![11 Best Boxes of Chocolates for Holiday Gifting and Hosting [Tested and Reviewed]](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TOH_Best-Boxes-of-Chocolates-for-Gifting_Taste-of-Home_KSedit_FT.jpg?resize=72,72)
These hot chocolate gift sets are the perfect winter treats for friends and family!
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Coffee is delicious, but it’s not for everyone. The same can be said about tea. That’s why when winter rolls around and hot cocoa re-enters the scene, we’re so excited. Hot cocoa, unlike the two beverages above, is truly for the masses, as it contains very little caffeine. Who wouldn’t want a mug of steamy, velvety hot cocoa to curb the winter blues and satisfy their sweet tooth? Heck, adults can even spike it! And with marshmallows on top? Say no more.
Hot chocolate is such a treat that it’s a worthy wintertime gift for virtually anyone; think coworkers, kids, significant others, parents and more. And we’re not suggesting you wrap up a box of cheap paper packets and call it a day. There are numerous hot chocolate gifts available online that elevate the sweet sipper to the next level.
On this list, you’ll find the top hot chocolate gift set ideas from several vendors at a range of price points, most of which have been personally tested by Taste of Home editors. Bottoms up!
Best Overall
Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Kit
Pros:
- 10 mixes included
- Variety of flavors, all made with real chocolate
- Smooth, velvety hot and cold drinking chocolate
- Mug and cup included
Cons:
- Pricey
If you really want to take hot chocolate making to the next level, the Velvetiser makes hot or cold European-style drinking chocolate in about two minutes with the press of a single button. Add the individually packaged chocolate flakes to your favorite milk, and you’re minutes away from snuggling up with a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
Our Executive Culinary Director, Sarah Farmer, tested the compact hot cocoa machine and loved it so much that it’s earned a permanent spot on her counter. “I love hunkering down with a mug of hot chocolate, and this beautifully designed machine introduced me to a new, bougie way to enjoy it,” she says. “The brand promises a rich, luxurious, velvety drinking chocolate experience—and they weren’t exaggerating.”
This set includes a 10-serving sample box, one mug, one glass and of course, the innovative hot chocolate maker. Between its effortless operation, silky texture and exceptional flavor, we think Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser is worth the splurge, and it makes the perfect wow-factor gift for any hot chocolate enthusiast.
What’s Included: 10 types of hot chocolate mixes, Velvetiser machine, mug and cup | Weight: 1.09 ounces (per packet) | Hot chocolate form: Chocolate flakes
Best Variety
Thoughtfully Hot Chocolate Gift Set
Pros:
- 9 mixes included
- Classic and festive flavors
- Gift-ready packaging with bow
- Delicious
Cons:
- Lacks non-flavored options
Chocolate cherry? Check! Gingerbread cookie? Check! This set from Thoughtfully offers nine unique hot chocolate flavors presented in a pretty box. Flavors include peppermint mocha, salted caramel, snickerdoodle and toasted marshmallow. We were particularly fond of the vanilla blend, which is the perfect mix of sweet and complex flavors.
While the set is anything but traditional, it’s the perfect pick for anyone bored with the ho-hum flavor of plain hot chocolate. The mix of classic and festive flavors gives it a holiday spin while still offering a sampling of delicious, unexpected flavors. It even comes with its own gift-ready packaging, including a pretty burlap bow.
What’s Included: 9 types of hot chocolate mixes | Weight: 1 ounce (per packet) | Hot chocolate form: Powder mix
On Sale
For the Traveler
Verve Culture Mexican Hot Chocolate Set
Pros:
- Delicious, rich cocoa flavor
- Discs made from ground almonds, pecans, walnuts and cinnamon
- Includes traditional molinillo whisk
- Handmade in Mexico
Cons:
- Not suitable for nut allergies
Add authentic Mexican flavors to your next hot chocolate gift with this Oaxacan cacao set from Verve Culture. Each set includes a bag of five hot chocolate discs flavored with ground almonds, pecans, walnuts and cinnamon, plus a handcrafted molinillo whisk for frothing hot cocoa. Once your recipient tastes Mexican hot chocolate’s rich, frothy deliciousness, they’ll never return to the powdered stuff again.
Additionally, the hand-carved molinillo whisk is an attractive addition to coffee carts. Made from a single carved piece of alder wood on a lathe, each whisk is decorated by hand-burning marks in a process known as pyrogravure. Its uses extend beyond just hot chocolate—use it to muddle fruits for cocktails or churn up a pot of cowboy coffee, too! The results from this rich, frothy, traditional Mexican hot cocoa will forever transform the way they enjoy their festive mug.
What’s Included: Mexican hot chocolate, red clay hot chocolate jug and large traditional molinillo whisk | Weight: Not stated | Hot chocolate form: Discs
Best Traditional
Andrés Hot Chocolate Gift Set
Pros:
- Made with real, artisan Swiss chocolate
- Gift set includes chocolates for eating or putting in hot chocolate and coffee
- 2 varieties of hot chocolate included
- Gluten-free and made without preservatives
Cons:
- While classic, this traditional set doesn’t include super unique flavors or surprising twists
This hot chocolate set from Kansas City–based André’s Confiserie Suisse features a rich blend of drinking chocolate made with dark Swiss chocolate. Just add warm milk to the chocolate flakes, stir and sip! For an extra burst of flavor, throw in a mint leaf or whiskey caramel chocolate drop (both also delicious in coffee).
