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This Hot Chocolate Mix makes a smooth, creamy, chocolatey mug of the best chocolate ever! It’s a great gift for friends, neighbors, teachers, and coworkers.
Table of Contents
- Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe
- Ingredients in Hot Cocoa Mix
- Single Serving Instructions
- Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar
- Hot Chocolate Mix With Marshmallows
- Christmas Gift Ideas
- Toppings and Extra Flavors for Hot Chocolate
- Questions About Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- More Delectable Hot Chocolate Recipes
- How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix
- Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe
Making your own homemade hot chocolate mix is really easy and makes great holiday gifts. My mom used to make a big batch of this mix when we were little kids before commercial cocoa mixes and packets became available. But this classic homemade hot chocolate mix recipe is much cheaper to make and I like the taste much better! I like to keep this mix on hand all winter long so I can make a delicious cup of hot chocolate to warm up on cold days. This is my kids’ favorite after school treat on cold chilly days. There’s nothing more comforting than a plate of goodies and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Try this recipe and enjoy creamy hot chocolate flavor all winter long!
Ingredients in Hot Cocoa Mix
- Powdered Milk – You can find dry milk powder at most grocery stores. I like to use whole milk powder for a creamier texture.
- Cocoa Powder – Use a Dutch processed powder or Hershey’s brand for the best chocolatey taste.
- Powdered sugar – Using Confectioners sugar makes for a super smooth texture.
- Powdered coffee creamer – I use Coffeemate
- Pinch of salt – This is optional but helps balance out the sweetness.
Single Serving Instructions
After making your bulk hot chocolate mix, it’s easy to whip up a single serving of hot chocolate. Simply add 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of mix to 8 ounces of hot water and stir until the hot chocolate mix is dissolved. For a richer hot chocolate, stir the mix into hot whole milk (or almond milk if you’d prefer). If using a spoon to mix your hot chocolate isn’t quite cutting it, you can get fancy with your preparation by using a frother or even a hot cocoa maker to mix your hot cocoa.
Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar
For gift giving, this recipe makes about 6 cups – or three pint-size jars – of cocoa mix. Each pint size jar contains about six servings. There are multiple ways to gift this mix. I usually have extra mason jars around, so I often use them to give this mix as a gift. There are lots of fun ways to decorate the jars from fancy to simple. I usually take the simple route with just a bow and the gift tag tied on. I’ve also put the hot chocolate mix in a decorative bag and placed it in a mug with some candy canes or cocoa stirrers. My daughter made the cute gift tags to go with the mix that I am giving out this year. Print them out on card stock and tie it on the jar with ribbon or twine. Be sure to also grab the Free Printable Gift Tags.
Hot Chocolate Mix With Marshmallows
We love marshmallows in our hot chocolate and will often add a big handful of mini marshmallows when the chocolate is hot and ready to serve. However, if you are wanting to add marshmallows to the actual hot cocoa mix, we recommend getting mini dehydrated marshmallow bits. These are the same kind of teeny tiny marshmallows that can be found in the store-bought mixes. Because they are dehydrated, they won’t go stale like regular marshmallows, and they can easily be added to the mix for long-term storage or for gifts.
Christmas Gift Ideas
In addition to marshmallows, you can never go wrong serving hot cocoa with Christmas cookies like these gingerbread cookies or dipped Ritz cookies. You can also try this cocoa recipe around the holidays with some of our favorite Christmas Treats like our tasty Christmas Crunch!
Toppings and Extra Flavors for Hot Chocolate
While this hot chocolate mix is perfect as-is, you can add extra toppings and flavorings to keep things interesting!
- White chocolate chips
- Whipped cream
- Nutmeg, cayenne or other spices – these can be dusted on top of your hot chocolate and whipped cream for a beautiful presentation.
- Shavings of bittersweet chocolate
- Peppermint extract – just a little bit goes a long way so just add half a teaspoon to the hot liquid to taste.
- Crushed Candy Cane
Questions About Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
After preparing your cocoa mixture, it can last for up to 2-3 months in an airtight container in your pantry. For maximum freshness, try freezing your cocoa mix in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. No matter how you store it, make sure that it is in a cool dry place. Humidity and/or moisture can make it clumpy and shorten the shelf-life.
Nope! All you need is a big bowl and a whisk to stir all your ingredients together.
Yes! Cocoa powder gives this drink the best chocolatey flavor.
I feel you can never go wrong with toppings on your hot cocoa, but some of the best ones to add are whipped cream, marshmallows, caramel sauce, chocolate chips, cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks. They all add to the great flavor of this hot cocoa.
Yes, but wait to add in the flavoring until the hot cocoa is prepared. Then, just add a few drops of vanilla extract, peppermint, almond, raspberry, or any other favorite flavors and stir in well.
Absolutely. Instead of the chocolate drink mix, use your favorite chocolate protein powder. This will also increase the calcium levels.
READ MORE: 25+ Christmas Dessert Ideas
More Delectable Hot Chocolate Recipes
If you’re like me and you can’t get enough of that hot, creamy goodness during the cold months, try some of these scrumptious hot cocoa recipes:
- Unicorn Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Candy Bar Hot Chocolate
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix
Hot Chocolate Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups powdered milk
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup powdered coffee creamer
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until well blended. Store mix in a sealed container.
- Store mix in a sealed container.
- To serve, mix 3 heaping spoonfuls into 6 to 8 oz of hot water.
Notes
Recipe Tips:
- For gift giving, this recipe makes three pint-size jars of cocoa mix. Each pint size jar contains six-seven servings of mix. There are multiple ways to gift this mix. I usually have extra jars around, so I often use them to give this mix as a gift.
- There are lots of fun ways to decorate the jars from fancy to simple. I usually take the simple route with just a bow and the gift tag tied on. I’ve also put the cocoa mix in a decorative bag and placed it in a mug with some candy canes or cocoa stirrers.
- My daughter made the cute gift tags to go with the mix that I am giving out this year. Print them out on card stock and tie it on the jar with ribbon or twine. Be sure to also grab the Free Printable Gift Tags.
- 4 cups powdered milk
- 4 cups chocolate drink mix, I used Nesquik
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups powdered coffee creamer, I used Coffeemate
This looks declicious! I really like to make homemade gifts for my family.
I LOVE giving edible gifts at Christmas! these are such a great idea and the hot chocolate looks so smooth and creamy!
This was so delicious and simple, it is now a permanent fixture in my cupboard!
This is seriously the best cocoa recipe ever!
Food presents are the best. I liked that this one pointed out to include the directions. Thank you!
I made this last night, and doubled the chocolate, and did 2 cups of powdered sugar to make it a little sweeter. I found that it needed 5 scoops of the mix for 6-8oz of water to get it to taste more like a rich hot chocolate. It’s not too sweet though. Perfect for adding your own chocolates to!
I add twice the chocolate and a full cup of the sugar, to have a nice chocolat flavor.
Love this! This is the perfect homemade Christmas gift 🙂