“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
~ Linda Grayson
Do you love hot chocolate but not the ingredients found in pre-packaged versions? I mean, as tempting as this popular brands ingredient list sounds . . .
INGREDIENTS: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, VEGETABLE OIL (PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COCONUT OR PALM KERNEL AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN), DAIRY PRODUCT SOLIDS, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, AND LESS THAN 2% OF CELLULOSE GUM, NONFAT MILK, SALT, SODIUM CASEINATE, SODIUM CITRATE, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ALUMINOSILICATE, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, GUAR GUM, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS.
I think I’ll just stick with chocolate, milk, and other ingredients I can pronounce.
This hot cocoa recipe is easy to put together and makes a delightful gift for teachers, friends, grandparents, co-workers, neighbors, and whomever else you want to make smile. Put this mix in a mason jar with some butcher’s twine wrapped around the lid and – voila! – you have an instant gift that just about everyone will love. If you’re feeling like an over-achiever, you can even include homemade marshmallows.
Should I Use Cocoa Or Cacao?
I hear this question a lot. The answer is it’s really up to you. Cacao contains more antioxidants than cocoa, but it has a stronger – some say slightly more bitter – flavor. Those with an adventurous palate will probably enjoy the cacao. If you’re looking for something that reminds you of the pre-packaged mixes you grew up with, though, go with the cocoa. Or do a 50/50 mix of the two and make everybody happy!
(Note: If you go with cocoa I recommend using fair-trade dutch process. It’s better for you and the world we live in.)
This hot chocolate mix is easy to put together and makes a delicious gift for teachers, friends, grandparents, co-workers, neighbors, and whomever else you want to make smile. Put it in a cute mason jar and voila! You have an instant gift that just about everyone will love.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Equipment
- coffee grinder
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic dutch process cocoa powder
- ⅔ - 1 cup sucanat or coconut sugar (I like mine subtly sweet. Prefer more sweetness? use 1 cup)
- ½ tsp unrefined sea salt
- ½ - 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Method 1:
- Grind the sucanat in a coffee grinder until the texture is very fine. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a jar - preferably a pretty one if you're gifting this mix.
Method 2:
- In a food processor, blend the cocoa powder and sucanat until the texture is very fine. Mix in salt and transfer to a jar for storage.
To Use:
- Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 cup hot milk, coconut milk, or water. Top with marshmallows.
Nutrition
Looking for more chocolate-infused recipes?
Here are a few of my favorites:
I don’t have a coffee grinder or food processor — anyone know if a vitamix would work?
I don’t have a Vitamix so I’m not sure – hopefully someone will chime in!
If you have the dry grains container for the Vitamix it will work great!
Would coconut sugar work in this recipe?
Yes! Great idea, I’ll add it to the recipe as an alternative to sucanat.
Yes!
I just used my Vitamix –threw everything in together. Everything ground up into a fine powder. Tastes wonderful. I added a little coconut milk powder and a bit of collagen hydrolysate to mine.
Wonderful! Thanks for chiming in, Shannon!
This recipe doesn’t taste good with just water. I would love to find a powdered milk (like coconut or something richer than water and good quality/healthy) to add to be able to take this on the go — like camping!
I find that if I grind a bit of cocoa butter into the recipe as well, it gives that creamy mouth-feel and flavor without having to resort to powdered milk. Just make sure it’s grated or ground very very fine (put it in the food processor before all the other ingredients) – otherwise it doesn’t melt. 🙁
Alternative option for milk is http://www.vancesfoods.com/ or use coconut milk.
I have to say, I’m not a “sweets” person and usually like things much less sugary — but sadly, this was waaaaay to bitter/lacking sweetness. I looked up ratios from other recipes online and it seems like the sugar is usually double the amount of the cocoa. Am I missing something perhaps? Well, either way just a little head’s up to those who may run across the same problem!
Thank goodness I read this comment! Making this for Christmas gifts. Dumped in some extra sucanat, coconut sugar, and maple sugar. Tasted the powder and it was nom! Now on to attempt the marshmallows!
