Cocoa is a holiday staple simply because its so delicious. Here are a few reasons why its so popular during the holidays.
- Chocolate is associated with happiness and celebration. Cocoa is a sweet and delicious treat that is often associated with positive emotions such as happiness, joy, and celebration. This makes it a popular choice for gift-giving during the holidays.
- Chocolate is a traditional holiday food. Many cultures have long-standing traditions of eating chocolate during the holidays. For example, in Mexico, it is customary to eat chocolate tamales on Christmas Eve. In the United States, chocolate is often given as gifts during Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween.
- Chocolate is a comfort food. Chocolate is often seen as a comfort food that can help to lift spirits and provide a sense of well-being. This makes it a popular choice for people who are feeling stressed or anxious during the holidays.
- Chocolate is versatile. Chocolate can be enjoyed in many different ways, making it a versatile treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It can be eaten as a candy, baked into desserts, or used as an ingredient in savory dishes.
The combination of the rich, smooth flavor of cocoa and the sweet, creamy texture of chocolate is hard to resist. This makes it a perfect treat to enjoy during the holidays, when people are looking for something to indulge in.
Here are some specific statistics about chocolate consumption during the holidays:
- Halloween is the most popular time of year to buy chocolate. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend an average of $2.6 billion on chocolate during Halloween.
- November 1 is the biggest day for chocolate sales in the US. This is because many people start their holiday shopping on Black Friday, and chocolate is a popular item to buy.
- More than 90% of Americans plan to gift chocolate for Christmas. This makes Christmas the second-most popular time of year for chocolate consumption.
So, there you have it! These are just a few of the reasons why cocoa is so popular during the holidays. Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to enjoy with your loved ones or a gift to give to someone special, chocolate is a surefire way to spread some holiday cheer.
Serving Hot Cocoa the old fashioned way with whole milk and heavy cream blended with high quality chopped chocolate. It simmers on the stove-top until steamy and then it’s poured into extra-large mugs. An obscene amount of whipped cream is usually the finishing touch.
This powdered formula that can be poured into a mug and roused into a satisfying treat with just the addition of hot water or hot milk.
You can package the powdered mixture in four 8 ounce mason jars, but when I found these gumball tubes, I thought they’d make the niftiest stocking stuffers! A tube filled to the brim with the cocoa mixture yields about 2 servings prepared – or! You can also get creative by filling the tubes halfway with cocoa and then topping it with crushed peppermint, chocolate chips (for double hot chocolate) or tiny marshmallows. The latter is my favorite because it looks pretty and makes one large cup of souped-up cocoa!
Using dark cocoa powder in this recipe because the chocolate flavor is more pronounced. Powdered creamer makes this cocoa creamy when prepared with hot water, but for an extra-indulgent treat make it with hot milk.
Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
recipe by Heather Baird, sprinklebakes.com
Ingredients
Cocoa:
- 2 1/4 cups 10 oz. powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups 125g unsweet dark cocoa powder
- 1 cup 110g vanilla non-dairy coffee creamer
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional
Add-ins:
- chocolate chips
- crushed peppermint candies
- mini marshmallows
Directions
- Combine all the ingredients for the hot cocoa in a large bowl and whisk together until well incorporated. Divvy the mixture between four 8 oz. jars and top with add-ins. Alternatively, fill six gumball tubes with the mixture, or in twelve tubes, a mixture of cocoa mixture and add-ins.
- Add a label to jars or tubes with the instructions.
- For jars of cocoa: For one serving, add 2-3 tablespoons cocoa mix with 6 ounces of hot water or hot milk..
- For tubes of cocoa: For one serving, add half the tube of cocoa mix to 6 ounces of hot water or hot milk.
- For tubes of cocoa with mix-ins: Add entire contents of tube to an extra-large (15 oz.) mug and fill with hot water or hot milk.
Hot Chocolate Spoons
recipe by myrecipes.com
Ingredients
- 12 ounces chocolate melts
- Toppings such as crushed peppermint, mini M&M’s, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, Red Hots and sea salt
- 24 plastic spoons
Directions
- Place chocolate melts in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir and microwave for 30-second intervals until melted and smooth. Spoon chocolate into ice cube trays using about 1 Tbsp. in each of 24 squares. Decorate with toppings and insert spoon into each square. Refrigerate until completely set, about 30 minutes, and gently remove from the cube tray.
- Add a washi-tape flag to handles. Place each spoon in a flat cellophane bag (we also used a cardboard insert for stability) and tie with kitchen twine or ribbon. Include directions on the tag: “Stir chocolate spoon into 8 oz. hot milk.”
- Place each spoon in a flat cellophane bag (we also used a cardboard insert for stability) and tie with kitchen twine or ribbon. To serve, stir chocolate spoon into 8 ounces hot milk.