Last updated: 12 November 2026
The best hot chocolate gifts pair a good drinking chocolate with a mug and something that makes the moment: marshmallows, a stirrer or a cosy extra. Buy a ready-made gift set (Costa, Knoops and Fortnum’s all sell them), build a DIY hot chocolate hamper to any budget, or give a hot chocolate station kit. Checked October 2026.
Below: gift types, which of ours fits, the gift sets people search for, hampers by budget, station ideas, a DIY jar and vegan picks.
Christmas hot chocolate gift ideas at a glance
Most Christmas hot chocolate gifts fall into one of seven types. Match the gift to the person, then check the few details that matter.
| Gift type | Who it suits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Gift set with a mug | Secret Santa, colleagues, teens | Mug is dishwasher safe; enough for several mugs |
| Hot chocolate hamper | Families, couples, a thank you | What’s inside, not just the basket |
| Luxury or flavoured drinking chocolate | Food lovers, dark chocolate fans | Cocoa %, flakes or powder |
| Station kit: toppings and stirrers | Hosts, families, film-night fans | Allergens on toppings; gelatine in marshmallows |
| Hot chocolate maker | Someone who drinks it daily | Works with any chocolate, or one brand’s |
| Something different: functional cacao | Adults who like trying new things | Sugar, caffeine, adults-only blends |
| DIY gift jar | Anyone, on a small budget | Allergens and a best-before date on the tag |
More ideas: wellness gifts by budget and wellness stocking fillers.
Our pick
Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex
Reishi Cacao is a hot chocolate made with reishi mushroom, cacao and maca. It contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao, so it suits earlier in the evening. Its pack says it isn’t for people on medication or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Add Reishi Cacao to bag See ingredients and reviews
Vegan and made in the UK. Mix any products in a bundle: 5% off two, 10% off three, 20% off four or more. Subscribe and save 25% on your first order, then 20%. New to Evopure? Join our emails for 20% off a one-off first order. Free UK delivery over £40, 14-day returns on unopened items.
Subscribe £22.49One-off £29.99
View productWhich Evopure gift fits?
If you’d like to add something of ours, choose by the drink they already enjoy (checked against our product pages, October 2026).
| Product | Format | A good gift if they… | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex | Reishi hot chocolate powder | Love hot chocolate and trying something new | Vegan. Contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao |
| Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex | Berry drink powder, no cacao | Want an evening drink that isn’t chocolate | 290mg magnesium a serving. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
| Sleep CBD Oil with Passion Flower | Oil, 500mg or 1,000mg | Already use CBD in the evening | Adults only. About 0.2ml (500mg) or 0.1ml (1,000mg) for 10mg |
The hot chocolate gift with a twist. Our reishi cacao is a ready-made reishi mushroom hot chocolate: cocoa with reishi mushroom, maca, cinnamon and coconut sugar. Stir 1 to 2 teaspoons (4 to 8g) into warm, not boiling, milk or water. It’s vegan and made in the UK, and because of the cacao it contains a little natural caffeine. Think of it as a cosy mug rather than a remedy. Compare it in our mushroom hot chocolate UK guide, or read about reishi cacao and ceremonial cacao.
Why CBD only for people who already use it: CBD is a personal choice and for adults only. Check they’re not pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication first. If you’re unsure, leave CBD out: the reishi cacao and Magnesium Sleep Complex make a cosy night-in pair.
Gift-friendly value: put two or more products together on our bundle builder and the saving grows as you add: 5% off two items, 10% off three and 20% off four or more (checked October 2026). On the Sleep oil, the 1,000mg bottle works out cheaper per mg of CBD than the 500mg.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
What you get with Evopure:
- Our CBD products: every batch third-party tested at ISO 17025 labs; request a batch report on our lab testing page.
- Made in the UK, vegan and alcohol-free.
- Our CBD is broad spectrum and THC free, and on the FSA public list, linked to validated applications.
