Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix is so easy to make and is great for gifting around the holidays! Or, keep a batch on hand for yourself so you can enjoy rich and creamy hot cocoa all winter long.

Making DIY Hot Cocoa Mix 

If you’ve only made hot cocoa with store-bought mix until now, it’s time you tried making it from scratch! 

Rather than making a single batch of homemade hot cocoa at a time, I recommend making a larger batch of dry mix and storing it in your pantry. Then, whenever a cocoa craving hits you can measure out exactly what you need to make one or more servings at a time. 

This dry hot cocoa mix recipe is great for gifting around the holidays, or for keeping on hand to use whenever you like! 

Plus, by making hot cocoa mix yourself you have control over the ingredients. Adjust how sweet your cocoa is by using more or less powdered sugar or using different kinds of chocolate; make it more flavorful by including a vanilla bean in the dry mix; or, make it sweet and salty by adding more sea salt. 

This recipe uses a combination of cacao powder and actual chocolate for a rich and creamy hot cocoa that’s full of flavor! 

In this post, I’ve also provided ideas for hot cocoa toppings as well as how you can make your hot cocoa boozy if desired. 

Tools Needed for Making Dry Hot Cocoa Mix

To make DIY hot cocoa mix yourself, I recommend utilizing the following kitchen tools to minimize the prep work.   

• Food processor — For combining the dry mix and ensuring the chopped chocolate is evenly incorporated. 
• Glass jars — For storing the hot cocoa mix. 
• Large funnel — For transferring the dry mix from the food processor to the glass jars. 
• Cutting board and knife — For roughly chopping the chocolate bars. 
• Measuring cups or kitchen scale — Needed for almost any recipe! 

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Ingredients

I always make my hot cocoa mix with powdered milk for maximum creaminess and flavor. Using powdered milk in the dry mix also means I can prepare the finished cocoa using just hot water rather than additional milk. 

Here’s what you’ll need to make hot cocoa mix: 

• Powdered Milk
• Powdered Sugar
• Sea Salt
• Cacao Powder
• Bittersweet Chocolate 
• Milk Chocolate
• Vanilla Bean (optional)

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this homemade recipe for hot cocoa mix, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Type of Powdered Milk for Hot Cocoa Mix

For the powdered milk, depending on the brand they have different measurements of use per serving. The one I use says 1 serving = 23 g and directions state to use ⅓ cup of powder + a scant cup of water for 8 ounces of milk.

Brand shouldn’t matter as long as the serving information is the same. If the amount of powder to use per cup of milk is different, then the concentration of milk in the mix could be different without converting the recipe.

How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

I’ve provided detailed instructions on preparing the dry hot cocoa mix recipe in the recipe card below, as well as how to make a full batch or single serving of hot cocoa from the dry mix. 

Below is simply an overview of the recipe: 

1. In a food processor, combine the powdered milk, powdered sugar, salt, and cacao powder. Process to combine the ingredients. 
2. Add the chopped chocolate and pulse until it is finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the rest of the dry mix. 
3. Transfer the dry ingredients to a jar along with the optional vanilla bean. Seal the jar of dry mix with a lid.

The above is simply a quick summary of this hot cocoa mix recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Make a Single Serving Using This Dry Mix

Making hot cocoa from your homemade dry mix is quick and easy! To make a single serving of cocoa: 

1. Heat 1 cup of water until simmering. You can do this using a mug or glass measuring cup in the microwave. 
2. Add 6 to 7 tablespoons of the hot cocoa mix and stir to combine. (A milk frother also works great for this!)
3. Enjoy your homemade hot chocolate recipe once cool enough to sip. 

Ideas for Hot Cocoa Toppings

Sip your creamy hot cocoa as is, or go crazy with the toppings! Some of our favorite toppings for hot cocoa include: 

• Whipped cream
• Homemade marshmallows (raspberry marshmallows and chocolate peppermint marshmallows are both great)
• Candy cane or peppermint stick
• Dusting of cocoa powder or cacao powder
• Dusting of cinnamon
• Sprinkle of chocolate shavings or curls
• Dusting of pumpkin pie spice 
• Dusting of gingerbread spice 
• Drizzle of caramel sauce (we love bourbon caramel sauce, rum caramel sauce, and pumpkin caramel sauce!)

