A few years ago during Christmas time I just happened to look at the ingredients on the back of a popular hot cocoa box. Yikes! So many junk ingredients that are just not great to be consuming. But hot cocoa mix is just that, a mix. So I set out to make my own, healthier version. After some research and trial and error, my family found that this recipe is the best!
We love to make a giant thermos of this DIY hot chocolate and take it with us to drive through town and look at Christmas lights, but it’s great when you just want a warm cozy drink too! It also happens to be my favorite hot drink of all time.
We also have a great cocoa bar in our dining room that is a big hit around the holidays. We keep it well stocked and really go all in on it for our Christmas party and gatherings all through December.
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Looking for a healthier, homemade alternative to store-bought hot cocoa mix? This DIY Hot Cocoa recipe is just what you need! This simple, and wholesome version is now a family favorite, perfect for cozying up on chilly nights or taking along on a festive drive to see Christmas lights. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a deliciously creamy cup of cocoa that can be customized with cinnamon, vanilla, or even a splash of coffee. Plus, it's a wonderful homemade gift idea for the holiday season!
Ingredients
- 3 Cups
dry milk, dry heavy cream, or non-fat dry milk (see notes above!) - ½ Cup sugar
- ⅔ Cup
natural cocoa powder - ¼ teaspoon
Celtic sea salt - Optional: Add 1 tsp of cinnamon to add a touch of warmth and spice!
- Optional: Add a splash of vanilla to your warm cocoa cup for an extra splash of flavor!
Instructions
Making The Mix
- Whisk all ingredients together in a mixing bowl until fully incorporated.
Making Homemade Hot Cocoa
Warm up a mug-full of milk and add 3 tablespoons of your DIY hot cocoa mix and mix it very well *I like to use a milk frother wand. If it’s not chocolatey enough for your taste, add ½ tablespoon of mix until it’s perfect for your taste! Top with homemade whipped cream and sprinkles or yummy marshmallows. - *See the notes above about adding cinnamon, vanilla or making it a caffeinated drink!
- Enjoy!
Storing The Mix
- Scoop your homemade hot cocoa mix into an airtight container and pop it into your pantry! I’m truly not sure how long this mix will last as we go through it very quickly and it’s never been on my shelf longer than 2 months.
Gifting Your Hot Cocoa Mix
- I love giving this cocoa as a gift for the cozy months! It works great with a Christmas mug and a mini bottle of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, tossed into a Boo Basket with some cookies and popcorn, or a favor to take home from Thanksgiving dinner.
My daughter and I are big fans of hot cocoa bombs because they are so fun! If you’re into having some fun and getting creative in the kitchen, make homemade hot cocoa bombs! We use a silicone mold to make the chocolate shell, you can use whatever kind of chocolate you like. We’ve used semi-sweet, milk chocolate and white chocolate. You can add mini marshmallows, sprinkles or anything else you like in the hot chocolate bomb that you think is fun. We also like to decorate the outside of the hot cocoa bomb but it’s not super necessary and then we put it in a cupcake liner and into a plastic ball shaped box or, even better, a Christmas ornament! For gifts I like to package this mix in a 12oz mason jar for couples with a cute tag and ribbon for families or a Christmas ornament Or Christmas light for individual holiday gifts. For Boo Baskets these test tubes are so fun for Halloween packaging! This mix is a simple, versatile and consumable gift perfect for cozy season!
Notes
- I always make this homemade hot cocoa with milk even though there is dry milk in the mix because it makes it so creamy and delicious! If you choose to use water instead of milk, consider this your warning and make sure to make it with dry heavy cream powder!
- When purchasing dry powdered milk or cream, I always try to get organic, non-gmo etc and from a small farm if possible!
- Adding 1 tsp of cinnamon adds just the right touch of extra spice if you’re into that.
- You may omit the salt but I definitely think keeping it in the mix helps round out the chocolate flavor. You can even add more if you like to taste a little saltiness.
- Once you’ve made a warm cup of hot chocolate, you can add a splash of vanilla for a little more smooth flavor.
- Are you a coffee lover like me? I have coffee every morning and every afternoon. If I’m having that afternoon cup during cozy season, you better bet I am adding this DIY cocoa mix! I do half coffee, half warm milk, and then measure hot cocoa mix until my heart is happy.
- Instead of whisking the ingredients together, you can blend them if you want a truly powdered mix but I don’t think that it makes a difference because once everything is in the hot milk, it all melds together and becomes nice and creamy.