Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
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
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!
Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Incredibly good and simple to make! Mixed it up with milk and placed in crockpot to keep it warm and took to Church Christmas Party. I had marshmallows and spray whip cream on the side. Perfect! Thank you! 💙
I’m so glad you enjoyed the homemade hot cocoa, Cristy. Love the idea for the church Christmas Party!
Hey Robin, I just looked up your site to see if you had a hot cocoa recipe which I was sure you did! I want to ask if you know a way to cut the sugar and it still be tasty? What would you use? I don’t mind some sugar but I like to cut it down a little. We use Stevia as our artificial sweetener of choice mostly…would you use 1:1 to start? Have you experimented? I’m not looking for perfection, just suggestions from my fav southern blogger!!
Sherry, I haven’t made this hot cocoa mix with less sugar or with an artificial sweetener but look at the comment from Sally: “I make your hot chocolate mix in a diet version by replacing part or all of the sugar with an equivalent amount of artificial sweetener, most often equal. It helps to pour just a very small amount of hot milk into the cup and mix in the dry ingredients before filling up the rest of the cup with hot milk.” Maybe this will help.
I make your hot chocolate mix in a diet version by replacing part or all of the sugar with an equivalent amount of artificial sweetener, most often equal. It helps to pour just a very small amount of hot milk into the cup and mix in the dry ingredients
before filling up the rest of the cup with hot milk.
Thanks, Sally, for telling us how you make this hot chocolate mix with less sugar for those who are restricting their sugar intake.
This is delicious! Easy to make and wonderful to give as gifts! Thanks!!
Thanks, Judy. It does make wonderful gifts.
The calorie content is listed as 34kcal based on 8 oz whole milk and 2 Tbsp of mix. How can this be possible when 8 oz of whole milk alone has 150 kcal?
I’m sorry, Lynn. The calorie count is just for a serving of the hot cocoa mix. You can make the hot cocoa with milk, water, or coffee.
I add cinnamon. Sometimes cayenne 😬
Photos are Awesome !!! Thank You For Sharing this Wonderful and Healthy Hot Drink Recipe !!! This Recipe is Look So Fresh, Healthy and Delicious to Prepare. Nice Blog to Follow while Preparing Recipes. I’ll Definitely Try it.
Your Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix says it makes 30 servings. However, the recipe is for only one serving.
Need the full recipe.
Thanks.
Ann, the recipe gives amount of ingredients and instructions to make the mix which equals 24 servings. It also includes amounts and directions to make one serving under the title To Make Hot Cocoa from this Mix. Hope you enjoy!