- Tracked Royal Mail delivery across the UK, dispatched the same day if you order before 3pm Monday to Thursday (delivery details). Unopened, unused items can be returned within 14 days of delivery (returns policy).
They’re food supplements, not medicines. All our products are for adults (18+) only. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Ready to choose? Pick the reishi cacao for the hot chocolate lover, the Magnesium Sleep Complex for an evening drink without cacao, or the Sleep CBD Oil for an adult who already uses CBD.
UK hot chocolate gift sets: Costa, Knoops, Fortnum’s and wooden sets
The sets UK shoppers are searching for, from each brand’s own site or official retail listing (checked October 2026). Evopure isn’t connected with any of them, and ranges change.
| Brand | Gift set | What’s inside | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa | Hot Chocolate For Two Set | Two ceramic Costa cups, two servings of hot chocolate mix | Sold at retailers such as Boots, not on Costa’s site |
| Costa | Gingerbread Mug Set | Costa cup, gingerbread hot chocolate mix, two mini biscuits | A Secret Santa size |
| Knoops | Milk or Dark Chocolate Gift Set | A tube of flakes (34% milk or 54% dark), shaker, scoop, whisk | Knoops says its 54% flakes are suitable for vegans |
| Knoops | Hot chocolate hamper | Shaker, bowl, recipe book, 43% and 54% flakes, honeycomb | Listed as coming soon when we checked |
| Fortnum and Mason | Ultimate Hot Chocolate Gift Box | 41% Milk, 85% Dark, 100% Dark and 41% Salted Caramel | Out of stock when we checked |
| Fortnum and Mason | Hot chocolate stirrers | Milk chocolate snowman; vegan gingerbread man | Stir into hot milk; the snowman has vegan marshmallows |
Wooden hot chocolate sets are children’s toys, not drinks. Aldi’s Little Town Wooden Kitchen Accessories, for example, include a pretend-play hot chocolate set with mugs, a milk frother, chocolate cubes, marshmallow toppers and biscuits.
Knoops also sells a ten-sachet selection box, from 28% white to a sugar-free 100% dark: a good way to find a favourite.
Hot chocolate gift sets and hot chocolate sticks
A typical hot chocolate gift set holds a drinking chocolate (flakes, powder or sachets), a mug and an extra such as marshmallows, a whisk or biscuits. Mug sets add a branded or festive mug. Hot chocolate sticks, or spoons, are a block of chocolate on a wooden stick that you stir into about 250ml of hot milk until it melts.
Sticks often contain milk, nuts or soya, so check the allergens. Sachets and sticks can fit through a letterbox; our pouches arrive as a small parcel by Royal Mail Tracked.
Hot chocolate mug gift set
A hot chocolate mug gift set pairs a drinking chocolate with a festive or branded mug and one treat, such as marshmallows or biscuits. Ready-made mug sets are sold by café and chocolate brands (see the table above). To build your own, choose a large mug of at least 300ml and a chocolate they’ll actually reach for.
Check the mug is dishwasher safe and the chocolate’s allergens, then wrap it in cellophane with a ribbon.
Build your own gift set with a mug: we don’t sell mugs, but a favourite mug, a pouch of Reishi Cacao and some vegan marshmallows make a set. Reishi Cacao is a vegan hot chocolate powder with 0.5g reishi, 0.5g maca and 0.3g cinnamon per 8g serving, plus cocoa, coconut sugar and stevia, and a little natural caffeine from the cocoa. Add our Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex, an evening drink without cacao, on our bundle builder and the saving is applied in your bag: 5% off two items, 10% off three and 20% off four or more (checked November 2026).
Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex
Add Reishi Cacao to bag or build a bundle
Its pack says it isn’t for people on medication or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Our pouches arrive as a small parcel by Royal Mail Tracked.
