Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
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Homemade hot cocoa mix is the perfect warm treat for a cold winter day. It is also a great gift for friends, teachers, postal workers, or your neighbors this holiday season.
If you’ve never made your own hot cocoa, you’re really missing out. My slow cooker caramel hot chocolate, white hot chocolate, and pink velvet hot chocolate recipes are all more creamy, flavorful, and delicious than any of the hot chocolate mixes you get at the store.
All you have to do is add some hot milk and you’ll be sipping on some delectable homemade hot cocoa in no time, just like using hot chocolate bombs.
You can share the gift of a rich and creamy cup of hot cocoa by making–and gifting–this delicious mason jar hot cocoa mix. No need to worry if you’re not the crafty type! This recipe gives instructions on how to package up this layered hot cocoa mix so that it looks pretty and is ready to be delivered to all your friends and family.
Plus, the included hot cocoa tag printable has all the instructions they will need to turn their cocoa mix into steaming hot mugs of rich and chocolatey hot cocoa.
When it comes to Christmas treat making, it doesn’t get much easier than this homemade gift. Read on for the easy recipe and free printable gift tag.
Ingredients
This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Cocoa Powder—You can use regular cocoa powder or Dutch process cocoa for a richer chocolate flavor. Either way, just be sure that you use unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Sugar—Granulated sugar will melt into the hot milk to sweeten your hot cocoa.
- Salt— Acts as a flavor enhancer and helps balances the flavors.
- Chocolate Chips—Add creaminess and tons of rich chocolate flavor. I like the flavor of semi-sweet chips, but you could also use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips.
- Miniature Marshmallows—Because everyone knows that the best hot cocoa mixes have marshmallows in them!
Supplies
You will also need a few things to get your homemade cocoa mix gift-ready.
- Mixing bowl & whisk— to prepare the mix
- Cute jar— I used a 16-oz mason jar but any jar of a similar size will work
- Twine— ribbon would work too
- Printed gift tag
How to Make Hot Cocoa Mix without Powdered Milk
This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
- In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- Transfer the cocoa mixture to a clean mason jar.
- Top the mix with the chocolate chips and then the mini marshmallows. Don’t mix!
- Tightly screw on the lid and use some twine to tie your printable tag around the jar.
Storage
Store the mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months.
The length of time the mix will stay fresh really depends on the expiration date of the marshmallows so be sure to use the freshest marshmallows possible to prolong the life of your mix.
How to Use Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
- Give the hot cocoa mix a stir to mix up the ingredients.
- Stir together ½ cup of the cocoa mix with 1 and ½ cups of hot milk.
- Optional: Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or extra marshmallows.
Tips for the Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- To make your hot cocoa mix dissolve even easier, try swapping out the granulated white sugar in the dry mix for powdered sugar.
- I like to use heavy cream or whole milk to make extra thick and creamy hot cocoa. But you can use whatever milk you have on hand. Coconut milk, soy milk, or almond milk are great options as well.
- Each jar of mix makes 4 cups of hot chocolate.
- Top hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows for a real treat!
- Use dehydrated marshmallows to prolong the shelf life of your mix.
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix-Ins
Marshmallows and chocolate chips aren’t the only mix-ins that you can add to your mason jar hot cocoa mix. Try tossing in some crushed candy canes, caramel bits, pumpkin pie spice, crushed Oreo cookies, holiday sprinkles, or instant coffee powder.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe: FAQs
Technically speaking, hot chocolate is made by combining melted chocolate with hot milk whereas hot cocoa is made by combining a powder mix with hot milk (or hot water). However, many people use the two terms interchangeably.
The store-bought mix is typically made of cocoa powder, sugar, powdered milk, preservatives, and other additives. The beat thing about making your own hot cocoa mix is that you can control what goes in it so you get the classic hot chocolate flavor you love while cutting out some of the extra ingredients.
Although this homemade hot cocoa recipe may be better for you than the store-bought version, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it is good for you. I like to think of hot chocolate as an indulgent treat that is okay for enjoying from time to time.
Free Printable Hot Cocoa Mix Gift Tag
Pair this hot cocoa mix recipe with this cute printable gift tag for the ultimate easy homemade holiday gift.
The printable gift tags are available only to members of the C&C community. Membership is entirely FREE. Sign up below for instant access to the printable!
For best results, print your hot cocoa gift tags out on cardstock. Cardstock is thicker and stronger than regular printer paper.
More homemade food gift ideas
- Christmas Popcorn Balls
- Homemade Peppermint Patties
- Crockpot Candy
- Grandma’s Nut Brittle
- Christmas Fudge
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk to combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- Transfer the mix to a 16-ounce jar.
- Top with chocolate chips, then the marshmallows. Do not mix.
- Place the lid on the jar. Use twine to attach the printable gift tag, if desired.
Notes
- Mix up the ingredients in the jar to combine everything.
- Stir ½ cup mix into 1 ½ cups hot milk.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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