Little cups of chocolate make cute receptacles for marshmallows, whipped cream, or your favorite hot cocoa toppings in these fun and tasty Hot Chocolate Floaters!
Your favorite hot chocolate garnishessuch as mini marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate chips
Instructions
Line a miniature muffin pan with 12 paper, foil, or silicone mini muffin liners (or arrange liners on a baking sheet).
Place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds; stir chocolate well. Microwave for another 30 seconds; stir until chocolate is smooth. (If necessary, microwave in additional 15-second increments, stirring between each one, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.)
Use a small measuring spoon (or a small soft brush) to completely coat the inside of each mini muffin liner with chocolate. Place muffin pan in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Check for any thin areas in the chocolate and spoon or brush on more melted chocolate as necessary, making sure that the layer of chocolate around the top edge of the liner is thick enough. Return pan to refrigerator and chill for 4 hours or until completely firm. Alternatively, you may place pan in the freezer for less time, until chocolate is completely hardened.
Carefully peel the liner off of each chocolate cup (or pop chocolate cups out of silicone liners). Store chocolate cups in the freezer until ready to use.
Fill chocolate cups with preferred hot chocolate garnishes and float on top of mugs of hot chocolate.
Notes
Hot Chocolate Floaters will float the longest if kept frozen until the last minute, filled with light garnishes (such as mini marshmallows or whipped cream), and placed on top of not-overly-hot hot cocoa. They will dissolve and/or sink quickly if filled with heavy toppings or placed in extremely hot hot cocoa. But that's okay, too, because they're fun and tasty either way! ;)