Get ready to stir up some holiday magic and make these divine candy cane hot chocolate stirrers. Then dip, swirl and stir to create a rich velvety hot chocolate infused with the cool, refreshing kiss of peppermint made with crushed candy canes. Mmm….
We love the holidays and getting creative in the kitchen with fun new recipes. What better way than to add a little festive flair to the ultimate winter warm-up.
This minty hot chocolate recipe is a twist on the classic, perfect to fuel you through the holiday madness.
Here we’ll show you how to make the best candy cane hot chocolate stirrers using dark semi-sweet chocolate, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes.
Then, to create a decadent peppermint candy cane hot chocolate all you need to do is swirl your stirrer through a hot milky, creamy mixture For an even richer, more chocolatey flavor, stir through a hot mug of cocoa.
This peppermint hot chocolate with homemade candy cane stirrers is the ultimate Christmassy crowd-pleaser!
Please note these are “hot chocolate” recipes. I originally titled this blog post Candy Cane Cocoa Recipe, and felt Candy Cane Hot Chocolate was a more accurate description. I explain below under Hot Cocoa vs Hot Chocolate.
You’ll Love Making Peppermint Hot Chocolate Candy Cane Stirrers
We’re in love with this holiday hot chocolate recipe with homemade stirrers:
Super cute – Check out the gingerbread shapes – cuteness overload, they scream Christmas cheer!
Perfect for any holiday party or gathering – Such a fun way to provide a delicious non-alcoholic hot drink option and festive treat that all ages will enjoy.
Make lovely gifts – Wrap them in tissue paper or place in a cute gift bag and give to family and friends. Kids will love giving these out to their friends at Christmas and they’d make sweet teacher gifts too.
Sooo much fun to make – The kids can make them with ease and have a blast too.
Super versatile – This recipe is easily adaptable. Use different types and flavors of chocolate or try decorating with edible glitter or festive sprinkles.
They’re edible (well, duh!) – Once your hot chocolate is perfectly stirred, guess what? You’ve got yourself a tasty little candy cane treat. Yum!
Ingredients For Peppermint Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Recipe
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- half & half (a mixture of whole cream milk and heavy cream, in equal parts)*
- milk
- candy cane hot chocolate stirrers
*If you’re unable to buy half & half it’s easy to make your own. Simply mix whole milk with an equal quantity of heavy whipping cream.
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Stirrers
- Callebaut dark semi-sweet chocolate* (ideally bars rather than chocolate chips)
- peppermint extract
- candy canes, straight or hooked
Hot Chocolate Stirrer Variations
White chocolate candy cane chocolate – Make the stirrers with white chocolate. The sweetness of the white chocolate combined with the fresh mintiness of the candy canes will be divine!
Salted caramel – If you love the sweet and salty combination, try toffee-flavored chocolate and finish by sprinkling the cooling chocolate with sea salt. You could incorporate the crushed candy canes into the chocolate or leave them without. You decide!
Mix up the sprinkles and decorations for sprinkling the cooling chocolate. Just bear in mind that they will end up melting into the hot chocolate.
Edible silver balls would look so cute but I’m not sure what they’d taste like when melted… I guess I’ve have to try that one then 🙂
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Variations
The flavor of the peppermint hot chocolate will vary on how you make the candy cane stirrers. For example, the above variations will change the final hot chocolate.
If you want the ultimate in minty chocolateyness, then you can make weak cocoa drink with peppermint before using the stirrer.
To try this, add the following for each cup of hot milk/cream mixture:
- 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa
- 1/4 – 3/4 teaspoons of sugar to taste
- A few drops (2-3) of peppermint extract to taste
Mix the above with a few teaspoons of the hot milky mixture or a little hot water to dissolve, before filling to the top. Stir until combined, before dipping and swirling with your candy cane stirrer.
MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES FROM BUSY LITTLE CHEFS:
- Christmas Cannoli’s
- Chocolate Peppermint Shake
- Holiday Oreo Cookies
- Mini Peppermint Candy Cane Cheesecake
- Chocolate Snowball Cookies
Making The Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Prepping the candy canes
If you bought the traditional candy cane shapes, you will need to start by breaking the arches off. Youwon’t need to do this if you bought straight candy canes, but you will still need to crush some to add to the chocolate mixture. Crush 1 for every 4 or so stirrers.
Break the arches from the candy canes and place them into a baggie. Then crush them into small pieces using a rolling pin.
The end of the candy cane stir sticks need to be flat, so they will stay level when inserting them into the chocolate mold. So now is the time to tidy them up.
