Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

The homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich, creamy, chocolatey, cocoa drink using few basic ingredients. It’s the perfect gift for the holidays. Looks pretty in cute jars for gifting and makes delicious hot cocoa that’ll warm you up during winter.

It’s a thoughtful Christmas gift, that friends and family would appreciate. You can also consider making these hot chocolate sticks and storing them for a few days, simply stir the sticks in hot milk and enjoy a cup of cozy drink instantly.

Why is this the best hot chocolate mix

1. The perfect cozy drink for cold winter days that’s easy to make.
2. Using basic ingredients make a decadent homemade mix and store it away. Enjoy hot cocoa anytime of the day.
3. Homemade hot cocoa mix is better than any store-bought mix.
4. It’s a perfect heart-warming Christmas gift. Add a cute ribbon and a handwritten tag to make personalized cheap holiday gifts.
5. Add marshmallows for a real treat, it’s a definite crowd-pleaser!
6. Add baileys to make a cozy boozy Christmas Adult drink.

Ingredients needed

Here’s what you’ll need-

Ingredients notes:

• Cocoa powder: use unsweetened cocoa powder. Pick high-quality cocoa powder to get the rich, delicious flavor.
• Milk powder: makes the chocolate drink rich and creamy. Use instant dry milk powder, it’s also called powdered milk.
• Powdered sugar: using fine sugar makes it easy to dissolve quickly while stirring in hot milk or water. You can adjust the sweetness if needed, this recipe has the right amount of sweetness.
• Pinch of salt: adding a pinch of salt helps enhance the taste of any sweet drink. Adding salt is optional.

Topping

• Chocolate chips: can be substituted with a grated chocolate bar. With chocolate chips of real grated chocolate bark, the drink is richer, creamier, and delicious!
• Mini marshmallows: can be substituted with big marshmallows as well.
• Crushed peppermint candy or candy cane makes it more festive and fun to drink during Christmas. Instead of crushing the candy, use the whole candy as a stirrer, it’ll enhance the taste and flavor of the drink.

Ingredients additions and substitutions

Additions

1. If you like white chocolate chips add it to the mix.
2. Add in cinnamon powder for warm winter spice flavors.
3. To make Mexican chocolate drink sprinkle cayenne pepper to the drink.
4. Stir homemade mix with hot milk. Then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup peanut butter and 3 ounce dark chocolate to make peanut butter hot chocolate drink.
5. Sprinkle pumpkin spice mix to make a pumpkin spice chocolate drink.
6. Caramel or Nutella can also be stirred into the drink to make decadent cozy winter drink.
7. Add cinnamon stick as a stirrer in the cup when serving.
8. You can add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to mix to make thicker drink.
9. Vanilla bean or pure vanilla extract can be added to the drink to enhance taste.

Substitutions

1. Use sweetened cocoa powder if you prefer a sweet drink.
2. Add grated chocolate bar instead of chocolate chips.
3. Marshmallows can be replaced with whipped cream.
4. To make it somewhat healthy skip powdered sugar and add maple syrup instead.

Step-by-step pictures

Make the hot cocoa mix in a large bowl or use a mason jar to add ingredients in layers that can be used for gifting.

Step 1: Start with instant dry milk powder. Add it to the mason jar and press to level it.

Step 2: Sift cocoa powder before measuring. This helps to remove lumps and also makes the layering look even and smooth. Add the mentioned amount of cocoa powder on top of powdered sugar. Press it to make it level. You’ll have distinct layers of each ingredient.

Step 3: Add powdered sugar. I prefer to add a generous pinch of kosher salt to the mix. Salt enhances the taste of the sweet drink.

This is your basic homemade hot chocolate mix.

Step 4: Top that with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candy.

Note you don’t have to add all the ingredients in distinct layers. Simply mix all ingredients in a bowl, transfer to cute jars, and then gift it.

Leaving the ingredients in distinct layers is one of the nice ways of letting your family or friends know what went into the homemade mix of the hot chocolate recipe.

Packing ideas gifting purpose

Gift homemade hot chocolate mix in small glass jars with air-tight lids. Attach a small whisk and a bag of marshmallows to the rim of the cap. Use a cute ribbon to tie.

It’s always a good idea to write a small note attached to the tag on how to make the drink from the mix.

Do you put hot chocolate mix in milk or water?

This recipe has powdered milk in the mix, whole milk or water can be used to make the drink. Usually, milk tends to create thick, creamy, rich hot cocoa. As there is powdered milk (milk powder) in it, stirring it in hot water makes creamy cocoa, but not as creamier or thicker as with milk.

For a thicker, richer cocoa in a sauce pan heat ¾ cup whole milk, and ¼ cup cream along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of homemade homemade mix. Cook whisking constantly until drink comes together. Don’t let it boil too much.

Feel free to adjust the amount of homemade mix depending on how rich you want the drink to be.

For better taste, add a touch of your favorite spice like cinnamon powder, ginger, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or cayenne pepper(for Mexican-style hot chocolate).

Finally add in chocolate chips, whip until chocolate is melted.

That’s it! Hope you enjoy making this fun gift and we assure your guests will love it.

