Hot Chocolate Winter Craft for Preschoolers [Free PDF Template]

When the weather turns chilly, a hot chocolate winter craft for preschoolers is the perfect way to bring warmth and creativity to your little one’s day. This sweet project is more than just cute. Like all our favorite preschool crafts, it’s filled with playful learning opportunities.

As kids cut, glue, and decorate, they’re building fine motor skills, exploring shapes, and enjoying meaningful hands-on fun. You don’t need fancy supplies or complicated steps. Just gather a few simple materials and invite your child’s imagination to take the lead.

Whether you’re planning a winter theme, prepping holiday activities, or looking for a cozy afternoon project, this mug-of-cocoa craft offers connection, creativity, and conversation. It’s a gentle reminder that learning can be seasonal, simple, and full of joy.

Hot Chocolate Craft

When the snow is falling and the days are chilly, it’s the perfect time for a cozy, hands‑on craft — the kind that warms little hearts and supports learning. This hot chocolate mug craft is just that: fun, simple, and full of possibilities for creativity, fine‑motor practice, and seasonal fun.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this hot chocolate craft: 

• Construction paper (brown for the “hot chocolate,” white, and a fun color of your choice for the mug)
• Template for the mug (Download available at the bottom of the post.)
• Cotton balls (or mini pom‑poms) for marshmallows
• Glue stick or school glue
• Safety scissors
• Optional: paint markers or white crayons for decorating the mug
• Snowflake stickers, sequins, gems, or any embellishments you like

How to Make the Hot Cocoa Craft

Print the mug template and cut out the pieces: one colored square for the mug, one U‐shaped piece (to represent the top rim), another colored piece, and the handle.

On a brown piece of paper, trace and cut a rectangle or “liquid” shape for the hot chocolate. Glue that brown piece onto the colored mug piece.

Attach the handle to the side of the mug. Then glue the U‑shaped piece at the top to mimic the rim. You’ll have a colorful mug with a brown fill.

Decorate the front of the mug: let the child use markers, crayons, or stickers to add designs, names, or winter motifs.

Lastly, glue cotton balls or pom‑poms into the brown “hot chocolate” portion — every cup of hot cocoa needs marshmallows!

Why This Craft Is a Great Choice for Preschoolers

Preschool crafts aren’t just about the finished product—they’re about the process, the practice, and the playful learning that happens along the way. This hot chocolate winter craft is an excellent example of how simple activities can build essential skills while keeping little hands and minds engaged.

Fine motor practice: Cutting curves, gluing small marshmallows, decorating — all of this helps strengthen small hand muscles.

Creative expression: Choosing colors, adding decorations, deciding how “full” the mug is — children make it their own.

Seasonal & cozy connection: It invites children to think about winter, warmth, comfort, and treat‑time fun.

Cross‑curricular possibilities: You can easily build on this craft with counting marshmallows for math, writing the child’s name on the mug for literacy, or talking about the “story” of winter and hot cocoa.

Extension Ideas – Take the Fun Even Further

Hot Cocoa Math: Count how many marshmallows (cotton balls) you glued. Add or subtract marshmallows.

Hot Cocoa Sensory Play: Set up a small sensory bin with cocoa-colored rice, little mugs, spoons, and cotton “marshmallows.” Pretend play with pouring/stirring.

Writing Practice: Use the mug craft as a writing prompt. “What would you add to your hot cocoa?” Let children write or draw additions (whipped cream, sprinkles, candy cane).

Name Recognition or Letter Practice: Write letters on cotton balls or marshmallows and let kids place them inside the mug in order. Great for early literacy.

Story Time Pairing: After crafting, sip real (or pretend) hot chocolate and read a winter book. Talk about the experience of cold, warmth, and cozy indoor time.

A Note on Safety & Adaptations

When working with small items (like cotton balls or pom‑poms), always supervise young children. For younger preschoolers, pre‑cut the mug pieces so they can focus on gluing and decorating. For older preschoolers, challenge them to design their mug, trace shapes, or write their name on it. If you like, use thicker cardstock for durability (especially if you hang the craft up or display it).

Free Hot Chocolate Craft for Kids Template

To make this cozy craft even easier, I’ve created a free printable template for you! It includes the mug pieces your preschooler will cut, decorate, and assemble — plus simple, step-by-step directions to guide you through the whole activity.

This printable is designed with young learners in mind, combining creative play with meaningful skill development. Just print it out, gather a few basic supplies, and let the fun begin.

???? Click below to get your free Hot Chocolate Craft Template and start creating your cozy winter mugs today!