Hot Cocoa Gift Ideas for Any Budget
Looking for a fun and affordable DIY Christmas gift idea? Why not make your own hot cocoa kits?! Today, we’ll show you how to make different variations of hot chocolate gifts on a budget. Showing someone you care or are thinking of them this season doesn’t have to cost much and these hot chocolate gifts prove just that!
Why These Gift Ideas are Perfect for the Holidays
I love giving gifts, but when I’m on a budget, it can be challenging to find an inexpensive gift that’s thoughtful and personal. That’s why I love to make my own gift baskets, trays, or mugs. Each year, I love to center my gifting creativity around one or two items. These Christmas mug and basket gift ideas are perfect to put together for neighbors, co-workers, teachers, or friends.
In the last year, hot cocoa bombs have been a trending sweet experience. The art of dropping a chocolate ball with sweet fillings like additional cocoa or marshmallow into warm milk or water has gone viral. These chocolatey treats are perfect for people like us that might not want to spend upwards of $5 per ball. Paired with a chocolatey stirring spoon and you have one inexpensive moment of bliss.
Budget-Friendly Gift Variations
You can easily recreate the gift ideas below by shopping at stores like Target, Walmart, or Party City. There’s something to fit everyone’s budget!
| Gift Budget | Included Items |
|---|---|
| $1.50 | One Hot Chocolate bomb, a pouch of hot cocoa, and a mini candy cane in a small cellphone bag. |
| $6.00 | Hot chocolate packets, mini marshmallows, candy canes, a red truck mug, and a coordinating ornament. |
| $15.00 | Decorative sleigh, cupcake décor, peppermint spoons, spatulas, and hot chocolate. |
| $16 – $17 | A sleigh and mug, cookie pouch, Hot Chocolate Bomb, spatulas, cocoa, and candy canes. |
| $20.00 | Creamy Christmas Candy squares, two Milk Chocolate Hollow elves, paper napkins, and cupcake décor. |
| $22+ | Add a gift card for a gift that includes added thought and effort. |
Hot Cocoa Gift Set Tutorial
Make a darling hot cocoa gift set for Christmas giving this year. Here are some ideas on what to fill your basket with:
- Basket + paper shred
- Hot cocoa (packets or the powder mix in a jar)
- Clear plastic treat bags + ribbon
- Candy canes and Peppermints
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Small candies, treats, cookies, etc.
Step 1: Add Filler to the Gift Basket
Fill up the basket with shredded paper. You can either buy paper shred, or make your own by simply putting blank paper in any color through a shredder. If you don’t have much filler, feel free to use newspaper underneath, then cover the newspaper with shredded paper. You can also use pieces of faux pine garland in the bottom of the basket to create height and add some color.
Step 2: Package the Hot Cocoa Toppings
Add hot cocoa toppings to small clear plastic bags. You can use any shape of bag and tie a ribbon around each one. Consider these delicious topping ideas:
- Crushed peppermints and mini candy canes
- Mini marshmallows or large marshmallows
- Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or white chocolate chips
- Hot cocoa bombs
- Chocolate or rainbow sprinkles
- Toffee pieces and crushed candy bars
Step 3: Include Other Sweet Treats
You can also include any other small candies, treats, or cookies to go with the hot cocoa! Some popular options include:
- Wafer cookies or meringue cookies
- Chocolate no bake cookies
- Andes mint cookies
- Mini chocolate bars or rolled cookies
- Chocolate covered pretzels or biscotti
- Gingerbread cookies
Step 4: Assemble the Hot Cocoa Gift Set
Now comes the fun part — putting it all together! If you’re giving mugs, add those to the back of the basket. I placed hot cocoa packets inside each mug with a tag on each one. You can also include a jar of hot cocoa instead of the packets. Add the toppings and treats bags, then add a big bow to the front of the basket. To create an inexpensive hot cocoa gift basket for two, purchase a cute, colorful basket from a dollar store and fill it with mugs and goodies.
