I know that it’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day, so I should be posting either a dessert that is in the shape of a heart, or a recipe for a romantic dinner. If my weekend baking goes well, you’ll see Valentine’s Day cookies on the blog next week, but today I wanted to share a recipe that will help you cuddle up next to your loved one. There’s nothing like sipping on a nice hot mug of cocoa when it’s cold outside, snuggled up with your significant other (or child).
Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly how I enjoy this drink every time I have it. Maybe I also like to sip on it while sitting alone at my dining room table, laptop in front of me, glancing out the window every few seconds, daydreaming about how one day I’d like to be lounging in a log cabin with this mug in hand, feet kicked up, snow falling outside, me warm inside…you get the picture.
In any case, this hot chocolate mix must make its presence into your home and replace any other store-bought packets. It’s creamier and richer than any pre-mix I’ve ever tasted. What a great gift option, as well! Just package some mix into small mason jars or cellophane baggies, then gift it with written mixing instructions. I’m sure you’ll make someone’s long winter much more enjoyable if you do!
UPDATE 12/16/2012: Thanks to reader, Miranda, you can download printable labels for gifting this cocoa mix. I recommend printing them on sticker paper. They will fit perfectly to half-pint mason jar lids.
Click above image to download printable labels.
- 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix all ingredients into a large bowl. Pour half of the mixture into the bowl of a food processor and process until the chocolate is finely ground. Transfer to an airtight container, then repeat with the remaining mix. Store in the airtight container for up to 3 months.
To make the hot cocoa drink, mix 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix with 1 cup hot milk.
Source: Slightly adapted from Brown Eyed Baker, originally Cook's Country
http://www.seededatthetable.com/2012/02/10/homemade-hot-cocoa-mix/
this sounds great – i make hot chocolate on a stick sometimes but it is some work so this is a great alternative and will keep alot longer!
but I need a NON dairy version – my boyfriend is a choc-a-holic but is lactose intolerant. Any suggestions for a subsitution for the dry milk?
Hi Merrill, I’m not sure about a substitute for dry milk. A Google search might help you more than I can.
Maybe there is a soy or almond milk powder out there that would work? I honestly have no idea.
you can sue the same amount of non-dairy powdered creamer.The creamer makes it a little creamier and you can get it in flavoers if you like a different taste.
Merrill – you may be able to substitute in non-dairy creamer. I have had success using chocolate non-dairy creamer in the past and they come in so many flavors!
I use DariFree non-dairy milk powder in other applications (haven’t tried this recipe yet). It’s lumpy if you mix it with cool water, but hot water smooths it out so I imagine it would be fine. I’m also gonna try just subbing the white chocolate chips for semi sweet (some cheap brands are dairy free). Might be a little rich so I’d try it on a smaller scale first!
Can I freeze this to make it last longer?
Good question! I have no idea! Maybe a Google search can tell you? Sorry!
Hi Nikki,can I ask what brand of nonfat dry milk powder and unsweetened cocoa powder do you used? Is it a dutch process of cocoa powder?
Sure Kimi! For the nonfat dry milk powder, the brand is Village Farm (not that I”m stuck to that brand, it’s just what’s available in my grocery store). And, I use a blend of natural and dutched cocoa powder. Brand name is SaCo. I love it. Even though it’s not available in my grocery stores here in MS, I either stock up on it when I’m traveling or have my mom send me some.
Here is a link to a 3-pack of it on Amazon.
I can’t find SaCo on my grocery stores too,so I used Hershey’s cocoa powder I hope it’s fine. Thank you so much Nikki,finally I can make a hot cocoa mix for my boyfriend’s birthday gift. I love your blog :-*
I also make homemade hot cocoa and I use Nestle Quick,Powdered Sugar,Dry Powdered Milk,& Non-Dairy Creamer.It’s sooo good.
Can this be used in hot water instead of milk?
Hi Vicki,
I think that’s going to be up to taste preference. Although I haven’t tried it, it seems like you could use water instead since the dry milk is included. But, it’s definitely not going to be as creamy. If you like your hot cocoa more watery, then of course. But, again, that’s totally up to preference. It should melt and mix the same just fine.
If you use water add powdered creamer to make it creamier
I used whole dry milk instead of nonfat in my mix; then I just added hot water to make the hot chocolate. It tasted very good; but to cool it off and make it just a bit richer, I topped it off with cold lowfat milk, maybe 1/8 cup. This was kid tested, with a rating of “excellent”.
Yum! This sounds delicious. I might also experiment and grind up some candy canes with it.. one of my favorite flavors of Steven’s Hot Chocolate is one they only make at Christmas with bits of candy cane. Anyway, thanks for this post. I’m going to give it a try as soon as it gets cool enough to even consider hot chocolate again here in AZ.
i have made this receipe for years, i mean i started back in the 70′s making this. i use nonfat milk powder(1 package) and then i use carnation powder cream. i always use dutch chocolate because it seems to make it richer tasting. as for the sugar i use just regular sugar. but now i have to watch my sugar intake so i use splenda baking sugar. i don’t use marshmallows but my husband does so i keep a bag of minimarshmallows in the freezer for him to use. i think the homemade cocoa mix is so much richer that the store bought ones. have a good cup of cocoa day.
Thanks, Mary!
Thank you for this, I’m going to give it a try!
Found you on pinterest. I’m going to stay for a bit and look around your blog.
Can you grind the chocolate by itself first and then mix it in? Or does the chocolate melt if alone in the food processor?
I think it is best to grind it all together so that the ingredients blend thoroughly.
This hot chocolate was so much better then store bought. Thank you for sharing. Next time i try it, i will add crushed peppermint hard candies to see how that turns out.
