Make-Ahead Monday: Hot Chocolate Bombs and Microwaveable Mitten Warmers

Make Ahead Monday
Hot Chocolate Bombs and Microwaveable Mitten Warmers
It’s been COOOOLLLD this winter. Today, we’re making “bombs” to toss into a glass of warm milk to make hot chocolate as well as these awesome patterned microwaveable hand warmers to keep our fingers cozy in a storm. Both are great for stocking stuffers and hostess or holiday gifts.

Here’s a sneak peek!!!!


Aren’t they beautiful?

First up, the Hot Chocolate Bombs!

Print Recipe

DIY Hot Chocolate Bombs

makes 10-15

Author: Roseanne Carrara, The Lunchbox Season

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 c or 12-13 oz chocolate chips [mini-chips are great!] or high-quality bar chocolate chopped.
• 1 c heavy cream
• lightly sweetened cocoa powder chipped candy canes, chopped chocolate, or icing sugar* for rolling

Instructions

• Place cream in a medium saucepan and heat until bubbling but not scalded.
• [If you'd like, you can give the chocolate a head start by micro-melting it in 1 minute intervals at 50%]
• Remove cream from heat and pour over chocolate bits.
• Let sit covered for 5-10 minutes, or until chocolate has melted completely.
• Whisk until silky smooth.
• [If chocolate has not melted, place over very low heat and stir until just melted or micro-melt at 50% in 1 minute increments.]
• Use a spatula to transfer all of the mixture into a non-reactive container.
• Seal tightly and refrigerate for 6-12 hours.
• Place icing sugar, cocoa, candy cane chips or chopped chocolate in a small bowl.
• Use a spoon or small ice-cream scoop to scoop out the truffle mixture into 1.5-in balls.
• If necessary, roll with  cocoa- or icing-sugar-coated hands to make a good sphere.
• Roll balls lightly in the bowl of sweetened cocoa, candy cane or chocolate bits, or icing sugar.*
• Wrap bombs in plastic wrap or package bombs in small groups in plastic gift bags and refrigerate immediately.
• To serve: Drop one or two bombs in a mug of hot milk, cream, or half-and-half, and stir.
• Microwave mug of hot chocolate gently or heat contents in a pan over low heat to further melt if necessary.

Notes

*Note: Because of the moisture, the icing sugar tends to dull upon refrigeration.
We made ours into "snowballs" for immediate giving, but the other options listed above are better for long-term storage.

And, now, on to our beautiful Microwaveable Hand Warmers…

Microwaveable Mitten Warmers

Materials
100% cotton or 100% wool fabric, 16×9-in or 12×4-in.
100% cotton thread
Rice, dried grains, or dried beans
Optional: Essential Oil
Funnel
Scissors
Sewing Machine

Method
Cut four rectangles of fabric sized 2 3/4 inches by 4 inches.
Pin right sides of fabric to one another.
With 1/2 inch seam allowance, sew along three of the four sides of the rectangle.
Sew along the fourth side, leaving a 1/2 inch opening in the middle.
Trim the edges and corners of the fabric.
Pull the fabric right-side out to form a pouch.
Optional: Mix a few drops of essential oil into about 1/2 cup of dried grains or beans.
Funnel dried grains or beans into the pouch you have made.
Push grains/beans down tight into the sewn bottom of the pouch.
Be sure fabric is folded in and sew along the open edge of the pouch.
Et Voila!
To use:, microwave the hand warmers in 10-20 second intervals until warm.
Place in mittens.
Go for a walk in the cold!!!!

Isn’t the fabric stunning? [We picked it up at macFAB Sews on Queen East in Toronto!]

Wnat a little printable label for either project?
We’ve got that, too!