#85 – Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

Let me begin by making a confession. I’m not a coffee drinker. (GASP!) Yes, I know. How do I function? To be honest, I’m not really much of a tea drinker either. Hot drinks just don’t do it for me. Or let me correct that statement. I don’t drink hot drinks on a regular basis. If I’m really tired and I need a pick-me-up, I’ll make a half coffee, half hot chocolate to keep me going. Or if I stop and think about it, I’ll make myself a green tea because I know it’s good for me. But then I have to time when exactly I’m going to drink that tea. There’s a specific drinking temperature I enjoy it, usually about 20 minutes after I make it. Any sooner, it’s too hot. Any longer and it’s just cold and bitter. Yes, I’m a special type of person. My lucky husband. HA!!

But there is one thing I look forward to each winter – Tim Horton’s Candy Cane Hot Chocolate. Mmmm… something about chocolate and mint together. And let’s not forget the whip cream on top. Hot chocolate is always so much better with hot chocolate on top. Right?

I’m not a regular customer at Tim Hortons, unlike my husband that could go 3-5 times a day if I didn’t make him feel guilty about all the money he’s spending there. I’ll admit to being cheap. Why pay someone else to make something I can make myself for a fraction of the price. Maybe that’s why I enjoy cooking/baking so much. I refuse to go to a restaurant to pay some of those prices. Don’t get me wrong,  if you sat me down in a fancy restaurant and serve me good food I know I can’t make myself then I would be in HEAVEN!! But when the bill comes. Yikes!!

So back to the Tim Horton’s Candy Cane Hot Chocolate. At $2.50 a pop, the frugal side of me cringes.  I’m usually not alone either so make that 3 Candy Cane Hot chocolates (2 kids) and usually a large double-double for hubby, we’re talking a $10 order just because I wanted a Candy Cane Hot chocolate. *sigh*

Then I got smart. I decided to make my own. I’ve experimented with Torani syrups to add flavour. Let me tell you. They have some yummy flavours. (my opinion, no endorsements here) But at the end of the day, all I had to do was put some crushed candy cane in the bottom of my cup with the hot chocolate mix before I added the boiling hot water. Duh. How simple is that? Sometimes the kids take a candy cane and use it as a stir stick and that flavours the hot chocolate too but I prefer to not have sticky hands.

So that’s my secret to saving money and still enjoying my Candy Cane Hot Chocolate when the weather starts to get colder. I buy myself a can of whipped cream… since I’m saving all that money any how. I can make a lot of candy cane hot chocolates with a can of whipped cream. I buy crushed candy cane pieces from the Bulk Barn, the industrial sized hot chocolate mix from Costco and I’m set for the winter!

Do you have an indulgent restaurant food item you figured out how to make at home to save money? Would love to hear about it.

Don’t forget to check out my 12 Days of Easy Christmas Cookies ’cause you’ll want something to nibble on while you enjoy your hot chocolate.