Easy Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
This easy homemade hot cocoa mix will quickly become a cold-weather staple. It is a simple mix of dry ingredients, so you can easily store it and whip up a mug of cocoa whenever you want! Plus, there is a simple swap for anyone who needs a dairy-free recipe.
Fall and winter are the seasons we all reach for the warm, cozy drinks, and hot cocoa is at the top of our list. In fact, for us it tops the list all year long! Whether it’s a cup of cocoa after a day playing outside or curling up on the couch for our nightly read-aloud, we love enjoying this homemade hot cocoa mix all season long.
Because this recipe uses a simple mixture of dry ingredients, you can make a large jar and store it to use throughout the cooler months (or whenever you want!). Simply heat up your milk of choice, add some of this homemade hot cocoa mix, and viola! You have a delicious mug of cocoa to enjoy.
To mix things up, you can add special ingredients like cinnamon or peppermint, marshmallows, or anything you like. It is a fun thing to do when friends come over — make custom cocoa! Added bonus, you’re saving money versus buying the packets at the store.
Ingredients in Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: We typically buy ours from Azure Standard and use for this mix and for baking. We buy a bigger bag (the bag is compostable so no waste!) and store in a glass jar!
Dry Milk Powder: I personally like to buy the organic A2 powder from Azure because I know that is what is digestible for our family! (A2 milk doesn’t contain the proteins that are found in conventional milk, but that is another topic for another day!). Use whatever works for you. You can also use coconut milk powder for a dairy-free option, and you don’t tastes the coconut as much as you think!
Sugar: I use organic cane sugar and place the ingredients in a blender to make the granules more fine. We have also made it with sucanat and coconut sugar. You can use powdered sugar, but I find that it clumps a bit more.
This is also one of our favorite things to give as a gift! Whether it is for a holiday gift, taking something to a host or hostess, or sharing with friends moving into a new home, it is always a hit. Place the mix in a mason jar, add some twine and a cute tag, and viola! You can also place it in a basket with a set of cute mugs, marshmallows, a cute whisk, and a cute tea towel. It is always a favorite when we play sneaky Santa with family!
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
This easy to make homemade mix is delicious, stores wells, and makes the creamiest cup of cooca! It is also customizable to your dietary preferences and can easily be made dairy-free.
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 cups cocoa powder
- 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups cane sugar (or sugar of choice)*
- 2 cups powdered milk (dairy or coconut)
Instructions
- Place all three ingredients into a blender or food processor.
- Blend well to help incorporate the dry milk powder and sugar.
- Pour into a large (half-gallon) jar with an air-tight lid and store for up to six months as is.
- To make a mug of cocoa, heat 1 cup of milk or water on the stove until warm and slighlty bubbly.
- Remove from heat, then add 1/4 cup of dry mix to your milk, and whisk well.
- Top with marshmallows, homemade whip cream, a dash of peppermint or vanilla extract, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and/or a cinnamon stick!
Notes
- Start with the 1 cup of sugar. If you want your mug of hot cocoa to be a bit sweeter, you can add another 1/2 cup of sugar to your jar of mix. Or you can add a bit of maple syrup to your made mug of cocoa.
- If you want gift some of the homemade mix, simply make the recipe as-is. Then, you can pour the desired amount into a smaller jar, and add an air tight lid. Make sure to write out directions for making a single mug on a label, then tie the label around th jar with string. It is very cute with a sprig of holly or rosemary during the holidays!
