Hot Chocolate Spoons (+Free Printable Gift Tags!)

Hot Chocolate Spoons (+free Printable Gift Tags!) – These chocolate-coated spoons are perfect for making homemade hot chocolate. They make a fun winter project or easy DIY holiday gift for friends and neighbors! (Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo & vegan-friendly!)

I think I might be turning into a winter hermit.

Not, like, a scary haggard troll person who lives alone in a mountain cave. More like…the kind of person who walks around in a fluffy sweatshirt and/or blanket whenever possible, makes a lot (like a LOT) of soup, keeps the twinkle lights on in the day sometimes, and loves curling up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate whenever there’s the slightest hint of clouds or wind.

So…maybe more of a cozy hygge person?

Whatever you want to call it, I’m HERE for the coziness of this chilly weather and LOVE getting in the spirit of the holidays with some baking and homemade gifts for neighbors and friends.

These hot chocolate spoons make such a fun project for a rainy or snowy day with kids, or the perfect DIY holiday gift for friends, family, or neighbors.

They only take 1(!!!) main ingredient to make, and they’re REALLY easy to put together, but they sure look cute and happy, don’t they? I’ve even got FREE printable gift tags you can use to gift them!

Here’s all you need to get started on this hot chocolate spoon recipe…

Here’s What You Need To Make These Easy Hot Chocolate Spoons:

• A SILICONE ICE CUBE MOLD OR SMALL PAPER CUPS. I use a silicone ice cube mold for my hot chocolate spoons. I think the little cubes are the perfect shape and size for fitting in any sort of cup. They’re pretty inexpensive (I’ve even seen some for $3 at the Target dollar spot before!), but you can also use small paper cups instead.
• SPOONS OR STICKS FOR DIPPING. I use these cute printed wooden spoons (they come in cute patterns like aqua stripe or dots + red polka dot + red stripe). You’re welcome to use plastic spoons, or wooden popsicle sticks instead. (I’ve found that metal spoons are too heavy and tip over too easily.)
• CHOCOLATE CHIPS (MINE ARE DAIRY FREE!). Here’s where you can easily control what goes into these hot chocolate spoons. I use dairy free chocolate chips (like these or these). You can use what you like–dark chocolate chips, stevia-sweetened chocolate chips, etc. You can also use chocolate bars instead of chips if you prefer.
• ANY FLAVORINGS OR TOPPINGS YOU PLAN TO ADD (OPTIONAL). To play with the flavor, make these look extra cute, or add a little flair, you can top your hot chocolate spoons with all sorts of goodies that fit your dietary needs, like…

Fun Topping Ideas For Hot Chocolate Spoons:

I don’t think anyone would be sad to get a “plain” hot chocolate spoon, but I love jazzing my hot chocolate spoons up with a littletopping option (or two!). Here are a few to try:

• FRESH ORANGE ZEST. Orange and chocolate is such a classic combo (I’m looking at you Chocolate Orange Cake!), and looks so pretty on top! (A little goes a long way.)
• CRUSHED CANDY CANES. They look really pretty! (Do know, they won’t make your hot chocolate spoons taste super pepperminty on their own, but paired with a little peppermint extract, they will!). Wholesome and YumEarth make dye-free ones we like a lot!
• MINI CHOCOLATE CHIPS. These look adorable and melt really well. I like these dairy-free mini chocolate chips.
• MARSHMALLOWS. Mini marshmallows (Trader Joe’s and Dandies brands are vegan!) or these little mini marshmallow bits work great!
• SPRINKLES. They won’t add to the flavor, but some cute (dye-free!) holiday sprinkles sure look darling!
• COARSE SEA SALT FLAKES. Large, flaky sea salt is really nice with the chocolate! (Add this after freezing the spoons for a few minutes for best results!)
• TOFFEE BITS. Not dairy-free, but super yummy! A little sprinkle of toffee bits gives these caramel hot chocolate vibes.
• WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS. We recently found (and like!) these dairy-free white chocolate chips. (This is another dairy-free brand)
• OTHER FLAVORED BAKING CHIPS – Depending on your dietary needs, you could go for Caramel, Butterscotch, Mint, Peanut Butter, Cherry, etc. Whatever sounds good!

How To Use These Hot Chocolate Spoons As A Gift:

WRAP THEM! For gifting, I usually wrap my hot chocolate spoons in these clear treat bags. They’re the perfect size and can hold one or a handful at once. They look adorable with a little ribbon or bow on top, or when you…

PAIR THEM WITH A CUTE MUG. I love all the cute mugs at Anthropologie, but Target and HomeGoods carry some great ones that are more affordable! It looks especially festive when you top them off with…

ADD A LITTLE GIFT TAG. A little gift tag with instructions is the perfect way to top off these hot chocolate spoons! You can absolutely make your own if you’re feeling crafty, but I’ve got you covered if you’re feeling the holiday rush:

I’ve made FREE printable gift tags you’re welcome to download and print. Just print + cut + punch a hole in the corner + tie on with a ribbon (or tape onto bags with some cute washi tape!)

 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PRINTABLE GIFT TAGS HERE. 

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Hot Chocolate Spoons:

HELP! MY SPOONS KEEPING SLIPPING IN THE CHOCOLATE AND WON’T STAND UP STRAIGHT! If your spoons keep slipping in the chocolate, don’t worry! Put them in the freezer anyway (even if they’re crooked), and set a timer for 5-10 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, the chocolate will have thickened enough to reposition the spoons just the way you want them. Re-adjust them and continue freezing until set.

IMPORTANT TIP FOR ADDING FLAVORINGS! (HOW TO PREVENT YOUR CHOCOLATE FROM SEIZING). Adding liquid to chocolate (like extracts or flavorings) can often cause chocolate to thicken and go lumpy and grainy (called “seizing”). If you want to add flavoring to the chocolate itself, it needs to be food-grade essential oil (like 1 drop peppermint oil) or an oil-based flavoring made specifically for chocolate.

HELP! MY CHOCOLATE SEIZED! If your chocolate *does* seize, it’ll still work just fine for these hot chocolate spoons (since you’re going to spoon it into molds and set into cubes anyway. BUT, to make it easier to work with, you can try one of these fixes to restore the pourability/smoothness first. (I add 1 tsp. of boiling water at a time until it’s smooth enough to work with.)

CAN I USE CHOCOLATE BARS INSTEAD OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS? You bet! Just make sure you use the same amount (12-16 oz.).

WOULD THIS WORK WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE? I haven’t tried it, but I’d think so! If you’re into white hot chocolate, I think that’d be a good way to go.

CAN I USE SOMETHING BESIDES A SILICONE ICE CUBE MOLD? If you don’t have a silicone ice cube mold, you can get by with small 3oz paper cups. Just spoon a heaping tablespoon of chocolate in each, rap it on the counter to smooth it out a bit, then insert your stick as directed. (It can help to freeze the cups on a flat surface like a plate, baking sheet, or cutting board so they don’t slip around in the freezer.)

HELPFUL FOR THIS RECIPE:

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Originally posted December 2019. Updated November 2022.