Peppermint Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Floats

Pumpkin is to November what peppermint is to December — minty, festive, and full of fond memories! Our favorite seasonal treat has to be semi-homemade peppermint ice-cream! Yes, it’s true… you can buy it from the store in the carton. But for us, part of the nostalgia comes from crushing the candy-canes and playing “kitchen” with carols in the background. The kids can basically make the entire thing from start to finish… with some supervision, of course! It’s just what we do. A tradition — typically served sundae style, sprinkled with malted milk, drizzled with hot fudge, and topped with a cherry! However, peppermint ice-cream drenched in rich hot cocoa (call it a float of sorts) seemed like a mighty fine way to combine two Christmas classics! In my opinion, the key to any good recipe is using high quality ingredients. Homemade cocoa is no exception. The secret is in the bag. Chocolate chips to be exact (coupon here). Melt them in one part milk and one part half and half… and a sprinkling of salt (trust, me on this one). Serve it at a party, in pajamas while watching The Polar Express, or for an extra special afternoon treat! Could it be used gift someone special? Absolutely! Package the ice-cream in a quart-sized mason jar, adorned with a few candy canes, a small bag of chocolate chips, and a festive tag containing assembly instructions and recipe for making the homemade hot cocoa! Guaranteed Santa will move you up at least 10 spots on his “extra-nice” list. Cheers!This post is in sponsored in partnership with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE. Thank you for supporting us and our sponsors!