Homemade hot chocolate is the perfect treat for a winter night! Make it in single servings or a big batch to give as gifts. Better than Alton Brown’s hot chocolate, you’ll love this recipe. Pair it with candy cane cookies and you’ve got the holidays in your lap.
A cozy evening as a family is not complete without a healthier peanut butter cookie and homemade hot chocolate.
I’ve recreated several of our favorite cookie recipes (candy cane cookies, chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies) to be healthier than their original version. And so I wanted to make sure the hot chocolate I have on hand is mom approved AND kid loved!
That’s why I keep this homemade hot chocolate mix in my cabinet for the holiday season.
Why Make Homemade Hot Chocolate?
Quite some time ago, I went through my kitchen and ditched everything that contained hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. (Two of the top five ingredients to avoid!)
Can you guess what I found on the packets of Swiss Miss in the back of my cabinet?
corn syrup, sugar, cocoa (processed with alkali), hydrogenated coconut oil, nonfat milk, salt, less than 2% of: dipotassium phosphate, dextrose, mono- and diglycerides, acesulfame potassium, carrageenan, natural and artificial flavor, sucralose.
Gahh! Even hot chocolate is contaminated! It still blows me away that there is so much junk in simple things that I want to enjoy.
So instead, I make a super easy homemade batch and stash it in my cabinet so it’s ready for the next cozy night.
It also serves as a quick gift to give to teachers and neighbors when I run low on time! I’m sure you’re just as busy as I am during the holiday season!
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Ingredients
- Cocoa powder. You can use any type of unsweetened cocoa powder. I like this Dutch process cocoa. It’s a dark chocolate and super delicious in hot chocolate!
- Granulated sugar. I use Turbinado sugar. The larger granules means I’ve reduced the sugar ever so slightly and I’m ok with that!
- Salt. It may seem strange to add salt to a sweet drink, but honestly, it balances out the flavor.
- Milk. I don’t add milk to the mix I keep in my pantry, but a cup of warm milk is just what you need for this homemade hot chocolate! You can use almond milk or coconut milk if you need to make this dairy-free.
How to Make Hot Chocolate
This is so easy! I can’t believe I used to buy the store-bought packets!
Step 1. First, mix your dry ingredients in a mason jar and shake well.
Step 2. Measure two heaping tablespoons of hot chocolate mix into a mug and set aside. Reserve the rest of your mix for later (or into other mugs if making hot cocoa for all!).
Step 3. Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Step 4. Pour warmed milk into your mug and stir well.
Tips For Making This OVER THE TOP Amazing Hot Chocolate
- Use a milk frother like this one to make your hot cocoa super creamy.
- Top with homemade whipped cream, chopped chocolate or mini semi sweet chocolate chips.
- Add a drop of peppermint essential oil or peppermint extract.
- Add a pinch of salt and a teeny splash of homemade vanilla extract.
- Drizzle with chocolate sauce or syrup and sprinkle powdered sugar.
FAQs For Homemade Hot Chocolate
Is this hot chocolate healthy?
u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMost definitely! Skipping the packets with bad ingredients and using ingredients you already have in your pantry is WAY healthier. Plus you save money. I’m all about that!u003c/spanu003e
How long does homemade hot chocolate last?
u003ca href=u0022http://www.eatbydate.com/other/sweets/how-long-does-cocoa-last-shelf-life/u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe recommended shelf life of opened cocoa powder is one year.u003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003e Sugar and salt can last much longer when stored dry. You should be safe storing your hot chocolate mix for up to one year in a dry cabinet.u003c/spanu003e
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix for Gifts
The best part is that it makes a GREAT last minute homemade gift. Not to be cheap, but it costs less than a dollar to make up a hot cocoa mix gift jar. When you start adding up teachers, neighbors, and extended family, the savings is welcomed!
- Use 8oz mason jars like these topped with scraps of red fabric for holiday gifts. Add a gift tag with instructions and voila! Beautiful gift!
- Or you can scoop a single portion of hot chocolate mix into a holiday themed baggie. Tie it off and place into a festive mug. Add a ribbon and instructions and there you go!
- Whether you go the jar route or the mug route, it’s an easy gift for a hostess, the mailman or anyone else who enjoys hot chocolate!
More Homemade Holiday Drink Recipes
- Crock Pot Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spice Apple Cider
- Homemade Peppermint Mocha Latte
- Eggnog Smoothie
- Gingerbread Smoothie
Instant Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Homemade hot chocolate is the perfect treat for a winter night! Make it in single servings or a big batch to give as gifts. Better than Alton Brown’s hot chocolate, you’ll love this recipe. Pair it with candy cane cookies and you’ve got the holidays in your lap!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Pour all dry ingredients into an empty glass jar, seal and shake well to thoroughly incorporate all ingredients.
- Scoop 2 tablespoons of the hot cocoa mix into a mug. Set aside.
- Warm milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Once the milk is warm, add to the mug and stir well.
Notes
If sharing mix as a gift, enclose a note with the following instructions: “Scoop two heaping tablespoons of hot cocoa mix into a mug and fill with one cup of very warm milk. Stir and enjoy!”
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 105
Hi! I make this recipe with powdered milk: approx. 3T for each mug, then add hot water over half full. I encourage the grandkids to add cold milk to fill mug.
We make this recipe ahead of time, a large quantity, stored in a wide-mouth jar. It’s a favorite of all!!
Linda, you said 3T for each mug. Is the 3T. powdered milk? Have you figured out the powdered milk to choc. power ratio? (as in a quart jar)For a pantry backup?
Thank you, Mary
This is so good! I’ve been looking for a tasty organic hot chocolate mix only to be disappointed each time. This is so much better and so easy. Thanks so much for publishing!
Hello Christine!
We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for posting. 🙂
How much of each ingredient for an 8oz. Jar?
Cindy,
This recipe makes enough instant hot chocolate mix for 1 cup, which is equal to 8 fluid oz.
This was perfect. Really rich and creamy and so simple! I have tried other homemade recipes that were complicated and expensive and simply not as tasty as those junky packets. This was delicious and rich and fast! I used half Dutch, half Hershey’s cocoa and kosher salt. Perfect! Thank you!!!
So happy to hear this!!
This is an old,old way of making hot chocolate before there were mixes.. I am not far from 70 and this was a recipe my mother had when she was younger..Still tastes better than any bought mix
That’s so nice to hear. We’re glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
WHAT IS IN THE 1/4 TEASPOON MEASURE IN THE PHOTO …………… NO MENTION OF ADDING ANY SPICES TO THIS HOT CHOCOLATE MIX. ALMOST LOOKS LIKE NUTMEG.
It’s vanilla powder, which is optional and therefore not listed in the recipe.