Hot Cocoa Recipe and Snow Globe Mason Jars

Looking for an adorable and fun gift to give this winter? Fill Snow Globe Mason Jars with our Hot Cocoa Recipe. So easy, so sweet!

I remember being a kid and going to some fancy pancake place for a late morning breakfast. It was great for 2 reasons… Belgian waffles and hot cocoa. Now I don’t know if this place was actually fancy or if it just felt that way when I was little. Heck, maybe my young brain catalogued anything that wasn’t McDonald’s as fancy. You never know and it was a long time ago! 🙂

Thinking about that mug of cocoa topped with a dramatic finish of whipped cream made me want to make some right away. I didn’t have any of the little paper envelopes of store bought hot chocolate in my pantry. But, luckily, I had everything I needed to make my own hot cocoa powder. And so my Hot Cocoa Recipe was born with only 4 ingredients!

This Hot Cocoa Recipe Makes a Fabulous Homemade Gift!

Curled up on the sofa I enjoyed my first cup of hot cocoa of the cold season. Then and there I decided that my very favorite hot cocoa recipe would make an amazing gift. And so I dug through my mason jars, designed a free printable gift tag, and hit up the craft store. Because I don’t want my fave hot chocolate recipe going into any old jars. I want them to be utterly seasonal jars… and what’s more seasonal than a snow globe?!?

With a few Christmas ornaments, some hot glue, and Buffalo snow, these giftable snow globe mason jars are quick and easy. And they make any gift in a jar from cocoa to simmer scents an even more thoughtful gift!

First up, let’s look into that hot cocoa recipe…

For this recipe I’ve used confectioner’s sugar which is basically powdered sugar plus cornstarch. I like the addition of cornstarch to my powdered hot cocoa recipe because it makes for a creamy cup. This is especially nice when mixed with a lower fat milk. You can replace powdered sugar with 3/4 cup of granulated sugar plus 1 1/2 tablespoons of corn starch.

Dehydrated marshmallows are included in this recipe and make for a sweeter cup of hot chocolate. I find that children, especially, like the sweetness the addition of marshmallows bring. If looking for a more dark chocolate flavor, marshmallows can be omitted.

For powdered hot chocolate I like to use Dutch Process cocoa powder because it dissolves easily. Regular cocoa powder can be substituted.

Use the best quality chocolate you can afford for this recipe so that it melts easily. I used Ghiradelli baking squares but you can also use chocolate chips.

No Dairy? No problem.

One of the things I have noticed is that a lot more people seem to be avoiding dairy for one reason or another. This recipe is dairy free (no powdered milk) so that each recipient can add their milk of choice. Be it whole cow’s milk, lactose-free milk, or the increasingly popular oat milk, everyone can make their perfect mug of hot cocoa.

How to Make Snow Globe Mason Jar Lids

Supplies Needed:

• Mason Jars with Regular Sized Lids (16 ounce ⋆  8 ounce)
• One-Piece White Mason Jar Lids
• 2-3/4″ Clear Half Ball Ornament
• Mini Christmas Tree Decorations (approx. 1″ or shorter)
• Mini Bottle Brush Trees
• Buffalo Snow Flurries
• 3/8″ Christmas Ribbon
• Tiny Pom Pom Trim
• Free Printable Label

For these snow globe mason jar lids I’m putting aside the rings and wax seals that I normally use with my mason jars. Instead, I’m using a metal mason jar lid that is a single piece. I’m happier knowing my Buffalo Snow flurries aren’t going to sneak their way into the cocoa mix inside of the jar. However, you can glue together the ring and seal to make a “single piece” if you prefer. You’ll also need to cover the metal part of the seal with white paper.

I’ve tried a LOT of snow for these guys from glitter to mini Styrofoam balls to translucent flakes. The Buffalo Snow Flurries I bought from Walmart for a few dollars are hands down the best look I found.

My ribbon came from the Christmas crafts section and pompom trim the fabric department at Hobby Lobby.

Tools Needed:

• Wire Cutters
• Scissors
• Wire Cutters

Take a fillable clear half ornament and trim away the hanger with a pair of wire cutters. Be sure to protect your eyes in case the plastic flies.

It’s a good idea to make sure that your mini ornaments will fit inside of the globe before any glue is introduced. Bottle brushes can be trimmed down to the right size using a wire cutters. More solid ornaments will need to fit from the get go.

Tiny Christmas trees area a pretty big deal. I found nice mini ornaments from Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and (I think) the Dollar Tree. These snowmen and bottle brush trees are both from Hobby Lobby.

Once happy with the size and placement of your snow globe elements, glue in place on top of the lid with hot glue.

Fill the globe ornament with approximately a tablespoon of Buffalo snow flurries.

Flip the lid over and place into ornament holding the Buffalo snow. Make sure the snow isn’t stuck between the plastic surface of the globe and the ornaments with a little shake. Apply a thin line of hot glue around where the ornament and lid meet, keeping the entire thing upside down so you don’t lose any snow.

Once you’re happy that the two pieces are being held together well enough to stay put without your help, flip the entire thing over. Hot glue Christmas ribbon so that it overlaps the seam where the ornament and lid meet. Continue around until the side of the lid is covered down to the lip.

Add a piece of pom pom trim around the ornament over the ribbon.

Print, cut out, and tie onour free printable gift tag (with directions and ingredients) with baker’s twine or string to finish.

Can You Think of a Better Gift than an Adorable Mason Jar Snow Globe Filled with our Hot Cocoa Recipe?

Because I sure can’t!