National Hot Chocolate Day

Now this is a day I can definitely get behind. I have always loved a good cup of hot chocolate and have recently started to really enjoy putting it in my coffee for a homemade cafe mocha! To celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day, I am sharing a few yummy ways too enjoy it!

Every month, we receive a Craft + Boogie box filled with several crafts, a music playlist, fun facts, a game and creative recipes. Aside from the crafting, we have made quite a few of the recipes and all have received thumbs up reviews. So along with my favorite hot chocolate mix and a fun DIY, here’s a hot chocolate recipe that came in our January box and one that we will definitely be making this weekend!

 

My Favorite Hot Chocolate Mix

Several years ago, my Mana gave me and Brad a hot chocolate maker and a jar of Silly Cow hot chocolate mix. I had never even heard of this brand, but it was delicious! Once I had Silly Cow, I never went back to anything else. They have a ton of flavors: chocolate chocolate, chocolate maple, chocolate truffle, chocolate sea salt caramel, chocolate marshmallow swirl and more! Highly recommend it whether you like a simple cup of hot chocolate or enjoy adding it to your coffee like I do instead of other sweeteners. I have found Silly Cow at Publix, World Market and on Amazon.

The hot chocolate maker my grandparents gave us was pretty cool too! I loved that it would heat the milk and mix the hot chocolate together. Once it was to temperature, it would stop and it had an easy ready-to-serve dispenser. Then if the hot chocolate started to cool, it would kick on again to spin and heat the mixture. Unfortunately I couldn’t find the exact one we own and others that are similar are no long in production judging by the prices for which they are listed, but I did find the option pictured which has several functions and for a reasonable price too. Most machines like this are to heat and froth milk. But this one has 4 settings, one of which allowing you to heat and mix hot chocolate without creating foam.

 

 

DIY Hot Chocolate Bomb

Have you indulged in the hot chocolate bomb trend? We hadn’t until we made our own this week! Silicone molds have been selling out due to the craze, but honestly how often am I
going to use one? So I knew I didn’t want to invest in one, not to mention find a spot to store it in my kitchen. So here is a quick and easy way to make your own homemade hot chocolate bombs! You probably already have all of the ingredients in your pantry minus the mold and I have a simple solution for that. Are you ready for it?! A Kinder Joy! You know … that treat that looks like an orange and white egg that you can find with the other candy when you’re checking out at a store. Enjoy the treat — or don’t, your call — and then voila the perfect two piece mold!

Here’s what you’ll need:
Kinder Joy Egg (for the mold)
Chocolate Melting Wafers or Candy Melts
Hot Chocolate Mix
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips, to decorate (optional)
Sprinkles, to decorate (optional)

How to make your hot chocolate bomb:
In a microwave safe bowl, melt 6-7 chocolate wafers or candy melts. (Chocolate chips do not work for this step) Microwave in 15 second increments, stirring each time until melted. Once melted, pour into one side of your mold. Tilt to use gravity to help move around the chocolate. You can also use a toothpick to assist if needed. Once the mold is coated, continue to circle around the excess a few extra times to help reinforce the sides so that it just doesn’t settle to the bottom. Then place in the freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat these steps for the other side of the mold.
After the chocolate is set, remove from the freezer and carefully pull the sides of the mold until you hear a tiny pop. (Pull very slowly and carefully as to not create cracks.) Then place the mold face down on a plate and using your fingers, gently push (soft, repeated pushes, not just one big one) from the back and work the chocolate from the mold. Don’t push too hard, you are essentially using the space created from the little pull you gave it and pressing carefully to let the pumping of the air do the work for you. Once you feel the chocolate let go from the mold, lift mold and flip over your chocolate shell.
By this time, your second half of the mold should be ready to remove from the freezer. Repeat same steps from above.
Fill one side with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Then carefully match up the empty shell on top.

Holding your hot chocolate bomb, use your finger to swipe some fo the leftover melted chocolate from your microwave safe bowl. Carefully spread it along the seam to fuse the two sides of your hot chocolate bomb together. 
Allow a few minutes for this to cure and then it’s ready! Or you can choose to decorate! If you have other colored candy melts or chocolate chips, melt them and drizzle over the top of your hot chocolate bomb. Be sure to let it cool slightly before you drizzle otherwise it will melt right through your shell and ruin your hot chocolate bomb. Add some sprinkles or anything else you can think of and enjoy!

These make for great gifts! Valentine’s Day is coming soon … hint hint. Set them in a cupcake liner and then in either a cellophane bag or a little box and your gift is ready to go! Also, because this DIY mold is in the shape of an egg, you can make them around Easter and look like a creative genius!

 

A Craft + Boogie Recipe

I highly recommend checking out Craft + Boogie. You can find them on Instagram here and on their website here. Shop with code MultiplyingMichie10 for a special discount!

 

Busy Bee Cozies

Want to make your hot chocolate extra cute? Add a cup cozy! We may or may not have a drawer in our kitchen dedicated to our Busy Bee Cozies. They will be launching a new kids line in February too! Laney and Morgan got a sneak peek at 2 designs that will be in the first drop and they use them whenever they can– water bottle, drink cup, snack cup. You name it, their cozy is on it. My Disney cozies are my personal favorites, making my coffee or hot chocolate taste a little extra magical. Follow this shop on Instagram and use code MMREP15 for a discount!

Which one will you be making? Classic hot chocolate, a homemade hot chocolate bomb or Craft + Boogie’s peanut butter hot chocolate? Let me know in the comments!