DIY Hot Cocoa Mix

Happy December! Every year I do a gift segment on AM Northwest, and show some of my favorite kitchen toys and appliances. This year we thought it would be fun to make something homemade from your kitchen, whether you give it to your favorite nurse, teacher, mail carrier, neighbor, or just keep it for yourself.

This recipe for homemade cocoa mix couldn’t be easier. It uses ingredients you may already have in your kitchen, and it’s dairy-free and gluten-free too! It also happens to be super delicious as well, and is a recipe that I have been gifting for many years. You can also customize the mix by adding chocolate chips, cinnamon and spices, mini marshmallows, candy canes, etc… You can also gift the cocoa mix along with a bottle of rum or liqueur, homemade hazelnut milk, some cute mugs, a bottle of Nielsen-Massey vanilla, or a ceramic or glass crock. 

The mix will keep for at least a year, but really longer as there isn’t anything in it that would go bad. It contains a little cornstarch too, which gives the hot cocoa a bit more of a rich, creamy body to it without using cream. To make you simply heat a mug of soy or almond milk in the microwave or in a pot on the stove-top until steamy, and then stir in a couple of tablespoons of the dry mix. You can then take it a step further and add a dash of vanilla, almond, peppermint, or orange extract, a handful of mini marshmallows, or a dollop of coconut whipped cream. The possibilities are endless!

I’m sharing the recipe in two different sizes. The small recipe will make fill a single jar (depending on the size you use), and the large is when you want to make a nice size batch for gifting. Feel free to make an even larger batch if you want to make a lot.

I’d love to hear of you make it!

Happy Holidays!  xoxo Julie

DIY Hot Cocoa Mix

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• Author: Julie Hasson

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Description

This cocoa mix is my favorite, and one that I gift every year!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Small Batch:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Pinch of sea salt

Large Batch:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
1/4 cup cornstarch
Pinch of sea salt

Optional ingredients: Chocolate chips, a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, mini vegan marshmallows, etc…

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Instructions

Whisk all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. If your cocoa powder has some lumps, you may need to sift it first before mixing it with the other ingredients. 

Package up in jars, crocks, or cello bags.

To Make A Cup Of Cocoa: heat a mug of your favorite milk and stir in 2 tablespoons (or more or less to taste) of hot cocoa mix. Stir until smooth and serve.