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Megans Cookin: Homemade Gift Idea: Magic Spoon with Magic Powder

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Homemade Gift Idea: Magic Spoon with Magic Powder

 Whether it’s for a teacher, co-worker, or all the nieces and nephews, I have an easy, homemade, magical gift idea.

A Mug of Christmas Magic!

cocoa mug 042  This mug contains a magic spoon, magic powder, candy cane, and a chocolate dipped Oreo cookie!

cocoa mug 054

A magic spoon is a spoon used to stir your hot cocoa, and a marshmallow will magically appear!

To make a magic spoon, take a heavy duty plastic spoon, and scoop up some marshmallow cream,

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Dip your spoonful of cream into melted white chocolate and sprinkle with holiday sprinkles.

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Now you’ll want to wrap it before packaging it up. I used the corner of a sandwich bag and tied it with some curling ribbon.

cocoa mug 059

After you have dipped your magic spoons, dip a few Oreo cookies. I wanted to get the holiday Oreo cookies. You know the ones, with the red cream in the middle? I couldn’t find any, so I used regular Oreos.

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Don't forget to sprinkle the dipped cookies with a little holiday cheer too. And try not to eat the gift components while dipping. Not that I did or anything. That one above? Broke! ;)  Really! It did!

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Now wrap up the cookie and tie it to the handle of the mug. Look how cute that is!

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Now for the magic powder!

The magic powder is a simple hot cocoa mix. You can make your own with one of the following recipes below, or you can buy some commercial mix. Your choice! I think Costco had a big canister of the mix last time I was there. Or you could  use individual packaged cocoa. You can find those everywhere this time of year.

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I found these cool snowflakes at Rite Aid. They are great for decorating cookies, cakes, or magic powder! Want a closer look?

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They are actually made of wafer paper. Slightly sweet, they really don't have much of a taste. I bought  bags of these cute little snowflakes! I can think of many uses. I added 3 snowflakes to each cocoa bag.

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Now measure the mix into individual serving sizes. See how I bagged the mix in the corner of a baggie. Tie it up with a twist tie or use some curling ribbon. Then trim off the zipper part and the excess plastic. The one on your left is not trimmed yet. The one on the right is trimmed and ready to package.

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Now stuff the magic powder and the magic spoon in the Christmas mug that you tied the cookie to. Don’t forget a candy cane.You might wad up a piece of tissue paper and put it in the bottom of the mug to help position the spoon and lift the powder up a bit. It’s all in the presentation folks. Pretty it up!

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Now that it’s all wrapped up, you need some instructions to tie on  it.

Tell me how this looks. Sound OK?

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Here’s the magic powder hitting the mug of hot water. Looks pretty festive, yes?

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After stirring with the magic spoon, I got a marshmallow!

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 This IS truly magical!

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OH! Don't forget to eat your cookie!

Recipe #1

Alton Browns Hot Cocoa

By Alton Brown

(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste (optional)
  • Hot water

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

Recipe #2

Best Hot Cocoa Mix

Found at Family Fun

(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup powdered nondairy creamer
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Measure all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk them until they are evenly blended.

  2. Store the mix in a tightly covered container at room temperature until you're ready to package it. Makes about 4 cups of mix.

  3. Spoon 3 or 4 generous tablespoons of cocoa mix into your cup (depending on the size), add boiling water, and stir well."

Recipe #3

Hot Chocolate Mix

(Printable Recipe)

  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 pounds high-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 4 1/2 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cups Dutch process cocoa

Split and scrape vanilla bean and place in a large bowl or jar with the sugar. Work seeds into the sugar with your fingers. Bury the pods under the sugar. Cover tightly and let stand overnight (or up to months–vanilla sugar keeps forever) at room temperature.

In a food processor fitted with metal blade, process semisweet chocolate and dark chocolate until finely ground, using 4-second pulses. Process in batches, if necessary

Remove pod from sugar. Add ground chocolate and cocoa powder to sugar and whisk to blend, making sure to combine well. Store mix airtight at room temperature for up to six months.

Yields: 38 2-Tbsp servings, or 6 3/4-cup servings Adapted from: Gourmet,

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34 Comments:

Blogger theUngourmet said...

This is such a darling idea! I love those Oreos!

December 2, 2009 at 11:34 PM  
Blogger Shelby said...

Megan - this is such a great idea! I love those snowflakes! I also had never seen the magic marshmallow! I think I am going to HAVE to do this for my kids and parents!!!

December 3, 2009 at 3:18 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...

What a darling idea and so perfect for a teacher too.

I WANT and NEED the edible snowflakes. I love them and could use something like this for so many things.

