Filling the Tins: Cookies and Candy

The last tin

This last tin is medium-sized and holds cookies, foil-wrapped chocolate candies, and candy canes. I only have half of the cookies ready -- the Nutty Caramel Bars, but I will finish the other cookies tomorrow -- Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, and Peppermint Drop Cookies. One daughter wanted to help with the baking, so I'm waiting until she can be home.

For the cookies, I put each one in a mini muffin paper. With the caramel bars, this keeps them from sticking together, but also improves the presentation, I think. I'll do the same with the drop cookies.

Here's how the Spiced Nuts turned out. I lined this tin with plastic wrap, then rolled the excess so that it fits neatly inside the tin.

I topped the nuts with a circle of waxed paper, to hold in freshness.

Those are the filled tins. There are 5 tins altogether, holding Nacho Cheese Popcorn, White Chocolate and Peppermint Pretzels, Drinking Chocolate, assortment of cookies and candies, and Spiced Nuts. When I get them stacked and held tight with a ribbon, I'll post the final picture. I think this is a very nice gift. I know that I would be very pleased to receive it, so I am hoping the recipient will feel the same. I took a couple of shortcuts, but by and large, the tin contents are homemade. My total cost was about $11 or $12, not including the leftovers which will become the holiday treats for my own family. A typical snack and treat tower of similar size and variety costs about $35 to $45, retail, if purchased through a company such as Harry & David.

Filling the Tins: Drinking Chocolate Mix

I took the easy way out on this one. I bought Nesquik in single serve packets. It is pre-measured for both the cocoa and sugar, and the cocoa in Nesquik does not clump at the bottom of the mug the way baking cocoa does. Other than the Nesquik, I used powdered instant milk, powdered non-dairy creamer, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows, all of which I had on hand for our own cocoa mix in a jar. The Nesquik came from Dollar Tree. These cute cellophane cones were in my stash from a previous year.

The total hands on time was about 15-20 minutes, and my cost (including ingredients that I had on hand) was about $1.70 for two cones, each making 12 ounces of rich drinking chocolate.

I like the layered look, so I made up each cone separately. Working with the cone in a drinking glass (to keep it upright), I first scooped in 1/3 cup of instant milk. On top of that, I added 2 tablespoons of non-dairy coffee creamer. Then, I poured in a packet of Nesquik.

I chopped 3 tablespoons of semi-sweet chocolate chips for each cone, spooning in on top of the Nesquik.

I wrapped about 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows in a piece of plastic wrap and placed on top of the drinking chocolate mix. These cones are secured with a twist tie.

My goal with the tins is to average about $2.00 to $2.50 per each tin. So far, I'm under that goal, leaving some extra in the budget for tomorrow's tin. 

Cocoa mix in a jar or baggie is a great last-minute gift idea or stocking stuffer that doesn't take much time or expertise.