Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

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Whip up the hot chocolate of your dreams with this quick and easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix. It only needs 4 ingredients, and makes the creamiest cup of hot cocoa. Customize it with your favorite add-ins and flavors!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

During the winter, I’m determined to have a stash of hot cocoa mix on standby at all times. A while ago, I realized how ridiculously easy it is to make hot chocolate mix at home, and it’s a game-changer! Here’s why you’ll love this simple, but oh-so-rich-and-creamy homemade hot chocolate mix:

• Just 4 ingredients. It all starts with a combination of 4 simple ingredients, and then you can customize your hot cocoa from there.
• Make it your own. There are so many different flavors to try, from peppermint hot chocolate to mocha hot cocoa. Or you could stick to the basics, and cozy up with classic hot chocolate topped with melty mini marshmallows. Be your own master hot chocolatier.
• Great for gifting. Homemade hot chocolate mix makes a lovely gift. It’s an inexpensive option that has all the charm of a homemade present, and it can be adapted to suit any holiday or occasion. When you make someone cookies, they can enjoy them for about a week, but this hot cocoa mix lasts all year long!

What You’ll Need

When combined with hot water or milk, this homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich and creamy mug of hot cocoa that’s not too bitter, and not too sweet. You can always adjust the flavors to taste, too. Here are some quick notes. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable list of ingredients.

• Dry Milk Powder – Go for whole milk powder rather than nonfat milk powder if you like a creamier hot cocoa.
• Cocoa Powder – I like to use natural unsweetened cocoa powder, only because I can better control the sugar levels. For a fudgier hot chocolate mix, try Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
• Sugar – I use granulated sugar and much prefer it to powdered sugar, but both work in this recipe. I also like to throw a pinch of salt into the mix to balance and boost the flavors.

How to Make & Use Hot Chocolate Mix

This might be the easiest recipe in the whole wide world! To make homemade hot chocolate mix, simply do the following:

• Mix everything together. Add all your ingredients to a bowl, and give them a good whisk.
• Store properly. Afterward, stash the mixture in a jar with an airtight lid.

When you’re ready to make a cozy cup of hot cocoa:

• Mix with hot water or milk. Stir 2-3 tablespoons of your hot chocolate mix into 8 ounces of liquid.
• Add toppings. Sprinkle over mini marshmallows or any toppings of your choice, and get sipping!

Recipe Tips

• Don’t add extra chocolate. I tried adding chopped chocolate to the mix and wasn’t crazy about it. Even when chopped quite small, it didn’t melt super well, nor did it seem to add much additional flavor.
• Use granulated sugar. I’ve seen lots of homemade hot chocolate recipes that call for powdered sugar, but I encourage you to stick with regular granulated sugar. Powdered sugar just doesn’t provide the same amount of sweetness, IMO.
• Don’t skip the salt. Please don’t forget the salt! It’s easy to overlook salt in sweet recipes, but it really does enhance the flavor, even in hot chocolate.

6 Hot Cocoa Variations to Try

I love this easy hot chocolate mix as is, but it’s also tons of fun to get creative with flavors and add-ins. Here are 6 of my favorite variations to snuggle up with.

1. Peppermint hot chocolate. Give your homemade hot chocolate mix a festive touch with crushed peppermint. The peppermint candy melts into the hot cocoa, infusing it with peppermint flavor.
2. Spiced hot cocoa. I like to add warm spices to my hot chocolate, especially during the fall. You can add cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, or a combination of spices. Pumpkin pie spice also works well!
3. Drinking chocolate. If you want to make a richer, more intense drinking chocolate rather than classic hot cocoa, simply replace about half of the sugar in this mix with unsweetened cocoa powder.
4. Mexican hot chocolate. Add cayenne pepper and cinnamon to taste for a spicy kick.
5. Mocha hot cocoa. Feel free to toss in a scoop of espresso powder if you’d like a mocha-flavored hot chocolate. Use decaf espresso powder if desired.
6. Spiked. I love a splash of Irish cream in my hot chocolate for a twist that warms from the inside out. You could even try Kahlua or another liqueur.

Topping Ideas

When it’s time to serve this hot cocoa, I’m a sucker for classic mini marshmallows or a swirl of whipped cream (just like this cocoa mix, it’s super easy to make yourself!). If I’m feeling extra indulgent, I’ll top my homemade hot chocolate with Bailey’s chocolate whipped cream, or I’ll make a salted caramel hot cocoa drizzled with salted caramel sauce.

How to Store Hot Chocolate Mix

Stored airtight, this homemade hot chocolate mix lasts in the pantry for up to 6 months! I keep mine in glass jars, but any sealed container works well.

More Cozy Drink Recipes

• Easy Hot Toddy Recipe
• Homemade Eggnog Recipe
• Homemade Apple Cider

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