December 3, 2009 at 4:32 AM  
Blogger April said...

I love this idea!!! Very cute! This will be great for Abby to make for her friends.

December 3, 2009 at 5:17 AM  
Blogger Nic said...

Great gift ideas, would love a mug of that hot choc!

December 3, 2009 at 6:04 AM  
Blogger Maria said...

I LOVE This idea! Thanks for sharing. I am going to dip some spoons this weekend:)

December 3, 2009 at 6:21 AM  
Anonymous Elle said...

What a great idea! And the kids could help with this, too, for sure. Great teacher gifts! Oh and--sure, that one broke...hehe!

December 3, 2009 at 6:39 AM  
Blogger Mary Bergfeld said...

Megan, this is a marvelous post. I love the ideas you've shared with us. Your pictures make the whole process of "dipping" so clear that anyone could follow along. Thanks!

December 3, 2009 at 6:41 AM  
Blogger Lyndas recipe box said...

What a fun idea, Megan.....who wouldn't love to receive a darling, yummy gift like this!

December 3, 2009 at 7:05 AM  
Blogger Jenny said...

Adorable! I'm craving hot chocolate and a magic spoon right now!!

December 3, 2009 at 7:24 AM  
Blogger RJ Flamingo said...

Waiting for this since yesterday! Love it, bookmarked,& stumbled. Awesome!

December 3, 2009 at 8:17 AM  
Blogger stephchows said...

Great idea!!! Home made gifts are the best :) I love making stuff like this!

December 3, 2009 at 8:42 AM  
Blogger Cristie said...

Love everything about this! I've dipped oreo's before, but this entire package is perfect- love the spoon!

December 3, 2009 at 8:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's such a cute homemade gift, what a terrific idea!

December 3, 2009 at 10:17 AM  
Blogger Ash said...

Loved every bit of detailings it involved, right from the beginning...

Happy Celebrations!!!!!

Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

December 3, 2009 at 10:21 AM  
Blogger Krista said...

How very cute...and magical! I'm doing a peppermint cocoa mix in a jar for the kids teachers this year. Great minds...right?

December 3, 2009 at 11:35 AM  
Anonymous averagebetty said...

This is such a great idea!

December 3, 2009 at 11:57 AM  
Anonymous Nutmeg Nanny said...

Such a cute homemade gift! I think there is something so special about getting a gift like the one you made...delicious:)

December 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

December 3, 2009 at 2:01 PM  
Blogger Katy ~ said...

This is a darling and clever idea. I LOVE it! Thank you so much for sharing.

December 3, 2009 at 3:29 PM  
Blogger Ingrid_3Bs said...

Megan, I want one! Pleeeeeeeeeeease?

Seriously though I do want one and love it!
~ingrid

December 3, 2009 at 5:18 PM  
Blogger Barbara Bakes said...

I don't really believe the cookie broke! lol This really is so many cute ideas rolled in to one fun gift!

December 3, 2009 at 7:06 PM  
Blogger Katrina said...

Perfect teacher gifts. We've all seen chocolate dipped spoons, but the marshmallow--hello--awesome! And the snowflakes. We don't have Rite Aid here, but I'll have to check Walgreens! Great post, Megan!

December 3, 2009 at 7:16 PM  
Blogger teresa said...

this is wonderful! i don't know anyone that wouldn't want a gift this fun! great idea!

December 3, 2009 at 7:56 PM  
Blogger Kerstin said...

What a cute gift! Love those dipped Oreos!

December 3, 2009 at 9:05 PM  
Anonymous Jessica said...

These are such great homemade ideas! I just decided I want to make some homemade gifts for family this year. Love these, especially the oreos!

December 4, 2009 at 4:49 AM  
Anonymous Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction said...

I absolutely love this! I have made chocolate covered spoons before, but I never thought to add marshmallow. I will definitely have to make a few of these for gifts this year!

December 4, 2009 at 8:43 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

That is FABULOUS, you are going to get Stumbled any second now....

December 4, 2009 at 11:41 AM  
Blogger Reeni said...

This is the cutest idea! I can't wait to make them!

December 4, 2009 at 5:18 PM  
Blogger Kim said...

Love the homemade treat! Seems like the perfect way to warm up with a special mug of hot cocoa:D

December 4, 2009 at 7:17 PM  
Blogger Bethie said...

Too cute!

December 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM  
Anonymous noble pig said...

Festivly beautiful...love the homemade holiday!

December 5, 2009 at 9:14 PM  
Blogger Tasty Eats At Home said...

Such a cute gift! I love it!

December 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM  
Blogger Amanda said...

This is so festive and a great gift idea!

December 9, 2009 at 6:54 PM  

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