Useful tips

1. Use premium quality ingredients. Using the best quality unsweetened cocoa powder makes it taste better.
2. Sift cocoa powder before measuring. This helps remove all lumps from the powder.
3. A touch of kosher salt helps balance the sweetness of hot cocoa.
4. If gifting it in a mason jar, add a note to mention the layers of ingredients and instructions on hot to use the mix to make a cup of homemade chocolate mix.
5. Best cup of hot cocoa, heat 1 cup milk or water. In a saucepan heat 1 cup of whole mix and 2 tablespoons (adjust) of the homemade mix, keep whisking until the drink comes together. Don’t boil too much. For extra chocolate-y rich taste stir in grated chocolate or choco chips. Top it off with mini marshmallows and peppermint candy.
6. Add flavorings and spices if you like. Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper or ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and pumpkin spice to the chocolate mix to make a warm, cozy drink.
7. Make adult hot cocoa with liqueurs. Liqueurs like Baileys Irish cream, Kahlua, Amaretto or add other favorite liqueurs of your choice.

Variations

Mexican Hot Chocolate – add a tablespoon of cinnamon powder, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and ⅓ teaspoon of nutmeg powder to the prepared drink. Stir well, and serve.

Belgian Hot Chocolate – to the prepared drink add 3 ounces of dark Belgian milk chocolate and a dash of cinnamon powder.

Nutella Hot Chocolate – make a cocoa drink with the mix. Then whisk a generous amount of Nutella almond spread into it.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate – To hot milk whisk homemade mix, add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ¼ cup of peanut butter plus 3 ounces of dark chocolate. Whisk well (do not boil) and serve with whipped cream.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate – make the drink with the mix, stir in ¼ teaspoon pure mint extract. Serve it topped with fresh whipped cream, crushed peppermint candy or small peppermint candy cane, and a sprig of mint leaves on top.

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate – Along with hot cocoa mix, add pumpkin spice powder, and maple sugar. Stir this all in hot milk and serve with fresh whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin spice and maple sugar over whipped cream.

Caramel Hot Chocolate – make the drink in a cup using hot milk, and stir in caramel. Serve topped with whipped cream, drizzle rich caramel on top, and sprinkle grated dark chocolate over it.

Storage

Store the mix in airtight container such as glass jar. Store in cool, dry, dark place such as your pantry. Use within 2 months.

Recipe FAQs

More holiday gifting ideas

5 from 8 votes

📋Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Jyothi Rajesh

The homemade hot chocolate mix makes a rich, creamy, chocolatey, cocoa drink using few basic ingredients. It's the perfect gift for the holidays. Looks pretty in cute jars for gifting and makes delicious hot cocoa that'll warm you up during winter.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2 medium sized bottles

Calories 494

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 cup premium quality cocoa powder
• ▢ ¾ cup dry milk powder (or dry creamer)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ Milk to hot water to serve

Optional Add Ons

• ▢ Dark Choco Chips
• ▢ Mini Marshmallows
• ▢ Crushed Peppermint candy

Instructions

 

• Start with instant dry milk powder. Add it to the mason jar and press to level it.
• Sift cocoa powder before measuring. This helps to remove lumps and also makes the layering look even and smooth. Add the mentioned amount of cocoa powder on top of powdered sugar. Press it to make it level. You’ll have distinct layers of each ingredient.
• Add powdered sugar. I prefer to add a generous pinch of kosher salt to the mix. Salt enhances the taste of the sweet drink.
• This is your basic homemade hot chocolate mix.
• Topping add-ons (add to mason jar if gifting)
• Top that with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candy.
• Add topping after mixing homemade chocolate mix with hot milk or water to the cup.
• Note you don’t have to add all the ingredients in distinct layers. Simply mix all ingredients in a bowl, transfer to cute jars, and then gift it.
• Leaving the ingredients in distinct layers is one of the nice ways of letting your family or friends know what went into the homemade mix of the hot chocolate recipe.

Video

Notes

1. Use premium quality ingredients. Using the best quality unsweetened cocoa powder makes it taste better.
2. Sift cocoa powder before measuring. This helps remove all lumps from the powder.
3. A touch of kosher salt helps balance the sweetness of hot cocoa.
4. If gifting it in a mason jar, add a note to mention the layers of ingredients and instructions on how to use the mix to make a cup of homemade chocolate mix.
5. Best cup of hot cocoa, heat 1 cup milk or water. In a saucepan heat 1 cup of whole mix and 2 tablespoons (adjust) of the homemade mix, keep whisking until the drink comes together. Don’t boil too much. For extra chocolate-y rich taste stir in grated chocolate or choco chips. Top it off with mini marshmallows and peppermint candy.
6. Add flavorings and spices if you like. Stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper or ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and pumpkin spice to the chocolate mix to make a warm, cozy drink.
7. Make adult hot cocoa with liqueurs. Liqueurs like Baileys Irish cream, Kahlua, Amaretto or add other favorite liqueurs of your choice.

Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcalCarbohydrates: 108gProtein: 25gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 1414mgPotassium: 1461mgFiber: 16gSugar: 83gVitamin A: 981IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 623mgIron: 6mg

Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!