Gifts In a Jar - Peppermint Vodka

Three of our jars just after the peppermints had been placed in the vodka by the girls.

I was searching for a hot chocolate mix that was yummy.  I've made a few in the past and GAG!  They were not what we wanted.  Seriously, some of them made the packets of *cocoa* seem gourmet level!  Do any of you have a homemade mix that will stand well as a gift in a jar?  If so, PLEASE share with me! 

As I searched through the multiple and varied hot chocolate mix recipes that take up a huge portion of the internet, I noticed a theme.  Seems there are quilte the multitude of persons out there that love them an adults only hot chocolate! 

Now, I have to admit that I don't drink.  My alcohol is used for cooking.  Love me some wine in my pizza sauce and I've posted a few canning recipes that use various adult beverages . . . . but I don't "do" booze as a beverage. 

So, when I notied this, I immediately asked a few friends if this was a common "thing".  Seriously, I'm such a dork I thought of hot chocolate as only something kids and wussy adults such as I would imbibe.  The friends had responses of "HECK YA!" and "Hmmm, never tried it, but now that you've mentioned it . . . ."

So, I decided to try it.

There really wasn't a recipe other than "take peppermint candy and let it dissolve in vodka.  Serve in your hot chocolate."

So, that is what I did . . . .

Peppermint Vodka

1/2 Pint Canning Jars

Vodka

Peppermint candies

Red Food coloring

Clean and Sanitize 1/2 pint canning jars with lids that seal (reuse old leads and seals or use the plastic ones).  Fill jars with vodka.  Unwrap peppermint candies (please, use the good ones, the ones that use actual peppermint oils and extracts and not artificial flavoring).  Drop candies in Vodka.  We used two candies in each jar just because we had enjoyed sampling the peppermints and only had enough to place two in each jar.  Enjoy watching the peppermints dissolve.  Now, you can be done at this step, or use red food coloring to make the flavored vodka look festive.  The girls wanted this treat for their "aunties" to look like Christmas, so we put 8 drops of red food coloring in each 1/2 pint of vodka.

We left the vodka sit a few days before gifting them.  We flipped them daily bethe sugary dissolved candies would settle in a layer at the bottom of the jar. 

To serve - shake jar and pour some in your favorite hot cocoa or sip it on its own.