André’s is known for its exceptional boxed chocolates, and this gift set offers a small sampling of their Swiss-style creations along with the hot chocolate mixes. The set includes two varieties of hot chocolate—Signature and Aztec Spice—and a charming mug featuring the old-timey André’s man.
What’s Included: Mug, 2 types of hot chocolate, caramel drops and mint leaves | Weight: 8-ounce jar and 4-ounce bag | Hot chocolate form: Chocolate flakes
Best Customizable
Gourmet Hot Cocoa Bundle
Pros:
- Simple and traditional
- Ingredients also work for baking
- Perfect hot cocoa recipe card included
- Gluten-free
Cons:
- Not as adventurous as others
Unlike the other options on this list, Savory Spice’s gourmet hot cocoa bundle leans a little more traditional—but don’t let that fool you. This ultimate hot cocoa kit contains high-quality ingredients, from the included Dutch cocoa powder to the salted caramel spice and vanilla bean sugar. Dutch cocoa is a richer, velvety cocoa powder that pairs well with the included sweet spices. Best of all, the salted caramel spice and vanilla bean sugar are packaged individually, so you can add as much or as little as you like, making every cup perfectly customizable.
In addition, each ingredient also functions well as an additive for baking; think delicious salted caramel dusted over pancakes or subbing a few teaspoons of vanilla bean sugar in your favorite cookie recipes. The kit also comes with a card recipe for the ultimate hot cocoa, making it a sweet gift for the recipe card collector.
What’s Included: Dutch cocoa powder, salted caramel spice, vanilla bean sugar and recipe card for Ultimate Hot Chocolate | Weight: Dutch cocoa powder is 3.5 ounces; salted caramel spice is 3.3 ounces; vanilla bean sugar is 3.7 ounces | Hot chocolate form: Powder mix
Best Gourmet
Dandelion Chocolate Seasonal Hot Chocolate Mix Trio
Pros:
- Crafted from rich, fudgy Ecuadorian chocolate
- Includes large, fluffy marshmallows from Ticket Chocolate
- 3 festive chocolate mixes
- Luxurious gift packaging
Cons:
- Expensive
Dandelion Chocolate, a bean-to-bar maker nestled in San Francisco’s Mission District, has spent over a decade perfecting the art of single-origin dark chocolate. Each bar is crafted from just two simple ingredients—cocoa beans and organic cane sugar—without the addition of cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla or preservatives. Every ingredient is ethically sourced, reflecting the brand’s commitment to quality and transparency.
While we’re longtime fans of Dandelion’s exquisite boxed chocolates, their hot chocolate set is next on our must-try list. If it’s anything like the rest of their creations, it’s sure to be extraordinary. This luxurious trio features classic, peppermint and gingerbread hot chocolate blends, accompanied by Ticket Chocolate’s handcrafted gourmet marshmallows. For true hot chocolate connoisseurs, this set is an indulgent tasting experience that’s as rich and thoughtful as the craftsmanship behind it.
What’s Included: 3 artisan-crafted hot chocolate varieties and 12 large marshmallows | Weight: 5.6 ounces (per bottle) | Hot chocolate form: Chocolate flakes
FAQ
What do you get for someone who likes hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate gift sets make an excellent gift for the hot chocolate lover or foodie in your life. Some might assume that hot chocolate is a drink for kids. But these hot chocolate gift sets utilize rare or surprising ingredients, flavors and mixing methods to create a unique holiday experience that both kids and adults can enjoy.
What is the best chocolate for gift-giving?
You can’t go wrong with a box of assorted chocolates, especially Swiss or Belgian varieties. If your giftee enjoys drinking chocolate, try a hot chocolate gift set.
If they’re more inclined toward traditional chocolates, try one of our favorite boxes of chocolates for gifting (or enjoying yourself).
Is hot chocolate a good gift?
Absolutely! As long as the recipient enjoys chocolate, a hot chocolate gift set is a thoughtful and cozy way to show you care.
Why You Should Trust Us
We’ve published hundreds of recipes for warm, cozy drinks to enjoy when temperatures dip. Of course, hot chocolate is one of our favorites, so it only makes sense that we would put together a list of our favorite hot chocolate gift sets. This way, you can spread joy by giving a loved one the gift of a sweet drink.
Shopping Editors Emily Way and Mary Henn tested most of the hot chocolate gift sets on this list to ensure quality and taste before recommending. Our best overall pick was tested by our Executive Culinary Director, Sarah Farmer, who leads the Taste of Home culinary team. Additional reporting was contributed by Melissa Lee, Content Updates Editor and self-proclaimed hot chocolate connoisseur.