Subscribe £22.49One-off £29.99
View productHot chocolate hamper ideas by budget
A homemade hamper is cheaper than most ready-made ones and more personal. Start with a basket, box or large mug, add the chocolate, then fill the gaps:
| Budget | The chocolate | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Around £10 to £15 | A DIY jar or a supermarket drinking chocolate | A big mug, mini marshmallows, a candy cane |
| Around £20 to £30 | Chocolate flakes or a flavoured hot chocolate | Stirrers, shortbread, bed socks |
| £40 and up | Two flavours, or a reishi cacao for something different | A milk frother, a paperback, a candle or a small throw |
How to make a Christmas hamper at home
- Pick a theme: a “film night” hamper with popcorn, a “snow day” one with gloves, or a Danish-style evening in (our hygge guide has ideas).
- Put the tallest things at the back and pad the base with crinkle paper or a tea towel so jars can’t move.
- Add a tag with allergens, best-before dates and how to make the drink.
For bath and sleep treats too, see our self-care hamper ideas or a wellness advent calendar.
Add a few toppings and stirrers
Tucking a few toppings into the box turns a hot chocolate gift into something the whole family can share: mini marshmallows (with a vegan option), chocolate shavings, candy canes or cinnamon sticks, in labelled jars with the allergens noted. If they’d rather set up a full tray at home, our guide to setting up a hot chocolate station has the checklist, a toppings list and how much to make. For the drink itself, add a card from our hot chocolate recipes.
DIY hot chocolate gift jar
A layered jar costs a few pounds, looks lovely on a shelf and makes about 8 mugs. You need a clean, completely dry 500ml jar with a tight lid and a funnel.
The layers (bottom to top)
- 60g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 100g caster sugar (or golden caster sugar for a warmer stripe)
- 50g dried skimmed milk powder
- 50g dark chocolate chips
- Mini marshmallows to fill the top, or tie a small bag of them to the lid so they stay soft
Tap the jar to level each layer. For a spiced jar, add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the sugar. Each mug works out at about 13g of added sugar, under half the NHS daily maximum of 30g for adults, and around 20mg of caffeine.
How long does it keep?
Airtight, cool and dry, it keeps for 2 to 3 months. Never date it later than the shortest best-before date on your ingredients.
Reindeer hot chocolate cones
Reindeer hot chocolate cones are one-mug gifts in a clear cone-shaped bag. To make one:
- Spoon 3 tablespoons of the jar mix (or one 8g serving of Reishi Cacao, which is already sweetened) into the point of the cone bag.
- Add a layer of chocolate chips, then fill the top with mini marshmallows.
- Twist and tie with ribbon, then wrap a brown pipe cleaner round the tie as antlers and stick on a red pom-pom nose.
- Add a tag: “Stir into 250ml hot milk.”
Reishi Cacao contains a little natural caffeine and is for adults, so make plain cones for children.
Label wording
Hot chocolate mix. Tip the jar into a bowl and stir. Use 3 heaped tablespoons (about 30g) per 250ml mug. Make a paste with a splash of hot milk or water, top up and whisk. Ingredients: cocoa powder, sugar, milk powder, dark chocolate chips (check the pack), marshmallows. Best before: [date]. Store cool and dry.
Dairy-free and vegan hot chocolate gifts
For a vegan or dairy-free friend, swap the milk powder in the jar for coconut milk powder and use dairy-free chocolate chips and vegan marshmallows (most marshmallows contain gelatine). Ready-made options include Knoops’ 54% dark and 38% oat m*lk flakes, which Knoops labels suitable for vegans, Fortnum’s vegan Ultimate Dark, and our reishi cacao, which is vegan.
Vegan isn’t the same as milk-free for someone with an allergy: check for “may contain milk”. Our dairy-free hot chocolate guide explains the label and the best plant milk.
Drinking less or doing Dry January? Skip boozy sets and add an alcohol-free nightcap recipe. Our alcohol-free drinks UK guide has gift-worthy spirit and fizz alternatives too. Cutting down on sugar? Give dark, unsweetened cocoa and a spice blend.
