Hot Chocolate Spoons For Gifting

 

Melted chocolate and festive toppings turn your average hot cocoa into a treat that no one will forget. There is just something about dipping a Hot Chocolate Spoon into a cup of warm milk. Add a cellophane bag and a pretty ribbon and you have a gift ready to go.

1 (8-oz.) semisweet chocolate bar

1 (4 oz.) 60% bittersweet chocolate bar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

12 miniature plastic spoons or wooden spoons

Toppings: crushed hard peppermint candies, miniature marshmallows, butterscotch chips, flaky sea salt (such as Maldon), crushed red cinnamon candies (such as Red Hots), and instant coffee granules

Place semisweet chocolate and bittersweet chocolate in a microwavable bowl. 

Microwave on HIGH 30 seconds. Stir well, and repeat for 30-second intervals until chocolate is completely melted and smooth, about 4 more times. (Note: If only a few lumps remain in the melted chocolate, microwave 15 seconds.) Stir vanilla into chocolate mixture until combined. Immediately spoon chocolate mixture evenly (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) into a 12- to 15-compartment silicone ice cube tray.

Let chocolate cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with desired toppings, and insert a plastic spoon into center of each compartment. Freeze until chocolate hardens and is completely set, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from silicone ice tray.

To serve: Stir 1 Hot Chocolate Spoon into 1 cup very hot milk of choice, until hot chocolate spoon is completely melted.

Recipe Credit

A Southern Living Recipe

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Spoons Topped With Chocolate

 

Perfect party favors.
Using antique silver spoons topped with chocolate makes a great parting gift for guests.

Stir chocolate spoons in coffee or warm milk or another beverage to add an extra hint of sweetness to the holiday season. 

To prep the spoons, pour melted white, milk, or dark chocolate in the spoons, then garnish with an assortment of sweet and salty toppings. Such as mini chocolate chips, toasted coconut flakes, crushed candy canes, chopped espresso beans, nuts, sea salt, or candy sprinkles. 

Let stand for a few minutes until the chocolate has cooled and solidified. 

Wrap them in cellophane and tie them with twine or ribbon for a pretty favor or an easy gift.

Good Housekeeping

Photo Credit GingerRoseFood

Classic Cocktails For the New Year

Happy New Year!

Are you looking for a special drink to serve? Here are a few to dive into. Let me know if you tried one and how you liked it.

Southern Russian Punch You can find this Southern Living recipe HERE

Spiced Wine You can find this recipe on Southern Living HERE

How about Retro Rum Punch also a Southern Living recipe found HERE

For the coffee lover here is the Ultimate Alexander a Southern Living recipe found HERE

Vintage Ice Tea Punch over at the Southern Plate you can find the recipe HERE

Wishing all of my Poinsettia Drive readers a Happy, Healthy and a Prosperous New Year!

Don't forget to let me know if you tried any of these recipes.

Watermelon Punch Keg

Looking for an adult punch?  Try watermelon and spiked it with orange vodka and rosé.  A nice summer treat.

One 20- to 25-pound seedless watermelon

One 750-milliliter bottle rose wine

1 1/2 cups orange vodka

Special equipment: an immersion blender or a drill with an adjustable chuck and beater from an electric hand mixer; a tap

Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the watermelon rind (but not into the flesh) so the watermelon will sit upright. With a sharp knife, carve out a circle in the top of the watermelon to make a lid, as you would when carving a jack-o'-lantern.

To prepare with an immersion blender: Set the watermelon in the sink (to avoid splashes). Remove the lid and insert an immersion blender into the flesh. Gently push and move the immersion blender down and around in the watermelon to puree the center. As more of the watermelon becomes pureed, move the blender to the sides to puree almost all of the flesh, leaving a thin wall of flesh lining the rind. Pour the pureed juice out of the watermelon; you should have between 6 and 7 cups.

To prepare with a drill: Fasten one beater from an electric hand mixer to the tip of a drill and tighten the chuck. Set the watermelon in the sink (to avoid splashes) and push the beater into the flesh. Gently push and move the beater down and around in the watermelon to puree the center. As more of the watermelon becomes pureed, move the beater to the sides to puree almost all of the flesh, leaving a thin wall of flesh lining the rind. Pour the pureed juice out of the watermelon, and strain, discarding any pulp and seeds; you should have between 6 and 7 cups of strained juice.

Insert a tap in the empty watermelon according to the package directions. Pour the watermelon juice, wine and vodka into the watermelon and top with the lid. Refrigerate until the watermelon and punch inside are well chilled, at least 2 hours.

Food Network  

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Eggnog & Ice Cream Punch

My friend and co-worker Jodi Sackett swears she doesn't know how to cook but she came up with this punch to share at the office Christmas Party. Way to go Jodi!

Eggnog

Vanilla Ice-Cream

Cinnamon Sticks or Peppermint Sticks

Pour eggnog into your serving container (Punch bowl or Pitcher) add vanilla ice cream (to your liking) and throw in a few cinnamon sticks. As the ice cream melts it becomes creamy. You can add peppermint sticks or crush them to top the drinks.

I've also seen this recipe where you slowly add chilled 7-up to the punch bowl.

Picture Recipe Diaries

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