How do you make a cup of homemade hot chocolate even more fun? With homemade hot chocolate stir sticks!
These Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks are a twist on chocolate spoons that will make any cup of hot chocolate extra special, either by adding some extra milk chocolate or delicious peppermint.
What's In This Article
Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks
As I mentioned in my White Hot Chocolate, one of my favorite things about the cold weather (and trust me, there are very few!) is warming up inside with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
Bonus points if I’m doing so while it’s snowing outside or there’s a holiday movie on TV and I have a warm, comfy blanket on my lap.
But beyond being my favorite way to unwind at the end of a long, cold day, homemade hot chocolate is a great family drink to enjoy with guests during the holidays.
Kids love it, adults love it, and it’s super easy to make. Everyone wins.
How to Make
When serving hot chocolate to friends and family, I like to go a bit above and beyond handing them a basic mug of hot chocolate. I like to include something a little special, like these Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks.
My inspiration for these hot chocolate stirrers came from chocolate spoons and recipes I found for hot chocolate on a stick.
I make these Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks two ways – one using wooden sticks and the other peppermint. Both include chocolate and marshmallows but I like to have the option of deciding whether or not to add the peppermint flavor to my drink.
Personally, I think my homemade almond hot chocolate with the peppermint chocolate spoon is the perfect combination.
Chocolate
You can make these using any type of chocolate you’d like – white, milk or dark. I like to get creative and mix a white chocolate spoon in a milk chocolate hot chocolate or vice versa. Using a chocolate made for melting is helpful- something like almond bark or CandyMelts.
If not, use baking chocolate or chocolate chips and add 1 teaspoon of fat- like butter or Crisco to help it melt creamy. Follow instructions below on melting chocolate.
Hot chocolate stirrers are a fun thing to display at a holiday party, allowing guests to pick between different types of chocolate and the stick or peppermint. The peppermint hot chocolate on a stick is all about the holiday flare!
Tips for melting chocolate:
- Melting chocolate, like many other things in the kitchen, is chemistry and science.
- You need the optimal temperature to make sure your chocolate melts to a silky-smooth consistency, don’t do it over high heat, keep it at medium.
- Skip the microwave and use a double boiler. The microwave heats too fast and too hot.
- If you do need to use the microwave, use it at 50% power or defrost mode and go slow, 15 second intervals.
- Don’t fully boil the water in your double boiler. Get it hot enough to melt the chocolate, but not to a rolling boil.
- Put the top pot on with chocolate after the water has come to temperature.
- Stir constantly while melting. It should only take a minute or so.
- Use immediately and while shiny.
- If chocolate gets too hot, it gets clumpy and matte.
- You can try to revive it by adding 2 teaspoons of vegetable shortening, but sometimes you are better off just starting over.
More festive holiday treats!
- Melted Snowman Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Candy Canes
- Christmas Tree Cake Cones
- Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies
Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks
Ingredients
- peppermint sticks or wooden sticks
- 3 ounces chocolate , melted
- 1 cup mini dehydrated marshmallows
Instructions
- Using a spoon, cover peppermint sticks or wooden sticks in melted chocolate.
- Immediately roll in mini dehydrated marshmallows.
- Place on a parchment lined plate and allow to set.
- Serve with your favorite hot chocolate!
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
I’m going to try this for my daughter’s birthday party. Could I use regular miniature marshmallows instead of dehydrated?
You can, they are just a tad larger than the dehydrated ones.
Question: I’m making a lot of these for a wedding open house and am wondering what kind of chocolate I should buy. You weren’t too specific in the directions. Thank you very much.
Hi Kathy- there is info about chocolate in the actual post. I would use a chocolate made for melting, like almond bark or candy melts.
How many does this recipe make? I’m making there for gift bags for a wedding shower along with hot chocolate packets.
Hi! Each batch (3 ounces of chocolate) will make approximately 10 sticks.
Looks amazing! How early in advance can I make it for a party?
Hi Hina, probably a a few days. I’d keep them in the fridge or in a cool dry place. Remember chocolate has the tendency to sweat a little if it gets too cold.
These are so fun and adorable! They make great gifts or as just a way to make any cup of cocoa feel a little more fancy!
We have a 9 year old foster kiddo living with us and he LOVES hot chocolate. These stir sticks are such a fun way to make it feel extra special!