Make a big batch of homemade hot chocolate mix to have on hand in the pantry this winter! Just add hot water or milk for a creamy cup of hot cocoa. It’s also perfect for gifting!
Take your homemade hot chocolate recipe up a notch with fluffy homemade marshmallows, too.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Living in the Northeast, hot cocoa is one of my favorite ways to warm up in the wintertime. If you’re ready to skip store-bought hot chocolate this season, try this easy homemade version instead! This homemade hot chocolate mix is:
- Easy. Making a batch of homemade hot cocoa mix is quick and easy with the help of your blender. All it takes is 3 simple ingredients!
- Creamy. Add hot milk or water, and this hot chocolate is rich, creamy, and chocolatey, but not too sweet. There’s always an opportunity to sweeten it up with marshmallows!
- Perfect for gifting. Homemade hot chocolate mix makes an easy gift throughout the winter months and holiday season. Spread the warmth!
What Is Hot Chocolate Mix Made Of?
You need only 3 ingredients to make the best homemade hot chocolate mix. Below are some notes, with the full recipe amounts and details available in the recipe card after the post.
- Sugar – I use the Turbinado sugar from Sugar in the Raw. Turbinado sugar is less refined than white sugar with a more subtle sweetness. Light or regular brown sugar is a good substitute if needed.
- Salt – Including salt in a hot cocoa mix might sound a bit odd, but trust me! Salt is great for enhancing the flavor.
- Cocoa Powder – I recommend unsweetened cocoa powder. You can use natural or Dutch-processed cocoa. The better quality cocoa powder you use, the better the flavor will be.
How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix
To make hot chocolate mix, you’ll need a blender or food processor, plus an airtight jar for storage.
- Blitz the sugar. Add your turbinado sugar and salt to a blender, and pulse until you reach a fine powder.
- Add the cocoa. Next, add your cocoa powder and blend again. Transfer the finished hot chocolate mix to a mason jar (or another airtight container). It’s ready to use!
- Make hot chocolate. For a creamy cup of homemade hot chocolate, stir 1 heaping tablespoon of hot chocolate mix into a mug of hot milk or water.
Tips for Success
Homemade hot chocolate is about as foolproof as it gets! You’ll never go back to store-bought again. Here are some quick tips to remember:
- Blend the ingredients well. Pulsing the sugar to a fine consistency, similar to the consistency of the cocoa powder, is the goal. This way, the mix dissolves more easily when it’s combined with warm milk or hot water.
- If you don’t have a blender or food processor, I recommend swapping the turbinado sugar in this recipe for powdered sugar (a.k.a. confectioner’s sugar) instead. Simply whisk the mix together by hand. Be sure to sift the sugar and other ingredients before you combine them, to break up any lumps.
- Give it as a gift. I love gifting this hot chocolate mix in lidded jars along with a small whisk and a bag of mini marshmallows. It makes a nice gift for teachers, friends, and family. So cute!
Variation Ideas
If you love hot chocolate as much as we do in our house, you’re going to love finding new ways to adapt this homemade mix for every occasion. Here are some easy hot chocolate variations to try:
- Dehydrated marshmallows. Add dehydrated mini marshmallows to the dry mix, just like the kind you’d find in store-bought hot chocolate mix!
- Cinnamon. Add 3 teaspoons of cinnamon to the dry cocoa mix. Also, try my homemade pumpkin spice hot chocolate!
- Mexican hot chocolate. To make a Mexican hot chocolate mix, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch or two of cayenne pepper along with the cocoa powder.
- Boozy. Add a splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream, whiskey, or brandy to your hot chocolate for a boozy treat.
- Whipped cream. In place of marshmallows, garnish mugs of hot chocolate with a swirl of whipped cream.
- Mocha. Stir a tablespoon of hot chocolate mix into your morning coffee for a delicious homemade mocha.
- Peppermint. Stir your hot drink with a peppermint stick for a holiday twist!
- Unicorn. Try my unicorn hot chocolate recipe for a fun, colorful variation.
