Spiced Hot Chocolate Spoons

The problem with Easter eggs appearing on the supermarket shelves in January is that by the time Easter actually rolls around my interest has already waned. My desire to take no part in this rampant commercialism also means that I need to come up with some other form of chocolate to give those who are expecting it. The children are getting chocolate marshmallows. Easy. For everybody else I am making these hot chocolate spoons.

Once the weather starts to cool, The Princess is quite partial to a hot chocolate after school. If the state in which she leaves the kitchen is anything to go by, so too is my kitchen bench. The beauty of hot chocolate spoons is that they are self contained. All she need do is put one into a mug of hot milk and allow the chocolate to melt. A gentle stir with the supplied spoon and her hot chocolate is made. And my bench remains free from cocoa powder and chocolate shavings. I still anticipate spilt milk though. She is not that coordinated yet.

I like a bit of spice in my hot chocolate, particularly cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom, so have incorporated these into my spoons. Allspice, cloves, ginger, vanilla and chilli also go extremely well with chocolate so you could play with the spices to find something you love. The beauty of these spoons is that they are quick to make, so are great for a last minute gift for Great Uncle Andrew, who said he wasn’t coming to the family Easter celebration but has now changed his mind. Just wrap the spoons in cellophane, add some ribbon and it looks like you have made a significant effort, when in reality all you did was swan around the kitchen for ten minutes whilst the chocolate was cooling in the fridge.

We are dark chocolate fans in our house, but there is no reason these cannot be made with milk, or even white chocolate. The quality of the chocolate is paramount though. Don’t try making these with compound chocolate, which is just a mix of vegetable oils and cocoa powder. Your spoons may look fine but this will not translate to a lovely, rich drink.

If you haven’t already bought into the relentless marketing of the confectionery companies, give these spoons a whirl. Package them up with some marshmallows and you have a perfect gift that is better than any commercial egg.

Spiced Hot Chocolate Spoons   Print I have not given specific ingredient quantities as the amounts required will vary according to the size of your moulds and your personal spice preferences. I used ice cube trays as my moulds, but let your imagination be your guide.
To use the spoons, warm some milk to just below boiling point. I do this is a saucepan but you could warm it in the microwave if you prefer. Put the spoon into the milk and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Stir and enjoy! Author: Tania @ The Cook’s Pyjamas Ingredients

• Chocolate buttons (dark, milk or white)
• Ground spices (I used cinnamon, cardamom & nutmeg)

Instructions

1. Put the chocolate buttons into a stainless steel or glass bowl and sit over a saucepan of simmering water.
2. Gently stir the buttons until the chocolate is melted.
3. Spoon the chocolate into your moulds
4. Push a spoon to the bottom of the moulds and place in the fridge or freezer until set.
5. Whilst the spoons are setting, mix your chosen spices together in a small bowl.
6. Unmould the spoons and roll in the spice mix.
7. The spoons are ready for use.

Notes I found if you mix the spices into the chocolate the spoons go spotty and funny looking overnight. Not the look I was after. Adding the spice mix into the bottom of your ice cube tray, or rolling the chocolate in spices once set, produces a nicer result. If you are just making these for yourself, and are not adverse to spotty chocolate, then I would stir the spices into the melted chocolate. For gift giving, better to add the spices after the chocolate has set. If you don’t wish to add spices, these work perfectly well as plain chocolate spoons.

I used disposable wooden spoons and sticks that I bought at my local wedding stationary shop (of all places). Keep an eye out, they appear in the strangest places. Nice plastic spoons are an alternative if you cannot source wooden ones.

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