Chocolate Swizzle Sticks/ Hot Choc Spoons

Missy_Spud

Hi, I have been attempting to make some hot chocolate sticks to go into my xmas stockings, I bought some drinks stirrers, a christmassy choc mold from pound shop and some choc foil wrappers to make them look pretty and keep them fresh.

I thought you just melted the choc, poured into moulds letting them set onto the drinks stirrers and then when unwarapped you just stir them into hot milk.. i tried this but the chocolate I used seems to not be dissolving its melting but tiny bits floating on top of the drink, I used dark choc is milk choc better? or can i add a little cream to make a choc/cream mix to set (worried about this going off though)

I would like to do some flavoured ones too, but not sure what to add to flavour them? if anyone has made these can you give me some tips please :beer:

mabelmoo_2

I bought some really nice one's from John Lewis last year & they did the same thing. I was really disappointed - I just don't think they actually do what you expect they should!

picket_fence

The only thing I can suggest is you temper the chocolate? If you google it, there are loads of websites that can explain it far better than I ever could. Got to agree with mabelmoo though, most of the ones I've tried seem to do the same thing, so I wouldn't worry. You could always add in sprinkes or something like edible stars and then people wouldn't notice any bits of choc floating about, as there'd be loads of pretty things floating in their drink anyway

weeclick

I have made a few of these for hampers this year and tried a few out. I temper the chocolate and it does work but you really need to keep stirring the spoon until it all disolves. I had a problem with the melted chocolate sticking around the edges of the mug but it does work. Try adding some mallows to the top of the spoon so when the chocolate melts you also have mallows which will melt and form a cover over the top so you vant see whats floating about anyway

*HalfBaked*

What about making sugar stirrers rather than chocolate ones?

Whittards do sell their own ones but I imagine a homemade verion may work just as well – I’m not able to post the links I have found as I am new but if you go to google & search for “Home made rock candy” you will see the recipe & instructions

vikki_louise

I like the way they look but would never get a mug of hot water and just drop a cube of chocolate in which is what the normal chocolate stirrers are.
They are more complicated to make but I saw one site with instructions and they actually did a recipy, I can't remember it but I know it contained chocolate and condensed milk which was heated and melted together along with a few other things. They then let it set in a small tin and cut it into squares when done. I think I saw it on pin interest

weeclick

^ You should really use a mug of hot milk rather than water, couldnt imagine dipping it into water myself but milk works perfectly

valk_scot

I've found that cheap milk chocolate works better for this sort of thing so I use the 23p(?) chocolate from Lidl, with added flavourings. It's the cocoa fat that gives the scummy look so save the 85% posh dark chocolate bars for eating straight.

The best thing on the planet for stirring into hot milk though is a few Match Makers, and they come ready flavoured too. So if you just want some for home use, save yourself the trouble and pick up some Match Makers while they're on offer, normally around £1 a box.

The other thing that works for hot chocolate dippers is to thread a couple of marshmallows on a skewer, dip them in chocolate and let it set.

notanewuser

valk_scot wrote: »

The best thing on the planet for stirring into hot milk though is a few Match Makers, and they come ready flavoured too. So if you just want some for home use, save yourself the trouble and pick up some Match Makers while they're on offer, normally around £1 a box.

Unless you're an ethical shopper who avoids Nestl! products.

Missy_Spud

thanks for all the tips, good idea with the marshmallows to cover any 'floating chocolate' I shall try and have a go at tempering the chocolate see how i get on

lizalloareds

Found this recipe on pinterest it's american measures

1/2 cup heavy cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 cups chocolate chips (I use a mixture of milk chocolate and semi sweet)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine the heavy cream and condensed milk in a small heavy saucepan and heat on medium until steamy. Turn off the heat and stir in the chocolate chips, allow them to sit and melt for 10 minutes. Stir to mix, return to heat on low and whisk until smooth and shiny.

Pour into either, small plastic souffle cups (we call them jello shot cups) or into a 9x9 pan that's been fitted with parchment or wax paper. Wait about 5-10 minutes for the chocolate to somewhat set and add your spoon or stick. Chill until well set (overnight works best, but hey, who am I to interrupt your hot cocoa fantasies with waiting?) If you're using the small souffle cups, put about a 1/2" of hot tap water into a pan and set the cups in for a few minutes. You can work the chocolate out of the cup pretty easily, setting the somewhat melty bottom onto a piece of wax paper.

Decorate with crushed peppermint candies (or crushed hard caramels would be great too!) and mini marshmallows. I make a 'glue' out of confectioner's sugar and a tiny bit of water, you could use melted white chocolate chips or chocolate chips. Put a thin layer of 'glue' or melted chocolate on the top of the treat and sprinkle with crushed peppermints. Dip a few mini marshmallows in the 'glue' and stick them on top, and somewhat up the stick.

Add a spoon to 6-8oz of very warm milk, let melt, stir and enjoy!

Stick them in the fridge as you do a few, so that the melted bottoms return to being flat.

Package them in our gusseted cell bags, tied with baker's twine and a cute stamped tag - makes a great little homemade gift