With just four ingredients, including a secret ingredient, you will have a DIY Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix on hand to enjoy. Just add hot water or milk and you'll be sipping on a cup of creamy instant hot chocolate in just minutes.
When it's cold outside and you need something to warm you up, there's no need to run out to the store.
Simply have some Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix in your pantry and you'll be cozy and warm and sipping on a mug of creamy hot cocoa in just a matter of minutes.
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Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
With just four ingredients, our from scratch recipe is easy to make and will last in an airtight container for several weeks.
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Our 5 star hot chocolate mix recipe makes a delicious foodie gift for the holidays.
A pretty airtight glass container and a festive ribbon will dress up this homemade hot cocoa mix and make the perfect foodie gift for sure!
A delicious way to show your love on Valentine's Day too is with a simmering cup of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and festive sprinkles, because really, chocolate and Valentine's Day go hand in hand, agree?
My favorite hot chocolate toppings are hot fudge sauce, whipped cream (of course!), sprinkles, a dusting of cocoa powder and mini chocolate chips!
You'll love serving this cocoa mix in a DIY hot chocolate bar during the holidays too!
I love making a cup of hot chocolate coffee with this homemade mix too!
Best Hot Chocolate Mix
No more buying expensive hot chocolate mix, filled with so much sugar, from the grocery store.
Now you can control how much sugar you'll have in your warm chocolate drink.
Homemade is so much better than store-bought, for sure!
Cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, powdered dry milk, and the magic ingredient, cornstarch, come together with hot water or hot milk for the best cup of hot chocolate ever!
And why is cornstarch the secret ingredient you ask?
Cornstarch will give your warm drink a creamy, silky mouth feel and that’s what makes this the best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe ever.
This hot chocolate recipe with cocoa powder gets its rich chocolate flavor from, you guessed it, the unsweetened cocoa powder!
And if you love hot chocolate then you need to try our Italian Hot Chocolate recipe. It’s like nothing you’ve ever had before, unless of course you’ve been to Italy and indulged. It’s so thick you may even need a spoon to “drink” it.
Our homemade hot cocoa recipe makes a delicious foodie gift too and is always a delicious addition to a hot cocoa bar.
This hot chocolate mix makes a delicious cup of hot cocoa when you combine 6 Tablespoons of the cocoa mi with 8 ounces of hot milk.
If you want a rich and more indulgent chocolate drink, just increase the amount of cocoa mix to 1/2 cup, combine it with 8 ounces hot milk, stir and enjoy!
Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!
Hot Chocolate FAQ’s
Do you make hot chocolate with milk or water?
Using whole milk to make hot chocolate will give your drink more creaminess and richness than water.
To make a thicker and richer hot chocolate, make it with milk and substitute ¼ cup of heavy cream or half and half for 1/4 cup of the milk.
What is hot chocolate and coffee mixed together called?
Hot chocolate and coffee mixed together is known as caffe mocha or mocha coffee.
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How to make homemade hot chocolate mix
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below. Here's a quick overview of how to make a DIY hot cocoa mix:
- In a bowl combine confectioners sugar, powdered milk, cocoa powder and cornstarch
- Whisk together until smooth, blended and free of any lumps
- Store in an airtight container
Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- Add coffee for a mocha coffee drink
- Top with whipped cream
- Add mini marshmallows
- Garnish with Valentine sprinkles
- For a richer and more indulgent chocolate drink, use 1/2 cup of the cocoa mix with 8 ounces hot milk
- A splash of vanilla extract always adds a delicious depth of flavor
- Add a dash of ground cinnamon and make a mexican hot chocolate
- Top your mug of creamy hot chocolate with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup
- Make chocolate protein hot chocolate by adding your favorite chocolate protein powder too
Substitutions
- Can’t have sugar and want a sugar free hot chocolate mix? Just replace the confectioners sugar with Swerve confectioners sugar and you'll have a sugar free hot cocoa! You're welcome!
