The Ultimate Festive Gift: A Trio of Delight

There’s an undeniable magic that happens when you combine three exceptional elements: a luscious homemade hot chocolate mix, pillowy, minty homemade peppermint marshmallows, and the warming embrace of peppermint schnapps. This triumvirate creates the best-ever gift idea for anyone over 21. Whether you choose to savor the homemade hot chocolate mix yourself, whip up a batch of the irresistible peppermint marshmallows, or present the complete kit, you’re in for a treat. Personally, we’re making this kit a new Christmas Eve tradition at 40 Aprons HQ, ushering in the holiday spirit with every indulgent sip.

Why Choose a Homemade Gift This Holiday Season?

Life can throw unexpected curveballs, and sometimes that means adjusting our holiday plans. For instance, as we embark on the exciting, albeit challenging, journey of building a new house, every penny counts. Interest rates have surged, transforming our dream home into a reality that requires careful budgeting. We’re literally days away from closing, right after Christmas, which means this year, homemade gifts are not just a preference but a heartfelt necessity. But ‘necessity’ doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury. Instead, it inspired the creation of this Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate Gift Kit, designed to package indulgence and thoughtful care. It’s a way to ensure our loved ones receive something truly special, handcrafted with love, making up for any perceived ‘thriftiness’ with unparalleled charm.

Moving closer to family, expanding our living space by over 200%, and finally having enough room to comfortably brush our teeth without coordinating schedules—these are the small joys we look forward to. And in this spirit of new beginnings and appreciation, a homemade gift that delivers warmth and delight feels incredibly fitting.

The Magic of Homemade Marshmallows: Surprisingly Simple

If you’ve never ventured into the world of homemade marshmallows, prepare to be amazed by their simplicity and superior taste. While a candy thermometer is indeed a required tool, it’s the most complex aspect of the entire process. The steps are straightforward: bloom gelatin in cold water, boil a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, and salt to the perfect temperature, then slowly incorporate the hot syrup into the gelatin mixture. Beat it all on high speed for about 8-15 minutes until it transforms into a thick, fluffy cloud, then fold in your extracts. The result? Marshmallows that are light years beyond anything store-bought—soft, pillowy, and bursting with fresh peppermint flavor. They’re impressive, delicious, and a true testament to the joy of homemade treats.

Crafting the Perfect Hot Chocolate Mix: Rich, Creamy & Customizable

A truly exceptional hot chocolate begins with an exceptional mix. This homemade version is designed for ultimate richness and creaminess, dissolving effortlessly in hot milk or your favorite dairy-free alternative. The secret lies in a careful blend of quality cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and a touch of dry milk for that extra velvety texture. Blitzing chocolate chips into fine pieces ensures a gourmet touch that elevates this mix beyond standard powdered varieties. Each spoonful promises a deep, comforting chocolate flavor, making it the ideal base for your peppermint creation. Paired with the homemade marshmallows and a hint of schnapps, it creates a symphony of holiday flavors that will warm anyone from the inside out.

The Spirited Touch: Including Peppermint Schnapps

For an adult-friendly gift, the addition of peppermint schnapps provides that delightful “kick” that perfectly complements the rich chocolate and minty marshmallows. Finding mini bottles of peppermint schnapps can sometimes be a challenge, but there are creative solutions! When faced with empty shelves, I simply purchased airplane bottles of plain vodka, emptied them (saving the vodka for another occasion, of course!), and then refilled them with peppermint schnapps. It’s an easy, affordable trick that ensures your gift kit has that essential spirited component. For those under 21 or preferring a non-alcoholic treat, simply omit the schnapps, and the kit remains a wonderfully indulgent experience.

Assembling Your Dream Gift Kit: Presentation Matters

Once you have your homemade hot chocolate mix and peppermint marshmallows ready, assembling the gift kit is the final, delightful step. Presentation is key to making this gift truly shine. Here’s how to put together an impressive mason jar kit:

1. Layer the Hot Chocolate Mix: Carefully ladle about 1 cup of the creamy homemade hot chocolate mix into the bottom of a clean mason jar.
2. Add a Barrier: To keep the marshmallows separate and fresh, place a small piece of wax paper or parchment paper directly on top of the hot chocolate mix. You can meticulously cut it to the exact size of the jar’s bottom, or simply wing it for a rustic charm—either way works beautifully.
3. Top with Marshmallows: Arrange about 3 homemade peppermint marshmallows on top of the wax paper.
4. Attach the Schnapps: Securely tie the two mini peppermint schnapps bottles together first. Then, attach them to the lip of the mason jar using festive twine or ribbon. This adds a charming, handcrafted touch and ensures all components are neatly presented.
5. Include Instructions: Don’t forget a small tag with simple instructions! This ensures the recipient knows exactly how to enjoy their gourmet treat. A suggested instruction could be: “Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate Kit! Heat 1 cup milk (or almond milk), stir in 2-3 tablespoons of mix, add 1/2-1 bottle of peppermint schnapps, and top with peppermint marshmallows. Enjoy!”