To melt the chocolate in the microwave
Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl or cup, and place in the microwave. Microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring at every interval.
When you see just a few lumps left in the chocolate, stop and remove from the microwave. The residual heat will finish melting it, ensuring it stays smooth and glossy.
To melt the chocolate in a double boiler
You cannot heat the chocolate directly as it’ll scorch so, if you want to use the hob to melt the chocolate, you need to use a double boiler or a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Stir the chocolate with a dry spatula or spoon to help it melt evenly.
When there are just a few small pieces left, take the chocolate off the heat and keep stirring. Then stir until the remaining lumps are dissolved.
Compiling the candy cane stirrers
To the melted chocolate, add the peppermint extract, and crushed candy cane pieces and stir until mixed.
Spoon the chocolate/candy cane mixture into the molds. The chocolate will need to slightly set/ harden for the candy cane to stay in place so allow to cool a little.
(You can speed up the cooling process by placing the mold in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes. Don’t let it harden all the way, or the candy cane won’t insert in to the chocolate.)
Insert the candy cane into the chocolate, and allow to cool all the way and set. Once the candy cane stirrers have set, they’ll pop right out of the molds. Sift the powdered sugar on top, and sprinkle with the red flakes.
How To Make The Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
Pour the milk and half & half into a small saucepan and place on a medium heat. Heat until you see small bubbles start to form on the side of the pot. Remove from heat. You don’t want the milk to boil as it will become grainy.
Pour into a cup, add the stirrer and swirl until melted, then add a little whipped cream to the top.
Tips For Making Peppermint Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Most of these tips for making the stirrers relate to melting the chocolate – a simple job that can quickly go wrong!
#1 Use the best quality chocolate you can find/afford
I opted for a very simple recipe so the quality of the ingredients is important. High-quality chocolate melts smoother and tastes better.
We used Callebaut which is a high quality Belgian chocolate, pricey but worth it!
#2 Make sure you heat the chocolate slowly and stir regularly
Stirring helps the chocolate to melt evenly and prevents scorching. If microwaving, stir at 30-second intervals. If using the hob use a double boiler.
#3 Make sure utensils are dry
Even a tiny bit of water in contact with the chocolate will cause it to seize into a clumpy mess. Make sure the bowl you use to melt it in and any mixing spoons are completely dry before you start.
FAQS On Candy Cane Hot Chocolate & Stirrers
How to use hot chocolate stirrers
To use your homemade hot chocolate stirrers, heat a milk and cream mixture (we like using 1/2 cup whole milk with 1/4 cup half & half, the equivalent of 5/8 milk and 3/8 cream) until it starts to bubble. Then take off the heat, pour into a mug and stir the hot chocolate stirrer until melted. Voila!
What’s The Difference Between Hot Cocoa And Hot Chocolate?
You may think they’re the same thing, because I sure did. After creating this delicious creamy hot chocolate recipe, and a little more research I discovered they are different.
Hot cocoa is usually made from a mix of cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. It tends to be lighter in flavor and consistency than hot chocolate.
On the other hand, hot chocolate is made using a good quality chocolate combined with milk, water, or cream. For extra flavor add cinnamon, peppermint, or vanilla.
When making hot chocolate there’s no need for additional added sugar, because the chocolate you use will already be sweet. Hot chocolate will also have a thicker consistency and creamier taste.
Why make homemade hot chocolate or hot cocoa?
After you make a rich hot chocolate recipe like this, it will be impossible to go back to those chalky powder packets. Actually, I grew up on hot chocolate mix packets and drinking a cup always put a smile on my face. As my love for chocolate grew, so did my taste for rich pure chocolate flavor.
But recently I did a side-by-side taste test with Swiss Miss, and what a shock. It was sweet, and gritty, and you could taste the stale powdered milk flavor.
So try this homemade hot chocolate with candy cane stirrers recipe and you won’t be disappointed. No gritty sugar bubble on the top.
The best part is when the chocolate has melted away, and the cool peppermint candy cane is left to eat. Yum!
Kids Favorite Steps To Making This Hot Chocolate Recipe
I cannot tell you quite how much my kids loved making these candy cane hot chocolate stirrers! They loved the hot chocolate too, but it was all about the stirrers.
- melting the chocolate, then licking their fingers. (Rule-never lick your fingers while cooking…)
- eat a few extra pieces of candy cane
- drinking the hot cocoa
- licking the whipped cream off their lips
- eating the candy cane stick…
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate Stirrers Storage
To prevent the stirrers from sticking together or getting moisture damage, store in a large airtight container, with plenty of space in between. Or wrap each stirrer individually in small cellophane bags (all ready to give out as gifts).