Tips for Making Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

I highly recommend making your own hot cocoa mix. It tastes so much better tasting than hot cocoa mix packets from the grocery store. Check out these recipe tips:

• Use unsweetened cacao powder, or else your hot cocoa will wind up being far too sweet. 
• Use powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar. Powdered sugar sweetens the hot cocoa without making it grainy like granulated sugar would. 
• Opt for bittersweet chocolate that’s between 60 – 70 % cacao. Again, you want rich hot cocoa that’s sweet but not too sweet. 
• Use bars of chocolate that you chop up, not chocolate chips. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers and don’t melt as well as regular chocolate.  
• For a prettier presentation, layer the individual ingredients in glass jars rather than mixing everything together in the food processor. I only do this if gifting, and only if gifting smaller quantities that will be made all at once. 
• Using hot water vs hot milk to make the hot cocoa. You can use water to reconstitute the dry mix since there is powdered milk in the cocoa mix, but if you want a richer hot cocoa then use whole milk instead.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this homemade hot chocolate mix recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Can this recipe be increased to make a bigger batch? 

Yes, you can totally make a big batch of this cocoa mix!

Depending on the size of your food processor you may have to prep the dry mix in batches since your food processor can only hold so much at a time!  

What liquid should I use to make hot cocoa using the dry mix? 

You can use water to reconstitute the dry mix since there is powdered milk in the cocoa mix. The powdered milk will create a smooth and creamy hot cocoa.  

For a richer, decadent cup of hot chocolate, use whole milk instead. You may also use a non-dairy milk, such as almond milk or coconut milk, if desired. 

Will the powdered milk in the hot cocoa mix spoil? 

Technically yes, but powdered milk can last 2+ years if stored in a cool, dry place so you don’t need to worry about the hot cocoa mix spoiling. 

Can I make this hot cocoa mix boozy?

Sure thing! On cold winter nights, we love making cups of boozy hot chocolate as an alternative to cocktails. 

Here are some suggestions for alcohols to pair with the hot cocoa: 

• Peppermint Hot Cocoa: Add ¼ – 1 ounce of peppermint schnapps or creme de menthe per mug of prepared cocoa.
• Orange Hot Cocoa: Add ¼ – 1 ounce grand marnier or cointreau per mug of prepared cocoa.
• Baileys Hot Cocoa: Add ¼ – 1 ounce of Baileys per mug of prepared cocoa.
• Mocha Hot Cocoa: Add ¼ – 1 ounce of coffee liqueur per mug of prepared cocoa.
• Raspberry Hot Cocoa: Add ¼ – 1 ounce of Chambord per mug of prepared cocoa.

How Much Alcohol to Add to Hot Cocoa

Feel free to adjust the amount of booze in your hot cocoa according to personal preference, depending on how much flavor and how boozy you want it.

I recommend starting with a small amount, such as ¼ ounce, and working your way up from there. Want it boozier? Add an additional ¼ ounce and increase until desired flavor/alcohol content is achieved. 

Can this recipe be made without a food processor? 

Of course! Finely chop the chocolate using a knife and cutting board, then whisk the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. 

Tip: the chocolate bars will need to be very finely chopped so they’re evenly distributed amongst the rest of the dry ingredients.

Hot Cocoa Mix Storage Instructions 

Store homemade hot cocoa mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. 

How long is homemade hot cocoa mix good for? 

Hot cocoa mix will last 8 months or more if stored properly, noting that the chopped chocolate may bloom over time (i.e. develop a white cast). 

Gifting Instructions for Hot Cocoa Mix

If gifting DIY hot cocoa mix, I recommend sealing it in Weck jars (or your favorite type of mason jar) and tying the jars up with velvet ribbon to give your holiday gifts a cute presentation. 

Make sure you include instructions for preparing the cocoa on the jar! You can write or print out the instructions on a tag and attach it to the ribbon. 

• In regards to how much of the dry mix to gift, I suggest gifting enough mix in each jar to serve one to two mugs of cocoa per persone in the family you’re gifting to.
• If gifting hot chocolate mixes to a single person, I recommend at least half a batch of the cocoa mix (i.e. 4 mugs prepared).

Try This Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix! 

Next time you’re looking for a homemade gift idea for the holiday season, prepare a batch of DIY hot cocoa mix! 

Did you think the hot cocoa was creamy, rich, and perfect for a cold day? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this holiday favorite.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your hot cocoa dry mix! 

More Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes: 

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate is so decadent! Homemade hot chocolate is infused with vanilla salted caramel sauce, topped with vanilla whipped cream, and drizzled with extra caramel sauce.

Spiked Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate is a tasty twist on regular hot chocolate thanks to the addition of the flavors of mocha, peppermint, and some optional Irish cream. Top it all off with Peppermint Mocha Whipped Cream and Marshmallows for an unbelievable sweet treat.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa is made with a blend of chocolate, cocoa powder, peppermint tea, and crushed candy canes. This would make a wonderful Christmas hot cocoa!

This Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate is infused with real pumpkin puree and plenty of pumpkin spice for a delectable fall drink! It’s a fun twist on classic recipes for traditional hot chocolate and perfect for snow days!

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