This attention to detail transforms simple ingredients into a truly special and memorable holiday gift. From personal experience, tasting and testing this recipe has confirmed one thing with 100% certainty: anyone would be absolutely thrilled to receive one of these kits. It’s boozy Christmas cheer at its finest!

Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows

Rich, minty homemade marshmallows are surprisingly easy to make, incredibly impressive, and taste exponentially better than store-bought varieties. Add an optional peppermint swirl for extra festive flair.

Ingredients for Peppermint Marshmallows:

• 3 tablespoon packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ – ½ teaspoon peppermint extract (adjust to desired mint intensity)
• 1 teaspoon Red food coloring, if desired (for swirl)
• Cornstarch and Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (equal parts)

Instructions for Peppermint Marshmallows:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the gelatin and ½ cup cold water. Allow it to sit and “bloom” while you prepare the syrup.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, kosher salt, and ½ cup water over medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar completely dissolves. Increase the heat to high, attach a candy thermometer, and cook without stirring until the syrup reaches 240ºF (115ºC).
3. Carefully remove the saucepan from the heat. Turn the electric mixer to low speed. Slowly and steadily pour the hot syrup into the bloomed gelatin mixture. Once all the syrup is added, increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the mixture becomes very thick, glossy, and has tripled in volume (this typically takes 8-15 minutes). Add the vanilla extract and peppermint extract during the last minute of mixing, ensuring they are thoroughly incorporated.
4. Prepare an 8×12″ glass or ceramic baking dish by lightly dusting it with an equal parts mixture of cornstarch and confectioners’ sugar using a sieve. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared dish, spreading it evenly and smoothing the top with an oiled spatula if necessary.
5. (Optional Peppermint Swirl): If you desire the peppermint swirl look, drop 3-5 single drops of red food coloring onto the surface of the marshmallow mixture. Using a butter knife or a skewer, gently drag the coloring through the surface to create a candy cane-like swirl effect. Don’t worry about perfection; the marshmallow texture makes precise swirls difficult, but the festive look will still come through on one side.
6. Once completed, dust the top generously with more of the cornstarch-confectioners’ sugar mixture. Leave the marshmallows uncovered at room temperature overnight to dry out and set properly.
7. The next day, turn the dried marshmallow slab out onto a clean cutting board or countertop. Lightly oil your knife (re-oiling as needed) and cut the marshmallows into desired squares. Dust all cut sides with additional cornstarch-confectioners’ sugar mixture to prevent stickiness.

Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

This rich, creamy hot chocolate mix dissolves easily in hot milk or water, creating a luxurious base that pairs perfectly with homemade peppermint marshmallows and an optional shot of peppermint schnapps.

Ingredients for Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix:

• 1 cup chocolate chips (milk or dark, depending on preference)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 cups cocoa powder
• 1 cup dry milk powder (for extra creaminess)
• 1 tsp salt

Instructions for Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix:

1. In a food processor, blitz the chocolate chips until they are ground into very small, fine pieces. Transfer the finely ground chocolate chips to a large bowl.
2. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, dry milk, and salt to the bowl with the ground chocolate chips. Whisk all the ingredients together thoroughly to ensure they are well combined.
3. To achieve a truly fine powder that dissolves beautifully, work with about 2 cups of the mixture at a time. Add this portion to a food processor or blender and process for a few seconds until it reaches a very fine, uniform powder consistency. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
4. Once all the mixture has been processed, return it to the large bowl and whisk the entire batch very well one last time to ensure everything is perfectly combined and homogenous.
5. To serve: Heat 1 cup of milk (dairy or almond milk works well). Stir in about 2-3 tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix until fully dissolved. Add peppermint schnapps to taste for a spiked version, and finally, top with your delightful homemade peppermint marshmallows.
6. To package with marshmallows: Ladle approximately 1 cup of the hot chocolate mix into clean mason jars. Place a small piece of wax or parchment paper, roughly the size of the jar’s bottom, on top of the hot chocolate mixture. Finish by topping with about 3 homemade peppermint marshmallows.