If you’re searching for the coziest, most magical treat to share with loved ones this holiday season, look no further than these Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups. Each little chocolate cup is a blend of creamy, dreamy chocolate, topped with cheerful marshmallows, crushed peppermint, and colorful sprinkles. They melt smoothly into hot milk for instant festive hot chocolate—a whimsical, decadent way to warm up on chilly winter days. Whether you’re making them as edible gifts or setting them out for a family movie night, these chocolate cups deliver all of the holiday joy in one sweet, sip-worthy package.

Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The joy of making Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups is that you don’t need a complicated shopping list—just a handful of simple, quality ingredients that work together to create layers of rich, chocolatey goodness and holiday flair. Each element plays a unique role in making these cups not just delicious, but also show-stopping!

Semisweet chocolate chips: Provide the rich, luscious chocolate base and melt beautifully for the perfect texture.
Heavy cream: Adds smooth creaminess, ensuring your hot cups melt easily into hot milk.
Unsalted butter: Gives extra silkiness and sheen to the chocolate mixture.
Vanilla extract: Brings out the chocolate’s depth and adds a warm, aromatic note.
Mini marshmallows: Create fun, fluffy pockets on top and melt into gooey deliciousness in your cocoa.
Crushed peppermint candies: Add festive color, crunch, and a pop of cool minty flavor.
Holiday sprinkles: Offer color and playful, customizable decoration—go wild with your favorites!
Mini candy canes or pretzel sticks: The perfect stirrers; candy canes add minty sweetness while pretzels add a salty bite.
Silicone mini muffin mold or paper mini cupcake liners: Make removing the chocolate cups a breeze and keep them looking festive and tidy.

How to Make Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups

Step 1: Warm the Cream and Butter

Start by gently heating your heavy cream and butter together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. You’ll want the mixture to be just steaming and starting to form small bubbles around the edges—definitely don’t let it boil. This gentle warming creates the silky base for your chocolate and helps it melt evenly for optimal creaminess.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Once the cream and butter are hot, remove the pan from the heat and stir in your semisweet chocolate chips. Watch as they transform into a smooth, glossy pool—keep stirring until every chip is melted and the mixture is perfectly uniform. This is when you’ll catch that irresistible chocolate aroma that fills your kitchen with holiday cheer!

Step 3: Add Flavor

Mix in the vanilla extract, giving the chocolate mixture a gentle stir. The vanilla will subtly amplify all the rich cocoa notes, making these Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups extra special.

Step 4: Fill the Molds

Let the mixture cool for just a few minutes so it thickens slightly but is still nicely pourable. Set out your mini muffin mold or line a mini cupcake tin with paper liners. Pour or spoon the chocolate mixture into each well, filling them about three-quarters full. This ensures there’s plenty of space for all your festive toppings!

Step 5: Top and Decorate

While the chocolate is still soft, go wild with the toppings. Sprinkle mini marshmallows, crushed peppermint, and festive holiday sprinkles over each cup. Press a mini candy cane or pretzel stick into the center of each—these will become your adorable (and edible!) stirrers.

Step 6: Chill to Set

Pop the filled mold into your refrigerator and let the chocolate cups firm up for at least two hours. They’ll be perfectly set, glossy, and ready to pop out of their molds once chilled through. This is when you’ll see them transform into the cutest, most giftable Christmas treat imaginable!

How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups

Garnishes

When serving, feel free to add a flourish of extra marshmallows, a dusting of cocoa powder, or even another sprinkle of crushed peppermint. For a full winter-wonderland effect, a swirl of whipped cream on top of your hot cocoa puts these Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups over the top.

Side Dishes

Pair your hot chocolate with a plate of buttery shortbread cookies, classic snickerdoodles, or crisp biscotti for dipping. If you want to really lean into the holiday spirit, try gingerbread people or peppermint bark on the side—the flavors complement each other beautifully and create an instant festive spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For an impressive edible gift or party favor, wrap each finished cup in clear cellophane tied with a ribbon. Arrange them on a festive platter for dessert buffets, or serve individual cups at a sleepover hot cocoa bar. For a magical touch, add a custom tag with instructions: “Stir me into hot milk and enjoy!” Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups look as delightful as they taste!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These chocolate cups store beautifully! Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Stack them with a little parchment between layers to prevent sticking, so they’re always ready for a cozy chocolate craving.

Freezing

If you want to make a big batch in advance, you can absolutely freeze Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups. Once set, just pop them into a freezer-safe bag or container and they’ll keep for up to 2 months—perfect for pulling out whenever a chocolate emergency strikes.

Reheating

Since these cups are meant to be melted into hot milk, there’s no need to reheat them directly. Just drop one into steaming milk and stir until melted and velvety. If your cups have chilled a little too hard, let them warm up at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.

FAQs

Can I use milk chocolate or white chocolate instead of semisweet?

Absolutely! You can swap in milk chocolate for a sweeter, creamier cup, or go with white chocolate for a totally unique twist. Just use the same amount and follow all other instructions as written.

Are Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups safe for kids to make?

With just a little adult supervision for the heating step, this is a fun, hands-on recipe for kids! They’ll especially love topping each cup and adding the stirrers. It’s a wonderful holiday kitchen activity for all ages.

How do I make these cups dairy-free?

It’s easy to adapt! Use dairy-free chocolate chips, swap in coconut cream (from a can) for the heavy cream, and plant-based butter. The result is still decadently rich and melty.

Do I have to use mini muffin molds?

Not at all! If you don’t have a silicone mini muffin pan or paper liners, pour the mixture into any small candy or chocolate mold, or even use ice cube trays lined with plastic wrap for easy release.

Can I make Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups as gifts?

Yes—these are absolutely perfect for gifting. Once set, wrap each one individually in cellophane and tie with ribbon. Add a label with serving instructions for a heartfelt, homemade present that everyone will love.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for something festive, fun, and absolutely delicious, these Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups are the answer. They invite creativity, make wonderful gifts, and deliver holiday cheer in every sip. I can’t wait for you to share them with your family and friends—happy holidays and happy chocolate making!

Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Yield: 12 hot chocolate cups 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Indulge in the holiday spirit with these delightful Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups. Rich, creamy chocolate combined with festive toppings make for a cozy and delicious treat perfect for the season.

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Cups:

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Toppings:

mini marshmallows
crushed peppermint candies
holiday sprinkles
mini candy canes or pretzel sticks (for stirrers)

Additional:

silicone mini muffin mold or paper mini cupcake liners

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare Chocolate Mixture: Heat heavy cream and butter in a saucepan until steaming. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips, and stir until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract.
Fill Molds: Pour chocolate mixture into mini muffin pan lined with silicone or paper liners, filling each 3/4 full.
Add Toppings: While chocolate is soft, top each cup with marshmallows, peppermint, and sprinkles. Insert a candy cane or pretzel stick for stirring.
Chill: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm. Remove from molds and store in fridge.
Serve: Stir a chocolate cup into a mug of hot milk until melted.