- Replace hot water with hot milk for a richer drink
- Make it indulgent and use ¾ cup milk and ¼ cup heavy cream in place of 1 cup water
- Replace the water with your favorite plant-based milk, such as almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk
Homemade hot cocoa mix
- Takes just minutes to put together
- Is easy to store
- Makes a great foodie gift
- Is fun for kids to make
Hot cocoa single serving recipe
- Place 6 Tablespoons of the mix in a mug
- Add 1 cup hot milk or hot water
- Stir until smooth and blended
Equipment
Ingredients for DIY hot chocolate mix
You'll need these basic dry ingredients to make this simple recipe:
- confectioners’ sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- powdered milk
- cornstarch
Hot Chocolate Recipes
- Hot Chocolate Bar
- Hot Chocolate Mug Cake
- Mexican Hot Chocolate from Restless Chipotle
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate from Dizzy Busy and Hungry
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
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Ingredients
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered milk
- 2 Tbs. cornstarch
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Instructions
- Combine confectioners sugar, powdered milk, cocoa powder and cornstarch in a bowl.
- Using a whisk, whisk until mixture is smooth, blended and free of any lumps. If necessary, put the mixture through a sifter to remove any lumps.
- Store in an airtight container.
- For 1 serving: Combine 6 Tablespoons cocoa mix and 1 cup hot milk or hot water
Notes
- For a richer and more indulgent chocolate drink, use 1/2 cup of the cocoa mix with 8 ounces hot milk
- Replace 1 cup of hot water with 1 cup of hot milk for a richer drink
- Add coffee for a mocha coffee drink
- Add a candy cane stirrer for a peppermint mocha drink
- Top with whipped cream and Valentine sprinkles
Nutrition
Cookies For Kids Valentine Bloggers' Event
I’m so excited to participate in this Valentine’s event again. This is the fifth year for our event and we want to continue to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S. There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. The National Cancer Institute’s budget for childhood cancer is less than 4%. It’s such a small number and that’s why I got involved.
And with the ongoing pandemic, children are still being diagnosed with cancer. It’s imperative that we raise awareness and continue to raise funds to fund the ongoing pediatric cancer research!
Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids' Cancer!
Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because these three companies: OXO, Mediavine amd Dixie Crystals have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000! That means when we raise $1, it turns into $4!
Thank you to so many of you who have already donated, please help us reach our goal so we can get the full matching donations and help us make an even huge difference!
Be sure to visit the other bloggers participating in the Valentine’s Day event and check out their recipes!
Heart Shaped Chocolate Cake from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Easy Chocolate Mousse from Allison of Celebrating Sweets
Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies from Sheila of Life, Love, and Good Food
Lemon Biscotti from Jenn of Ever AFTER IN THE WOODS
Easy Cream Cheese Candies from Kelly of Live Laugh Rowe
Cornflake Cookies from All The Good Cookies from Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm
Strawberry Mochi Cookies from Heather of Delicious Not Gorgeous
Red Velvet Valentine Brownies Recipe from Jennifer of The Rebel Chick
Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe from Faith of An Edible Mosaic
Chinese Five-Spice Snickerdoodle Cookies from Bridget of Bake at 350
Chocolate Molten Lava Cake from Ashley of Spoonful of Flavor
Double Chocolate M&M Cookies from Melissa of Persnickety Plates
Raspberry Lemon Macaroons from Sue of It's Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Raspberry Curd from Holly of A Baker's House
Red Velvet Brownies from Kelly of Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats
Toffee Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches from Audrey of That Recipe
Creamy Raspberry Sherbet Pandemic Punch from Laura of Untwisted Vintage
Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cake Balls from Lindsey of Lindsey Loo's Bakery
Chocolate Covered Oreo Pops for Valentine's Day from Heather of Totally Tailgates
Amaretto Cherry Swirl Cake from Samantha of Haute Pepper Bites
Gluten Free Double Chocolate Bundt Cake from Elaine of Small Farm Big Life
Easy Strawberry Mousse from Caroline of Caroline's Cooking
Cornflake Cookies from All The Good Cookies #HelpingCookies from Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm
