred into the hot cocoa.
- 16-ounce mason jar with lid: The perfect size for gifting! It keeps the mix fresh and looks adorable when tied with a ribbon or holiday tag.
How to Make Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Step 1: In the mason jar, layer the cocoa powder, sugar, chocolate chips, and top with the cinnamon stick. To ensure even, uniform layers use a funnel or fashion a makeshift funnel using parchment paper.

Step 2: Place the lid on top and tie a festive bow around the lip if desired. If gifting, include a card with these instructions: To make the hot cocoa, place the contents of the jar in a medium saucepan with 8 cups of milk. Simmer until the chocolate is melted and the hot cocoa is warm and smooth!
Tips for Creating Hot Cocoa in a Jar
- For Perfect Layers: Use a small funnel to get the perfect even layers. If you don’t have a funnel, you can create a makeshift funnel using parchment paper.
- Add Some Personality: Get crafty with your jar! Wrap a colorful ribbon around the lid, attach a cute tag with the recipe instructions, and maybe throw in a candy cane or two for stirring. Let your creative spirit shine as you prepare this lovely gift.
- Cinnamon: If you don’t have cinnamon sticks at the ready, you can substitute with 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

More Edible Holiday Gifts
It’s no secret I love using mason jars for gifting. This hot chocolate recipe is perfect in a jar, or you could use a mason jar gift Easy Winter Chili In A Jar , some festive Sun Dried Tomato Basil Pesto or Pumpkin Spice Mixed Nuts and Seeds too. Here are some more of my favorite edible holiday gifts.
There’s nothing cozier than a hot cup of cocoa during the holiday season. Let me know if you gift this recipe to anyone and leave a comment and rating below!
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DIY: Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa in a Jar
Equipment
- 12-16 ounce mason jar with lid
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 16 ounce mason jar with lid
- holiday ribbon
- gift tag
Instructions
- In the mason jar, layer the cocoa powder, sugar, chocolate chips, and top with the cinnamon stick. To ensure even, uniform layers use a funnel or fashion a makeshift funnel using parchment paper.
- Place the lid on top and tie a festive bow around the lip if desired. If gifting, include a tag with these instructions: "To make the hot cocoa, place the contents of the jar in a medium saucepan with 8 cups of milk. Simmer until the chocolate is melted and the hot cocoa is warm and smooth!"









gracias por sus recetas aprendo cada dia mas
16 ounce jar!
I am going to make these. They look supercute and homemade and they are simple! What size jar did you use?
I made these to give as Christmas gifts this year! They were fun to make and a practical and unique gift for families 🙂 Thank you as always!
Yep! That would make 1 single serving of cocoa.
I think if your co-workers have a couple of children you would give them the full recipe. For a couple you could 1/2 the recipe. I wouldn’t give someone a tiny jar with enough for only 1 cup of hot chocolate.
I would love to make this for my co-workers. Would I just divide the recipe by 8 to get single servings?
cute!
I make a sort of funnel out of parchment paper! Place it down into the jar so the cocoa powder slides down the parchment paper and doesn’t smudge the jar. 🙂
I love this idea, but I have question about its execution. My daughter and I have trouble getting it to look so neat. The cocoa sort of sprays up on the sides when added and mixes with the sugar a bit. It doesn’t look as pretty as a result. Any suggestions? Thanks! 🙂 Jenny
Where did you get the lids for the mason jars? It didn’t look like the amazon ones came with them.
a single serving would be 1 cup milk plus 2 tablespoons of the mixture!