Great idea, Tammy! Thank you!
Hello there,
Is the White chocolate used because of a taste preference? Would it work out to use, say, a semi-sweet or a milk chocolate chip?
You can definitely give it a try!
Just wanted to let you know I am going to use your recipe for the hot chocolate served at my wedding!! So good! Thank you for sharing!
Very cool, and congratulations!
Congratulations!!
If you still need a wedding favor idea …. you could make up a some of this and add the recipe, so the guests could enjoy another cup as the remember your wedding!!
Will this still taste good if I mix it into hot water instead of hot milk?
That depends on your taste preference. I haven’t tried using water because I like creamy hot cocoa.
I can’t have regular chocolate, so have you ever just made a white chocolate version? What would you increase or decrease to do so?
Hi Lindsey,
I have not made an all white-chocolate version. My guess, though, would be you need to increase the amount of white chocolate.
Will this work using a regular blender? I don’t have a food processor.
It depends on the blender you have. Some blenders are better than others and will work just fine. I say give it a try!
I would like to know how you made the Hot Cocoa mix. Thanks
This sounds great! Thanks for sharing! I’m going to try this…I LOVE my hot chocolate!
Just made it and its delicious, and i even only mixed it with water and it was still yummy. I’m sure its even better with milk. Going to give a jar of this with a mug to the kids teachers this christmas i think.
Hi
I really want to give this a try but im not really sure what powdered sugar is. Is there an Australian equivilent?
Hi Kristen,
It might be called “icing sugar” in Australia. It’s also called confectioners sugar here. Does this help? If not, I think you can do a quick Internet search to find a recipe to make it. I believe it’s just cornstarch and granulated sugar finely processed in a food processor.
Do you use instant dry milk or just dry milk? I know the reconstitution ratio is different with the two.
I’ve never use dry milk before so I didn’t know there was a difference till I saw your post. I checked my bag and I got instant. I made the mix tonight by the directions and my daughter loved it. So maybe what kind you use won’t matter
Me and my 9 year old daughter made this and it’s delicious. We did a batch with the white chocolate chips and then a batch with Guittard Green Mint Chips. Even more delicious! We found it needed a half cup more powdered sugar though. Thanks for the recipe…I consider it a Pinterest success!
For the person who needs lactose free hot chocolate mix, I use dried coconut milk all the time for making ice cream. It should work for this as well. You should be able to find the dehydrated coconut milk at the better grocery stores or other dehydrated nut milks–like almond milk. These are becoming more and more popular.
Thanks, Cheryl!
What should I use in place of a food processor?
Kathy,
Do you have another type of grinder or processor? A powerful blender?
Made this today, so yummy! Will be making more for xmas gifts. Thank you!
This will be perfect! Thank you for the amounts. I’ve been recently making the kids hot chocolate with hershey’s unsweetened cocoa and the ingredients in your recipe, minus the powdered sugar and using real milk. But I was wondering if I used powdered milk, how much I would need. Thank you! It’s so much better (and cheaper) than those little cocoa packets.
did you use instant dry milk or regular dry milk.? does it make a difference?
Instant.
Did you use instant powdered milk or regular powdered milk?
Does it make a difference
Instant.
I guess I didn’t know there were two different kinds.
I have made this up with dry, non dairy, coffee creamer and used sweetened,vanilla, almond milk. I have made it with and without the cocoa chips. It was very good. I make it a cup at a time sometimes too. 1 cup heated sweetened, vanilla almond milk, 1 heaping tsp non dairy creamer and 1 level tsp powdered or regular sugar. I also made it with unsweetened almond milk and sweet and low or splenda. Just get creative and try things a cup at a time until you find what you like.
so is this INSTANT powdered milk or actual no fat mild powder (that is not in the granules ) because the instant is 19.00 a box here the powder is much more affordable
Tara, I use the instant dry milk, and not familiar with no fat mild powder. Where do you live? The instant dry milk is not even half that price at my stores.
Hot cocoa powder is creamier with WHOLE milk powder (in place of the nonfat), too.
I have not ever tried using the ground chocolate – sounds fabulous!
This recipe is so good that I’m having a hard time keeping milk in the house! It is so much better than the store bought packets and the single serve cups that are made for the cofee makers. I made a second batch adding cinnamon for more of a mexican chocolate flavor and it was to die for. In a pinch, after running out of milk, we used water and it was still delicious.
Thanks, Stephanie!
Just got done making it…used milk chocolate chips instead and put all the ingredients in my blender (Kitchenaid)and used the chop button then mix button.Instead of using milk in the cup,I used water (since milk is expensive),then had my husband drink it.He loved it and said it tasted kind of like dark chocolate.Marshmallows help sweeten it too!He LOVED IT!!
can i make a big batch of this for a party and keep it warm on the stove? any tips? thanks!
I’m sure you can, but I haven’t done it myself, so no tips from my end. Sorry!
I would suggest a crock-pot for keeping it hot.
I made this for Christmas presents for some of my friends. They said it was amazing! Now I just need to make some for myself! Awesome Recipe!
What would the portions be if I wanted to do just enough for 1 serving (or at a lot fewer servings)?
Hi HW, this isn’t the type of recipe where you would want to make just one serving. You’re better off making up the entire batch, and if you don’t want to keep the large batch, what a great opportunity to share with friends!
What size jar did you use
Hi Heather, Do you mean what size mason jar fits the printable labels? They are half-pint jars.
Made this today, and I loved it because it really does have a great taste, I had all the ingredients in my pantry already, and there aren’t any chemicals in it like the carnations hot chocolate (which I used to drink all the time). I also started making my own granola because I like being able to pronounce all the ingredients
White chocolate chips was a surprise ingredient!