Holiday Hot Cocoa Mix

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of hot cocoa mix. My experience is limited, so perhaps there is one commercial brand out there that is absolutely delicious and one I must try, but why bother when it is just so darned easy to make your own?  This recipe was inspired by Jamie Oliver from his new Christmas cookbook (A fantastic tome that you simply must own, and can do so by clicking here), but I think mine is better than Oliver's, and one heck of a lot easier because, instead of having you grate the chocolate (a messy job at best), I use dark chocolate chips that are pulverized in the food processor.

You can double or triple this recipe if you plan to give it this season as gifts (something I strongly encourage). It looks adorable when poured into a small milk bottle, or other spring-top jar or container. Include a tag with instructions, and consider tying a small bottle of liquor (such as Kahlúa, Crème de Menthe, or Cointreau) as a nice adult addition to this decadent treat.

Holiday Hot Cocoa Mix
Makes one big jar (24 servings)

7 ounces dark chocolate chips
10 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
5 tablespoons vanilla malt powder
5 tablespoons cornstarch
5 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
A pinch of ground cinnamon

Measure out 7 ounces of dark chocolate chips. Put them into a food processor, and pulverize. This is going to take a little while, so be patient. You can pulse until the desired consistency is reached, or you can just turn it on and let it rattle like a bunch of pea gravel in a mixing bowl, until it's powdery. Put the rest of the ingredients into the food processor with the pulverized chocolate, and pulse until combined. Decant into jars or other festive containers. Attach a label with instructions:

Place two tablespoons of mixture into a cup of simmering whole milk. Pour into mug and enjoy.

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Cookie Dough for Gifting

If you tend to not think about hostess gifts until you're walking out the door on your way to the party, only to have to stop at the liquor store or flower market along the way, you can now relax. Here is something you can make way ahead, and that will be more appreciated than any bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers.

The next time you make up a batch of cookies for yourself or your family, make a double batch. Bake up the one for you, and then roll the remaining dough into 1-1¼" balls, place them on a foil or parchment-lined cookie sheet, and pop them into the freezer for 30 minutes.

At the same time, grab one of those apothecary jars that you always seem to have in the back of your pantry taking up space, and place it into the freezer as well. 

When the cookie dough balls have frozen, place them into the chilled jar, put the lid on the jar (and top this with foil or plastic wrap if the seal is not a tight one), attach baking instructions (bearing in mind when you do that frozen dough is going to take a minute or two longer to bake than dough that is simply chilled), and return it to the freezer to lie in wait.

When you're heading out the door to your next party, simply grab a jar of cookie dough and be on your way. Who wouldn't love a gift like this?

For the recipe for these delicious chocolate chip cookies, go here.

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