Homemade Hot Cocoa is so quick and easy to make! Made with just 3 simple ingredients, then stir into warmed milk, a cup of coffee, or hot water for a quick and easy hot cocoa!
Hot cocoa has always been one of my favorite things! Rich and creamy, sweet and simple, it is one of my favorite indulgences – especially during cooler months when all I want are cozy things.
Making homemade cocoa is one of the simplest things to do, too! With three ingredients you most likely keep on hand in your pantry, you can make your hot cocoa mix to keep on hand for a quick and easy cup of hot cocoa or make a batch of the mix to share with friends for a thoughtful homemade gift!
This recipe makes 24 servings, which is perfect to keep beside the coffee maker for a quick cup.
Table of Contents
- Hot Cocoa vs Hot Chocolate
- How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
- Hot Cocoa Ingredients
- How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa From This Mix
- Flavors Variations You May Enjoy
- Storage Tips
- Favorite Toppings
- Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
Hot Cocoa vs Hot Chocolate
Hot Cocoa is made using cocoa powder while hot chocolate is made by melting chocolate into milk and cream. Both are absolutely delicious!
How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Hot Cocoa Ingredients
For the mix, you’ll need the following:
- Cocoa Powder – use your favorite cocoa powder in this recipe. You can use either Dutch-processed or natural.
- Sugar – use your favorite sugar or an equal replacement of your favorite sugar substitute or alternative.
- Salt – just a little salt helps to round out the flavor
How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa From This Mix
To make using this hot cocoa mix, for each cup:
Stir one to two tablespoons of this easy homemade mix into a cup of warmed milk, hot water, or even a cup of coffee for a quick mocha.
Flavors Variations You May Enjoy
- Peppermint – add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract or 1 tablespoon crushed peppermint candies
- Cinnamon – add a pinch of ground cinnamon
- Spicy – add a pinch of cayenne pepper
Storage Tips
Hot Cocoa Mix should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If stored correctly, it should last for up to 2 months.
Favorite Toppings
- Marshmallows
- Whipped Cream
- Peppermint Stick or Candy Cane
- Dusting of Cocoa
- Mini Chocolate Chips
Here’s our favorite Hot Cocoa Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
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Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
Robyn Stone
5 from 4 votes
Homemade Hot Cocoa is so quick and easy to make! Made with just 3 simple ingredients, then stir into warmed milk, a cup of coffee, or hot water for a quick and easy hot cocoa!
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 24
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or natural
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
To Make Homemade Hot Cocoa from this Mix:
- 1 cup warm milk, or water or coffee
Optional Toppings:
- marshmallows
- whipped cream
- peppermint extract
Hot Cocoa Variations:
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, (Peppermint Hot Cocoa)
Instructions
Mix together sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Store in an airtight container.
To Make Hot Cocoa from this Mix:
Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix into 1 cup of warmed milk, hot water, or coffee. Add ingredients for flavor variations and/ or optional toppings as desired.
Notes
Note: Nutrition information is calculated on 2 tablespoons of homemade hot cocoa mix. This recipe makes 12 to 24, 8-ounces servings of hot cocoa.
Storage Tips
Hot Cocoa Mix should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If stored correctly, it should last for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 8ounces | Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, Chocolate, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Drink Recipes, Game Day Recipes, how to, Make-ahead Recipes, New Year Recipes, No Cook Recipes, Simple Recipes, Valentine’s Day Recipes
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About Robyn
Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.
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