This Homemade Collagen Hot Chocolate Mix is a wonderful to have on hand that’s chock full of health perks. It also makes a fabulous homemade gift idea for the holiday season!
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When the holiday season blows into town each year, I feel like Mary Poppins standing on the front porch, umbrella extended, ready (read: eager) to be swept off my feet. The precious season settles in for, what feels like, the blink of an eye before floating off again. It will leave us with Christmas tunes in our head, a full cup of community joy, and just a touch more wonder. Oh, what a sweet, sweet season.
Let’s make the most of this sweet season by spreading the most amount of joy (with a dash of wonder sprinkled in). That’s where this homemade hot chocolate mix come onto the scene. But first, we need to set the stage.
This time of year probably finds you, at some point, curled up with your gifting list. Whether that list is all in your head (like me), in a journal, or on the computer, you’re working up (or have worked up, you overachiever) your list of who you’d like to sprinkle with a little gifting love this year. It may include your parents, your siblings, your hunny, your fur baby, and your human babies. Maybe it includes your favorite coworkers, your postman, and your neighbors (especially the ones who let you borrow some of their recycling bin space each week). Your list, once you’ve got all the names jotted down, can likely be lumped into two main categories: people you’d like to bestow with real-deal gifts & those you’d like to bestow with a smaller token.
The small tokens are for the folks you want to shower with a bit more love than just the inclusion on your mass holiday card mail-out. Today’s post is hereby dedicated to the small token.
This homemade hot chocolate recipe is something special. Well, first of all, they’re a breeze to whip up, which is a huge bonus. This winning, bonus feeling grows the longer your “token gift” list gets. Instead of baking 36 mini loaves of banana bread (you’re my hero), you just triple this recipe, whisk, pour, and seal. DONE.
The greatest token gifts also always have an extra layer of meaning, don’t they? The mini banana bread is made from your great grandmother’s recipe, the dark chocolate truffles are made with your very favorite fair trade chocolate, and the iced cookies were cut using the same cookie cutters you watched your mother use in her kitchen. Depth and significance weaves its way into even the smallest gifts, making them even more special.
On the surface, this Collagen Hot Chocolate Mix will allow your friends to whip up one DANG tasty cup of hot chocolate. But this Collagen Hot Chocolate Mix also has depth. The Collagen Peptides you’ve thoughtfully whisked in signify an important wish: good health.
Want more homemade holiday gift ideas? Try our White Chocolate Peppermint Icebox Cookies, Homemade Chai Concentrate, Mulled Wine, or Perfect Holiday Cookie Box.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Done in 5 minutes flat!
- Makes 36 servings – AKA 12 jars of hot chocolate that are perfect for holiday gifting
- Chock full of health perks
Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe Ingredients
SO, what do we need to whip up these thoughtful, health-infused, destined to be enjoyed as hot cups of joy token gifts? The list, for a batch of 12 mixes, is simple. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- 12, 8-ounce Jelly Jars
- 1 pack of 2.5″ Black Round Stickers (to label the top)
- 1 Silver Sharpie
- 1 roll of Twine
- 1 Jug of Collagen Peptides
- 1 Bag of Natural Cocoa Powder
- 1 Bag of Coconut Sugar
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
Here’s how to customize this homemade hot chocolate mix to your liking:
- Spice it up – add a couple tablespoons of warm baking spices, like cinnamon or cardamom.
- Add a little heat – just a dash of cayenne would be delicious too!
How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix
Forget the packaged mixes that are full of preservatives and white sugar! Mixing up a big batch of this homemade hot cocoa mix is oh-so-easy.
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the cocoa mix, whisking to get out any lumps.
Step 2: Fill each jar with about 1/2 cup cocoa mix, then place a label on the mason jar top and twist the lid on over it. Tie with a piece of twine.
Step 3: To make the hot chocolate, warm 8 ounces coconut, almond, or regular milk on a stove or in the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate, and either stir well to combine or blend for a frothier/more creamy texture.
Recipe Tips
Homemade Gift Tags – Getting something homemeade with a friend’s handwriting is pretty special. But if you’re feeling even more ambitious, you could also print or write a tag to accompany the mix that includes instructions and/or the ingredients.
How to Make Hot Chocolate – Your giftees can enjoy this mix by stirring or blending it into milk (dairy-free or regular). Using 2 tablespoons of mix for each serving, they’ll get about 4 frothy hot chocolates from each jar.
How to Serve
Once they’re ready, your giftees can stir or blend the mix (blending is my personal favorite) into to their favorite milk or non-dairy milk. They’ll get about 4 frothy hot chocolates (made with 2 tablespoons of mix) from each jar.
How to Store
Store the hot cocoa mix according to the “best by” or “use by” date on the collagen peptides packaging. (You may want to add that date to the tag, or an extra sticker, on the jar so your giftees will have it handy too.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Collagen peptides offer a whole slew of health benefits: not only do they promote joint health, healthy hair, strong nails, and healthier, more vibrant skin – but they may help heal your gut. To learn more, read our helpful primer, Everything You Need to Know about Collagen.
Good question …but, my answer is, why not? The health benefits of collagen (which I outlined in this Everything You Need to Know about Collagen blog post) are TREMENDOUS. It’s good for our hair, nails, skin, joints, gut, brain, the list goes on! So why not use them to make a chocolatey treat even better?
Another good question! No, it will not change the flavor. THIS COLLAGEN that I personally use, buy, and love (by Vital Proteins) is flavorless, odorless, and easily dissolves in liquid. It’s a true nutritional gem. Your giftees will have no idea, other than the name on the label, that they’re enjoying delicious hot chocolate that is also GOOD for them.
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Homemade Collagen Hot Chocolate Mix
Ingredients
For the Cocoa Mix:
- 2 cups Collagen Peptides
- 2 cups of Natural Cocoa Powder
- 2 cups of Coconut Sugar
For the Gifting Jars:1
- 12 8-ounce Jelly Jars
- 1 pack of 2.5 inch round black labels
- 1 Silver Sharpie
- 1 roll of Twine
Instructions
To Make the Gifting Jars:
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the cocoa mix, whisking to get out any lumps.
- Fill each jar with about 1/2 cup cocoa mix, then place a label on the mason jar top and twist the lid on over it. Tie with a piece of twine.
To Make Hot Chocolate:
- Warm 8 ounces coconut, almond, or regular milk on a stove or in the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate, and either stir well to combine or blend for a frothier/more creamy texture.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
