This rich and creamy homemade hot chocolate mix is made with simple pantry ingredients like cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and dry milk for the perfect cozy drink all winter long. Keep a jar in your cupboard for easy, from-scratch hot cocoa whenever the chocolate craving hits, or package it up in mason jars for a thoughtful homemade gift for friends and neighbors during the holidays.
We don’t live where it snows, but it definitely still gets cold and rainy during the winter season here in the California Bay Area. On mornings like that that the best way to coax my kids out of bed is with a mug of hot chocolate! It’s always such a treat!
My very favorite hot chocolate is actually this European-style version that is super thick and creamy, but it isn’t as convenient to make in the morning as this ready-made mix. It’s almost too easy, because it still delivers the same rich, creamy, and decadent flavor, especially when mixed with hot milk instead of water!
I made batch after batch of hot chocolate mix (my kids did not complain), testing various proportions of cocoa powder, sugar, and other ingredients to get things just right. I found that adding a little cornstarch to the mix helps thicken the hot chocolate every so slightly, giving it a silkier feel in your mouth. Sometimes I’ll double or triple the batch to have on hand all season long!
There’s nothing more comforting than sitting down with a warm, relaxing mug of hot cocoa! Some of our other favorite seasonal drinks are White Hot Chocolate, Slow Cooker Apple Cider, Homemade Eggnog, and my Traditional Wassail!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Nonfat Powdered Dry Milk – Creates the creamy base and makes the mix taste rich even when made with hot water.
- Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the mix and dissolves easily for a smooth texture.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Provides classic chocolate flavor and that deep cocoa color.
- Dutch Process Cocoa Powder – Adds a richer, smoother chocolate taste and enhances the overall flavor.
- Cornstarch – Gently thickens the hot chocolate for a silky finish.
- Vanilla Powder – Optional, but it adds sweetness and enhances the chocolatey flavor.
- Fine-Grained Salt – Balances the sweetness and makes the chocolate flavor stand out.
How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Toast the powdered milk. This step is optional, but it really does make a difference! Just line your baking sheet with parchment paper first, then spread the powdered milk in an even layer and toast for 20 minutes in a 300°F oven. Let it cool down to room temperature after toasting.
- Mix it together. Pulse the mix to combine everything together in a food processor (affiliate link). You could sift or whisk everything together by hand, but it’s easier and more evenly mixed in a food processor. Pulsing it also breaks down the powdered milk if it has larger granules in it, helping it dissolve better when mixed with hot liquid.
- Store in jars. Transfer to an airtight container to store. I like mason jars with wide mouths for easy measuring. Make sure the containers are fully dry before transferring the powder.
- To make the hot chocolate: Depending on personal preference, mix ¼ to ⅓ cup of the hot chocolate mix with 1 cup of hot water or milk, and serve hot.
I tested several ways of making hot chocolate mix – including using chopped white chocolate and dark cocoa powder. Ultimately, our favorite batches were when we combined a Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder with their regular unsweetened cocoa powder. It gives you a chocolate flavor that is on the dark side, but not too dark. It’s rich and chocolatey, with more complex cocoa flavor than just regular unsweetened cocoa powder alone.
Store your hot chocolate mix in an airtight container and it will last all season long since all of the ingredients are shelf-stable! We just keep our mix in the cupboard so it’s ready and within easy reach whenever we want to make a mug.
How to Gift Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
- Fill cellophane bags with the hot cocoa mix and tie them with a ribbon. Stick them in a cute mug with a candy cane and a card explaining that they will need to add ¼ to ⅓ cup of the hot chocolate mix to 1 cup of hot water or milk.
- Fill pint or quart size mason jars with the hot chocolate mix, then cover then tie a ribbon around the lid.
- Add Homemade Marshmallows or Peppermint Marshmallows to the mix, or gift alongside the hot chocolate powder for a full hot chocolate experience. Use dehydrated marshmallow bits (affiliate link) for a longer shelf life.
Variations To Try
- Mexican hot chocolate: Try adding 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon to the mix for a unique flavor combination that is super delicious!
- Peppermint candy cane hot chocolate: Unwrap 8-10 candy canes and add them to the food processor to pulverize them really well before adding them to the mix for a chocolate peppermint version.
- Add Vanilla Powder: Adding vanilla powder (affiliate link) really balances out the cocoa powder and really somehow makes it taste more chocolate-y. Nielsen-Massey makes a good vanilla powder, but at almost triple the price, so I tend to get mine online.
- Other flavors: The easiest way to add other flavors it to purchase flavored powdered coffee creamer and replace 1 cup of the powdered milk with 1 cup of the coffee creamer. The hazelnut version is my personal favorite.
More Edible Gift Ideas
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- English Toffee
- Peanut Brittle
- Olive Garden Salad Dressing
- Salted Caramel Sauce
- Flood Mud Hot Fudge
- Homemade Gourmet Caramel Apples
- Chocolate Walnut Fudge
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Ingredients
- 3 cups nonfat powdered dry milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup dutch process cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla powder (optional but so good!)
- ¼ teaspoon fine grained salt
Instructions
- OPTIONAL: Toast the powdered milk. To do this, preheat oven to 300°F. Spread the powdered milk in a 1/4-inch thick layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. If it clumps up, which is likely, you may need to pulse the toasted powdered milk in a food processor (affiliate link) so it is powdery again.3 cups nonfat powdered dry milk
- Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a large food processor (affiliate link). Pulse to evenly combine. This can also be done in a large bowl with a whisk, although you will want to sift through a fine mesh sieve so there aren’t clumps. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-6 months.3 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ cup dutch process cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 teaspoons vanilla powder, ¼ teaspoon fine grained salt
- To make hot chocolate from the mix, add 4-6 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix to a mug and fill the rest of the way with about 1 cup of hot milk or hot water. Hot water works fine, but the hot chocolate won’t be as creamy and rich. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.
Notes
- For richer flavor, toast the powdered milk at 300°F for 20 minutes before mixing.
- Use both regular and Dutch process cocoa for depth and smoothness.
- Mix with hot milk instead of water for a creamier cup.
- Double or triple the recipe to keep a jar on hand all season or gift to friends.
- Add marshmallows or crushed peppermint for a fun gift jar version.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix: Add 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon with the other hot chocolate ingredients.
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix: Try finely crushing 8-10 peppermint candy canes and adding them to them mix for a minty flavor.
- For more flavor variations, replace 1 cup of the nonfat powdered dry milk with 1 cup of flavored powdered coffee creamer instead.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-6 months.
- Keep away from humidity to prevent clumping.
I love this idea! Homemade mixes always taste better, and it’s such a thoughtful gift idea!
Yum! Homemade hot cocoa mix is so much better than anything we’ve ever bought at the store! This is a keeper for sure and we’ll be making up lots for gifting!
I love how easy this recipe is and how you mixed it in the food processor, genius!
Finally a recipe with vanilla powder. The toasted milk powder is a great idea. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Can’t wait for you to try it! You’ll love it!
Have not tried but sounds delicious, can not wait to try, 😋
It is very delicious! Let me know how you like it when you try it!
Is the Dutch Cocoa powder sweetened or unsweetened?
Dutch Cocoa is unsweetened. I like to use Dutch cocoa because it dissolves very nicely in liquids.
Tastes like liquid velvet. The chocolate combo is perfect. I used 1/4 mix to 8 oz of hot water and added the dehydrated marshmallows. Tastes like it was made with whole milk instead of water.
Great! Liquid velvet is a very good description!