Then store them in a cool, dry place, away from heat and sunlight, ideally a cool room, otherwise in the fridge.
HERE’S SOME RECIPE INSPIRATION FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON:
- 45 Easy Party Food Ideas For Kids
- 41+ Cute Mason Jar Christmas Recipes
- 10 Easy Crockpot Christmas Candy Recipes
- 50 Simple Christmas Treats For School
- 45 Healthy Christmas Snacks & Easy Party Food Ideas
Things You May Need For This Recipe
- Silicon gingerbread mold, or similar (bells, Christmas trees or snowmen would also be cute)
- Double boiler or microwave (method for melting chocolate with each is included above and in recipe card)
Peppermint Hot Chocolate With Candy Cane Stirrers
Equipment
- 1 gingerbread man silicon mold
- 1 double boiler or microwave
- measuring cups
Ingredients
Candy Cane Stirrers – makes 24
- 3 cups dark semi sweet chocolate 300 grams
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 24 candy canes (traditional shape)
Peppermint Hot Chocolate – makes 1 cup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup half & half sub for 1/8 cup milk + 1/8 cup heavy cream
- 1 candy cane stirrer
Instructions
To melt the chocolate in the microwave
- Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl or cup, and place in the microwave. Microwave on high for 30-second intervals, stirring at every interval.
- When you see just a few lumps left in the chocolate, stop and remove from the microwave. The residual heat will finish melting it, ensuring it stays smooth and glossy.
To melt the chocolate in a double boiler
- You cannot heat the chocolate directly as it’ll scorch so, if you want to use the hob to melt the chocolate, you need to use a double boiler or a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.
- Stir the chocolate with a dry spatula or spoon to help it melt evenly.
- When there are just a few small pieces left, take the chocolate off the heat and keep stirring. Then stir until the remaining lumps are dissolved.
Compiling the candy cane stirrers
- To the melted chocolate, add the peppermint extract, and crushed candy cane pieces and stir until mixed.
- Spoon the chocolate/candy cane mixture into the molds. The chocolate will need to slightly set/ harden for the candy cane to stay in place so allow to cool a little.
- (You can speed up the cooling process by placing the mold in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes. Don’t let it harden all the way, or the candy cane won’t insert in to the chocolate.)
- Insert the candy cane into the chocolate, and allow to cool all the way and set. Once the candy cane stirrers have set, they’ll pop right out of the molds. Sift the powdered sugar on top, and sprinkle with the red flakes.
Making The Candy Cane Hot Chocolate
- Pour the milk and half & half into a small saucepan and place on a medium heat. Heat until you see small bubbles start to form on the side of the pot. Remove from heat. You don’t want the milk to boil as it will become grainy.
- Pour into a cup, add the stirrer and swirl until melted, then add a little whipped cream to the top.
Notes
Tips For Making Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Use the best quality chocolate you can find/afford
High-quality chocolate melts smoother and tastes better. We used Callebaut which is a high quality Belgian chocolate, pricey but worth it!Make sure you heat the chocolate slowly and stir regularly
Stirring helps the chocolate to melt evenly and prevents scorching. If microwaving, stir at 30-second intervals. If using the hob use a double boiler.Make sure utensils are dry
Even a tiny bit of water in contact with the chocolate will cause it to seize into a clumpy mess. Make sure the bowl you use to melt it in and any mixing spoons are completely dry before you start.To make a richer and more minty hot chocolate:
Rather than simply heating milk and half & half, make weak cocoa with peppermint first, before using the stirrer. Add the following for each cup:- 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa
- 1/4 – 3/4 teaspoons of sugar to taste
- A few drops (2-3) of peppermint extract to taste
The kids had so much fun making these candy cane hot chocolate stirrers, then swirling the chocolate around with the candy cane handle and drinking a delicious peppermint hot chocolate. And let’s not forget eating the candy cane at the end!
This special treat is now one of our favorite holidays drinks and one of many ftraditions we enjoy.
So are you ready to get into this holiday spirit with a delicious peppermint hot chocolate this holiday season? Try these cute candy cane hot chocolate stirrers and bring an extra layer of sweetness with every swirl.
Enjoy it all winter long—or treat friends and family and give them a candy cane stirrer as a gift! So grab a mug and get stirring—your cozy winter treat awaits!
