Candy Cane Cocoa Dippers {Daycare Teacher Gift}

 Need a yummy last minute gift?  Quickly throw together these Candy Cane Cocoa Dippers for teachers, school staff, friends, or neighbors.

A great project for little ones to help with, they will love assembling the marshmallows & candy canes, then smashing up some peppermint pieces, and decorating.  Our three year old even enjoyed putting each bag together.

I found my inspiration for these on Pinterest. Unfortunately, the pin lead me to nowhere... don't you hate it when that happens? So I had to figure out the steps myself from just a cute picture. Good thing it wasn't complicated :)

These make for a very penny-wise gift, as almost all these things can be found at a dollar store. Any creative couponers might know some good deals on these ingredients at grocery stores too.

Ingredients:
mini candy canes
big marshmallows
semi-sweet baking chips
sprinkles (optional)
hot chocolate packets (for gift bags)
plastic treat baggies (optional)

Directions:

1. Stab the candy canes through the middle of the marshmallow.  It takes some coaxing to get it in, don't punch it through the bottom, but make sure it is secure.

2. Put any broken candy canes, or other peppermint candies into a plastic baggie. Use a rolling pin or meat tenderizing mallet to smash into small pieces.  Place in bowl.

3. Prep a baking sheet or two - line with waxed paper, parchment paper, or use a baking mat if you have one.

4. Melt chocolate. I used the double boiler method with great sucess. Fill a large saucepan about half way with water. Place a glass (pyrex) bowl on top. Bring water to a simmer. Stir chocolate frequently when melting. Turn heat on stove down to low once melted.

5. Dip marshmallows into chocolate, making sure to get it up the sides.

6. Then roll chocolate covered sides (while still hot!) in the bowl of crushed candies, or a bowl of sprinkles.  No need to get full coverage on the bottom of the marshmallow.

7. Place on the baking sheet. Once all have been dipped, put in the fridge or freezer to set the chocolate.

Package up with some hot cocoa mix for a budget friendly winter gift!  For the main teachers, we gave 4 dippers, and a box of 6 hot chocolate packets along with a few rice crispy treats we made.  There are also quite a few part-time teachers who help out in either of the boys' rooms in the afternoon or days that the main teachers are off. Both boys know every teacher there, so we thought it would be nice to give them a smaller gift of 2 packets of cocoa and 2 dippers. We made just enough!


I was really surprised how much TRex enjoyed helping me with these. It made it so much more special for him to give the gifts since he had such a part in making them.  When I told him we might not have school due to the snow, he almost started crying and said "But we have to take the gifts!". Luckily, the blizzard hit more north.  TRex was just a bundle of Christmas spirit, running to each room at daycare to hand out his gifts.

What a great lesson in how gift giving is better than gift getting!


I can often be found linking up at these fabulous parties-
Monday: Make It Pretty Monday, Skip to my Lou, DIY Showoff Project Parade,  More the Merrier Monday, C.R.A.F.T., Just Something I Whipped Up, The Gunny Sack,Cutesy Mondays, Craft-O-Maniac Mondays, Make It Mondays,  
Tuesday:Get your craft on Tuesdays, Sugar Bee Crafts, New Nostalgia, Lady Bug Blessings, Too Cute Tuesday, The Schwins Tuesday Party,Tasty Tuesday,The Mommy Club @ Crystal & Co.
Wednesday:The Thrifty Home, Linking up with Lil Luna, Tea Rose Home, Adorned from Above, Rae Gun Ramblings - What We Wore, Read, and Made Link Party,  Ginger Snap Crafts - Wow Me Wednesday,   Someday Crafts - Whatever Goes Wednesday,   My Girlish Whims - Your Whims Wednesday,  Work it Wednesday,
Thursday: Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage, Catch a Glimpse Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, Thursday's Temptation @ Two Yellow Birds Decor,Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday,Wait Til Your Father Gets Home,
Friday: Shabby Nest,Whipperberry, Its a Hodge Podge Life, 30 Handmade Days, I'm Lovin It Link Party at Tidy Mom, Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main, For the Kids Friday at Sun Scholars, Free for All at Young and Crafty
Saturday:, Show and Tell Saturdays, Strut Your Stuff, Get Schooled Saturday, Spotlight Saturday,
Sunday:Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes, Sunday Scoop at I Heart Nap Time,  Or So She Says,