What to check on the label
- Cocoa content. A higher cocoa % means a richer, less sweet mug.
- Sugar per serving. The NHS counts more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g as high, and adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day.
- Caffeine. Unsweetened cocoa has about 230mg per 100g, so a 10g mug has roughly 23mg, against 75mg in a cup of tea. In one study, the amounts in a dark chocolate bar measurably raised alertness: worth knowing for children and late evenings. White chocolate has none.
- Allergens. Milk and soya are common, and chocolate often says “may contain” nuts.
Our guide to healthy hot chocolate covers caffeine per mug and evening timing in more detail.
Ordering in time for Christmas
Christmas 2026 orders: check our delivery page for Christmas order dates before you buy. To send a gift straight to someone, add their address at checkout.
Royal Mail gets very busy in December, so earlier is easier. Shopping over Black Friday weekend (27 to 30 November)? See our Black Friday sale.
Related guides
- For her: our wellness gifts guide. For him: wellness gifts for men.
- For a work draw: our Secret Santa gifts guide.
- Also: sleep gifts, calming gifts and our Ancient and Brave cacao guide.
- A hot chocolate set is a classic for a tea-loving mum; see more Christmas present ideas for mum.
- Hot chocolate sachets make a lovely letterbox gift (our pouches come as a small parcel): see more thinking of you gifts for her.
- A hot chocolate set suits the dad who loves a hot drink; more ideas in our Christmas gifts for dad guide.
- A hot chocolate set suits the nan who loves a cuppa; more ideas in our gifts for nan guide.
- Hosting rather than gifting? Our hot chocolate station guide covers set-up, toppings and how much to make.
- Buying for someone who avoids caffeine? See does hot chocolate have caffeine before you choose.
- A hot chocolate set suits the grandad who always has a brew on the go; more in our gifts for grandad guide.
- A hot chocolate night in makes an easy joint present; see more Christmas gifts for a couple.
- A hot chocolate set is a safe bet for in-laws; more ideas in mother-in-law Christmas gifts.
- Buying for someone who avoids sugar? Check our sugar-free hot chocolate guide for what the labels mean.
- A hot chocolate jar makes a lovely teacher present: see more teacher Christmas gift ideas.
- For a hot chocolate lover in your life, see more ideas in Christmas gifts for her.
- A hot chocolate set for two makes a lovely joint present: see our gifts for grandparents guide for a cosy evening set.
- Instant hot chocolates compared before you pick a tub to give.
Next step
Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex
If you’re putting together a hot chocolate hamper, Reishi Cacao adds a vegan mushroom hot chocolate: 0.5g reishi, 0.5g maca and 0.3g cinnamon per 8g serving (2 teaspoons), with cocoa and coconut sugar, and about 30 mugs a pouch. It contains a little natural caffeine from the cacao.
Add Reishi Cacao to bag See ingredients and reviews
Mix any products in a bundle: 5% off two, 10% off three, 20% off four or more. New to Evopure? Join our emails for 20% off a one-off first order. Free UK delivery over £40. If you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Subscribe £22.49One-off £29.99
View productSources 7
- NHS. Sugar: the facts.
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy (caffeine in tea, coffee and chocolate).
- Food Standards Agency (gov.uk). Allergen guidance for food businesses.
- USDA. FoodData Central: cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened (FDC ID 169593); white chocolate (167571).
- Smit HJ, Gaffan EA, Rogers PJ (2004). Methylxanthines are the psycho-pharmacologically active constituents of chocolate. Psychopharmacology. PMID 15549276.
- Food Standards Agency (gov.uk). Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
- Brand pages, checked October 2026: Costa Hot Chocolate For Two Set (Boots), Knoops gift sets, Fortnum and Mason Ultimate Hot Chocolate Gift Box, Aldi Little Town Wooden Kitchen Accessories.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Evopure makes the Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex, Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex and Sleep CBD Oil.
