Easy Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
on Nov 29, 2011, Updated Sep 20, 2024
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Easy homemade hot cocoa mix made with a few simple ingredients like powdered sugar, powdered milk, and cocoa powder that’s perfect to mix with hot water or milk for homemade hot chocolate.
Making your own hot cocoa mix is super easy and it only has 5 simple ingredients in it! Homemade hot cocoa mix is a treat that’s budget-friendly, healthier than most store-bought varieties, and much kinder to the environment by cutting down on waste. So no matter how you cut it, making DIY hot cocoa mix at home is a great option.
It’s the best hot beverage after sledding and goes great with a batch of homemade microwave popcorn. Or you can use this recipe for the inside of hot chocolate bombs.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- With 5 ingredients, homemade hot cocoa mix is super easy to make and comes together in a few minutes.
- It’s more cost-effective than buying individual packets at the store.
- It makes a great gift, especially when paired with a couple enamel mugs and some toppings such as some mini marshmallows and peppermint sticks.
- Cuts down on the waste generated by individual packets of store-bought mix by storing it in a reusable container.
Recipe Ingredients
- Powdered sugar
- Powdered milk
- Cocoa powder: be sure to use Dutch-processed (also called alkalized) cocoa powder
- Salt: both sea salt and iodized salt will work in this recipe so use what you prefer or have on-hand
- Corn starch: improves the texture
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- Stir in a few chocolate chips (or a Hershey’s Kiss) into your cocoa while it’s hot to make it extra chocolatey.
- Use a candy cane to stir your hot chocolate to add peppermint flavor to it.
- Add a few marshmallows, homemade Caramel Sauce, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top of your prepared hot cocoa to change things up.
- When making the hot cocoa, use hot whole milk instead of water to make it extra creamy.
How to Make Easy Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
- Step #1. Put all the dry ingredients in a big bowl.
- Step #2. Stir with a wire whisk to combine.
- Step #3. Store in an air-tight container until ready to use.
- Step #4. To use the hot coco mix, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dry mix to 8 ounce of hot water or milk.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Use a powdered non-dairy milk, such as powdered coconut milk or powdered almond milk. These alternatives may change the flavor slightly, so make a quarter or half batch to see how you like it before committing to the full recipe.
Homemade hot cocoa mix typically lasts for up to six months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
After you combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, use a funnel or a small scoop to transfer the cocoa mix to a mason jar with a screw-on lid or use a cute jar with a clamp down lid.
When adding hot milk or water, you can add some cinnamon, peppermint, caramel, or even a hint of chili powder for a spicy kick. Get creative and experiment with different combinations!
It depends on your preference. Hot milk will give you a creamier, more decadent texture. But hot water works tastes great, too, especially if you are on the go and won’t be able to access milk.
Expert Tips
- Don’t skip the salt or corn starch. The salt balances the sweetness of the hot chocolate and the cornstarch makes the texture smoother.
- It’s important to use Dutch-processed (or alkalized) cocoa here to help make sure the cocoa isn’t bitter. The container will normally say if it’s Dutch-processed.
- This recipe makes a great gift for family, friends or teachers when given in a pretty container or with a set of mugs like these enamel mugs.
More Sweet Recipes to Consider
Dessert Recipes
Rhubarb Crumb Bars
Cookies
Maple Sugar Cookies
Pies, Crisps & Tarts
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Pies, Crisps & Tarts
Homemade Coconut Cream Pie
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Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
- 1 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir with a wire whisk to combine.
- Store in a large air-tight container in the pantry – it will keep for a long time.
- When ready to use, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix to 8 ounce of hot water or milk. Add more mix to taste. Stir well to combine.
Notes
- Use a dutch-processed cocoa here to help make sure the cocoa isn’t bitter.
- The salt balances the sweet and the cornstarch makes the texture smoother – don’t skip them.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for up to six months.
- Use this hot cocoa mix with hot whole milk for the creamiest beverage.
Just made this to try and it comes out kind of chunky when made, then I processed the whole mix to make a powder and it still comes out with bits of stuff. Could that be the dried milk doing that?
My family won’t drink it, so if you have a suggestion to fix it, that would be awesome or it’s a lot of ingredients down the drain 🤔. Thanks
Just made this to try and it comes out kind of chunky when made, then I processed the whole mix to make a powder and it still comes out with bits of stuff. Could that be the dried milk doing that?
My family won’t drink it, so if you have a suggestion to fix it, that would be awesome or it’s a lot of ingredients down the drain 🤔. Thanks
Just made this w/ a couple changes due to ‘supply’ issues. Made my gran. sugar powdered in my super blender, added a heaping Tbsp. buttermilk powder & put all in my blender to make a powdery mix. To cool it off, added a bit of heavy cream to hot cocoa & a little peppermint flavored vodka . . . it’s cocktail hour here😉
I made this hot cocoa mix for a gift and it turned out great! Dutch-processed cocoa is the way to go! I will be making more of this!
Amazing mix! Best cocoa I ha e ever had, and my kids agree. 😁
Hello! Dumb question. If I triple the recipe then I just evenly divide between three Mason jars, correct?
Yes ma’am, just mix up as big of a batch that you like and store it how you like, if you have a big Tupperware that would work, multiple jars, one big jar, whatever you have. As long as it was all mixed and measured together it’ll be fine to store it however works best for you!
really like it, drink this every night, but yes I personally don’t like to drink too much cornstarch, so I make without the one, still so yummy, thanks for sharing this, always wanted to try it but after seeing your blog,, really got confident 🙂
you could try arrow root starch it a healthier alternative to corn starch
Yes, I think it would work great!
My mom made hot choco mix…the recipe came from a tupperware party. I hated it because it always tasted like tupperware! Bleck! I’ve made one similar to yours…its so yummy….you are totally right about the dutch process chocolate and cornstarch…it just makes the flavor and texture perfect! I’m gonna have to make a batch of yours now. Gotta be ready for any snowstorms heading our way! Oh…it must be time to dehydrate some marshmallows too!
Sounds delicious! Thanks for posting this.
It’s a thickener that makes the cocoa just a little bit smoother than it would be otherwise – it takes out some the the wateriness and adds that velvety chocolaty texture.
What a cool recipe! May I ask what the cornstarch does?