A good whey protein powder….like the Jarrow Whey Protein Concentrate is great for this. I use their unsweetened and unflavored, pure whey protein ..that way you can use it for other things. I make a morning smoothie and using the unflavored goes with whatever fruit and veggies I am using. Chocolate protein doesn’t love pineapple/celery smoothies! The whey protein is rich and creamy…..makes my smoothie taste like it has milk in it. Those with milk allergies can usually use the whey…..it’s usually the casein that causes the allergic reaction. Add in the bonus of protein with your hot chocolate! Wow. And I like to add a generous helping of coconut milk too! Yummy fat…
Hi, have you researched whether it is safe to heat honey? I had head that in the Ayurvedic system heating honey creates toxins that are very hard to clear from the intestines. This article also mentions scientific studies show heating honey produces a toxin.
http://www.ayurvedicyogi.com/honey-ayurvedic-nectar-or-poisin/
I’m thinking of switching to using maple syrup instead of honey in your recipe. Have you tried that? Thanks!
Also, Dutch processed cocoa is never a good thing to use….because of the strong alkali used in processing, it reduces the antioxidant levels and therefore is not a healthy product. I only use 100% cocoa powder, organic when i can, and NEVER Hershey’s DARK cocoa…..decreased antioxidants also. Which is sad because we’ve been programmed to reach for “dark” chocolate to boost antioxidants.
That is sooo much sweetener! You could leave out sweetener altogether and just train your tastebuds to enjoy the flavor of the unsweetened cocoa. It has a savory taste that is delicious. Plus the milk has plenty of sweetness to it. Unsweetened cocoa in hot foamed milk is my go-to weekend treat, and I’ll never drink the sweetened stuff again.
Hello and Happy New Year to all!
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a really good edible cocoa butter.
I’m totally new to baking and cooking, LOL. I’ve baked cookies with recipes from Mommypotamus and my husband loved them. (Thank you, Mommypotamus.)
I’d like to try to make my own chocolate now but am stumped as to the best possible cocoa butter(s) to use.
Thanks!
Hi,i just want to know if I can substitute organic jaggery powder as a sweetener in this recipe? Thanks for all your wonderful info and recipes.
I think that would be fine, though you may need to adjust the ratios a little.
Thanks for the hot chocolate ,my granddaughter and I drink hot chocolate every day in this cold weather.Thank You ..also the elderberry syrup.
I like this recipe and I will make it during the ski season to bring to the mountain. My plan is to add dehydrated milk so I can make it with water. Then I’ll use a bit of heavy cream from the coffee station to boost the fat content. What do you think?
I’d go with light cream or 1/2 n 1/2 as most brands of heavy cream contain carageenan a known carcinogen.
Have you ever made this and put any essential oils in it? I was thinking of adding ppmint oil or maybe even thieves in place of the cinnamon.
I want to make some of this up for quick Christmas gifts, so this morning I made a trial batch. It took all of five minutes to make the mix, so if you are needing a last minute gift idea, this one is for you. The real test, however was the taste once mixed with hot milk–which it performed wonderfully in! I thought it was plenty sweet (I used one cup coconut sugar) and very chocolaty. I am thinking it would taste good with a little cream added to the milk, or even some coconut oil maybe. Bulletproof hot chocolate.
What happened to my comment/question?
Hi Sam! I don’t think it came through, unfortunately. I only see one comment from you.
For gifting, how many (what size jars) does this make? We love making gifts for our neighbors each year, but I need to know how much to double (triple) the recipe to make enough.
Thank you! This recipe sounds awesome!
Is the jar label/recipe available to be printed out?
Perfectly simple and delicious recipe, thank you! Do you have any recommendations for glass jars to gift these? Favorite size and style? Thank you
The instructions on the picture of the jar say 2TBSP mix with 1 CUP of milk while the instructions on the recipe say 1TBSP mix with 1 CUP of milk. Which one is a correct one?