Homemade Hot Chocolate Stirrers Recipes

Steps:

• Very lightly oil the insides of four egg cups or shot glasses, and set aside. Cut a small slit in the centre of each cupcake case using scissors.
• Melt the dark or milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in short bursts in the microwave. Divide the melted chocolate between the oiled moulds, then chill for 15 mins. Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate as you did the dark or milk, then pour over the set dark or milk chocolate layer.
• Insert a lolly stick into the centre of each of the moulds, then scatter over the toppings of your choice (see tip, below). Slide the cupcake cases, upside-down, onto the sticks through the slit to help keep the sticks in place. Chill until solid, about 4 hrs, then discard the cupcake cases and package the stirrers. Will keep in a cool, dry place for up to one week.

Steps:

• You will need:6 cupcake cases, pencil, pastry brush, 6 empty 47g fromage frais pots (washed and dried), 6 wooden lolly sticks, cellophane and string or ribbon for wrapping, 6 gift tagsPush a small hole in the middle of the cupcake cases with a pencil and put aside for later.
• Dip the pastry brush in the sunflower oil and paint a very thin layer of oil over the insides of the fromage frais pots.
• Put the chocolate in a bowl and heat in the microwave in 30-sec bursts until runny, stirring after each blast. Or melt it in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (get an adult to help you). If you're using different types of chocolate, you should melt them separately.
• Carefully pour the melted chocolate into the pots. Put a lolly stick in the middle of each and sprinkle your chosen decorations around it.
• Sit a cake case on top of each pot so that it covers the chocolate and the stick pokes through the hole. Put them in the fridge to set overnight.
• The next day, carefully pull the chocolates out of the pots and throw away the paper cases. Wrap each in cellophane tied with string and write a tag to read: 'Simply stir into hot milk.'

Steps:

• For the stirrers: Line a small baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Place the chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Insert a lollipop stick into each marshmallow. Dip the marshmallows into the chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Place on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate has set, 20 minutes.
• For the hot chocolate: Whisk together the almond milk, cinnamon and nutmeg in a 5-quart saucepan. Bring to just below a boil over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add the white chocolate and agave. Stir constantly until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 minutes. Keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
• Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and stir with the marshmallow stirrers.

Steps:

• Lightly oil the ice lolly moulds. Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of just-simmering water, stirring occasionally - take care to not scald the chocolate, as this will make it waxy and granular. Alternatively melt the chocolate in short, sharp bursts in a microwave on a medium heat. Put the spoons or lolly sticks into the holes of the lolly mould.
• Divide the melted chocolate into four separate bowls. Now work quickly to add the different flavours. Stir the ground cardamom into one bowl and fill two lolly moulds to the top of the spoon, then sprinkle on the chopped pistachios. Mix the orange zest into the next bowl, then fill two moulds to the top of the spoon and top with candied peel. Mix the nutmeg into the next bowl, then fill two moulds as before and top with white chocolate. Add the star anise to the final bowl of chocolate, mix, then fill the remaining moulds and top with the freeze-dried raspberries.
• Chill the moulds in the fridge for at least 2-3 hrs. When the chocolate has completely set, ease the stirrers out of the moulds, wrap each spoon in cellophane and secure with string. Add a label that reads 'Stir me into hot milk', if you like. Keep cool until you need them.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.
• For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.