Vanilla Bean Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies from Colleen of Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Neapolitan Cookies Recipe from Lisa of Blogghetti
Small Batch Almond Thumbprint Cookies from Lauren of Healthy Delicious
Kahlua Truffles from Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Red Velvet Brownie Cups from Nikki of Soulfully Made
Triple Chocolate Trifles from Coleen of The Redhead Baker
Cast Iron Skillet Cookie For Two from Aimee of Aimee Broussard
Festive Puppy Chow from Erin of The Speckled Palate
Chewy White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies from Jessica of A Kitchen Addiction
Hot Chocolate Bombs for Valentine's Day from Anna-Marie of Beauty and the Beets
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies from Lisa of Taste Cook Sip
Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles from Betsy of The JavaCupcake Blog
Cherry Blossom Cookies from Carolann of Apron Warrior
Chocolate Mint Frappuccino Cookies from Peabody of Sweet ReciPEAs
Mini Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecakes from Kate of Kate's Recipe Box
Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies from Shashi of Savory Spin
Funfetti Cookie Bars from Becca of The Salted Cookie
Grapefruit Poppyseed Cake from Michelle of Cold Weather Comfort
White Rabbit Candy Cookies from Linda of Ketchup with Linda
Baby Yoda Valentine’s Day Cookies to Support Cookies for Kid’s Cancer from Jenn of justJENN recipes
Salted Peanut Butter Pretzel Cowboy Cookies from Bree of Baked Bree
Red Velvet Hot Chocolate Bombs from Erin of The Spiffy Cookie
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix from Gwynn of Swirls of flavor
Cherry Chocolate Chip No Bake Cheesecake from Stefanie of Stef's Eats and Sweets
Valentine's Day Homemade Ding Dongs from TammyJo of The Chocolate Cult
Guava Macarons with Coconut Buttercream from Lindsay of Anchored Baking
Valentines Pink Dessert Charcuterie Board for Kids from Nicole of For the Love of Food
Hot Chocolate Cookies from Amanda of A Cookie Named Desire
Cóctel de Camarones from Rebekah of Kitchen Gidget
Cuccidati (Italian Fig Cookies) from Amy of The Nifty Foodie
Lemon Poppyseed Heart Shaped Sandwich Cookies from Lisa of Garlic & Zest
Valentine's Day Almond Flour Brownies from Kaitlin of I Can Cook That
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake from Trang of Wild Wild Whisk
Such a cute Christmas gift!
What a fun recipe to make! Such an awesome, edible gift as well. I'm looking forward to making this mix again for gifts for Valentine's Day.
I love this idea! I'm definitely using this mix to make some hot cocoa tonight!
This was so lovely to enjoy over the holidays. Making your own is always so much more delicious. Thanks!
We made these as a gift for my extended family during the holidays and it was a hit! Super easy to make, and a great gift too!
Thanks Lauren. Everyone love getting this as a gift!
It's so nice to have on hand. Enjoy Chenee!
Homemade makes everything so much more delicious! Enjoy Sharon!
Such a thoughtful and delicious gift! Homemade makes everything better!
This is such a great Hot Chocolate Mix that everyone will love and enjoy! Plus it's homemade which is really great and brings the best to this! The best part is we only need 4 ingredients to make this mix! I totally love it!
This would be a great gift idea for teachers or daycare providers. I would even gift it to myself 🙂 Sounds delicious!
This is so easy and delicious!
I am going to make this at home. Thank you!
I've used this recipe countless times during the holidays. I put it in small mason jars with a label of instructions for making the cocoa, then give it as gifts to teachers and miscellaneous others. I add marshmallows to the mix too. I've been told that it is very good!!
I’m so happy to hear this Kristina! This is a family favorite of ours too!
It is the season of giving. I love hot cocoa and decided to a make some jars of your homemade hot cocoa mix for family and friends. Everyone loved receiving their gifts. Such a tasty cocoa mix too.
I love making this and putting it in cute little jars for a Christmas gift!
Love this recipe not just for making my own hot cocoa, but this year I also used it for teacher gifts, neighbor gifts, and coworker gifts. I put it in a cute little mason jar with a festive bow and everyone just loved it. Thanks for the great idea and the great recipe!
Made this to give to family members as part of a gift basket, everyone loved it!
Everyone loves getting homemade hot chocolate mix for a gift!
Everyone loves getting a jar of homemade hot cocoa mix!
You can't go wrong when you give a jar of homemade hot chocolate mix as a gift! Everyone always loves it!
so fun and easy, my daughter and niece made some of these for their friends for the holidays. A hit! TY!
So happy to heat this! I made some for holidays gifts too and everyone loved it!