How to Store Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
To keep this homemade hot chocolate mix fresh, make sure to store it in an airtight, lidded jar or container. Keep it in a cool and dry location, like the pantry. Properly stored, this mix will keep for up to 6 months.
More Hot Chocolate Recipes
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Hot Chocolate Fudge
- Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 40 servings 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Description
Make this homemade hot chocolate mix to have on hand in the pantry all winter long. Just add hot water or milk for a cozy, creamy cup of hot cocoa. And don’t forget the marshmallows!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup turbinado sugar (I used Sugar in the Raw)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and the salt in the blender and blend until it’s powdered.
- Add in the cocoa powder and pulse again until combined.
- Store the mix in a jar or airtight container until ready to use.
- To make hot chocolate mix 1 heaping tablespoon of mix into a mug of warm milk or water.
- Stir until blended.
Notes
Add spice: Add 3 teaspoons of cinnamon with the cocoa powder before mixing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 7.6 g
- Sodium: 59.2 mg
- Fat: 0.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.1 g
- Protein: 0.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
After trying and not liking some other recipes I must say this is a great recipe for hot chocolate mix! I’ve made it twice. The first time I added white sugar as this is what I had on hand. The second time I used 1.5 cups Stevia in the Raw (bakers bag) to cut back on sugar. This cocoa mix is pretty dog-on good for being zero calories (plus I am using 1% milk). Of course, I prefer the sugar version but needing a better choice for watching calories and sugar intake is a great substitution. Judge me not! LOL. Considering lately (a nasty break-up in July after 11 years, losing 2 cats to cancer in September and October, buying a house in October. nearly losing one of my dogs to freak sepsis of the joint disease in October, finding out my oldest dog has cancer in December, and a new career change starting this coming Monday… Whew!!) I treat myself to a well-deserved 10-ounce mug of Hot Chocolate every night. At least it’s not drugs or alcohol! Hahaha!!! Now I can feel a little better about the “healthy” benefits of a zero-calorie mix.
So glad you like it and great tip on using the Stevia in the Raw!
Stevia in the Raw is actually no better than sugar, and could actually be considered worse. It mostly consists of maltodextrin, a filler that actually sends blood sugar skyrocketing, which is especially bad for diabetics or those at risk for it. Anything with dextrin or dextrose should be avoided whenever possible, which, admittedly, is difficult, because they are in EVERYTHING.
My personal sweetener of choice is erythritol, a sugar alcohol that has very little effect on blood sugar. (And, unlike its cousin xylitol, erythritol is not toxic to dogs, which is another plus, in my book.) The downside is that it IS a lot more expensive, and it can cause digestive issues, (mild cramps, loose stool,) until the body becomes used to it, but it is the least likely of the sugar alcohols to do so. You can also find erythritol/stevia blends. Splenda recently came out with one that I like, but you can also find other brands at bulk stores, walmart, (check the pharmacy area as well,) or online.
Amazing! I added a splash of milk, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream and it was SO GOOD!!! Definetly saving this one!
Just made this mix and then had a cup. It is sooo delicious and so easy to make. I used less sugar and it was still excellent
Thank you so much.
The recipe on the Hershey cocoa can is just as easy. Just mix the dry ingredients together and store in a jar until ready to use. For each of .mix I make, I substitute 2 packs of pink sweetener instead of sugaf.
Being diabetic, I make mine with Truvia
Can’t wait to mix this up and try it. How much do you put in say, 1 cup of milk?
yes, 8 ounces is a good place to start 🙂
Can I use regular sugar (I’d blend it too) instead of the turbinado sugar?
Yes you can 🙂
This is so easy! My children send their thanks 😉
awesome!!
A couple of drops of vanilla extract rounds the flavor out quite a bit…add it right at the end but only a drop or to it is easy to get too much LOL
just a crazy question can this recipe be put in jars and given as gifts with a tag attached to how to mix this and how long does it keep????
awesome question and absolutely! this would keep in jars for months 🙂
MUCH simpler and cheaper than the homemade recipe I currently have – can’t wait to try this one!! My kids love hot chocolate 🙂