Recipe

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Make a packet or a jar with this easy recipe for dairy-free hot cocoa mix! All you need is water to make the drink.

I share the recipe for homemade dairy-free hot cocoa mix and a few dairy-free instant milk options I've tested that mix well.

closeup of hot cocoa in a white mug topped with mini marshmallows

Homemade Cocoa Mix with No Dairy

While stores are filled with many varieties of instant hot cocoa mix, finding one without dairy can be challenging and expensive! That’s the reason why I turn my homemade hot cocoa mix into this dairy-free version.

Making your own cocoa mix is not only more cost-effective but also just as convenient to have in the pantry! You can also pre-measure each serving and store it in single-serve snack bags for the ultimate convenience.

What You Need

The base for chocolatey goodness is unsweetened cocoa powder (regular or dark), powdered sugar (sweetens and dissolves easily with water), and dairy-free powdered milk (more options below). I also include a pinch of salt to enhance flavor and cornstarch to prevent caking when storing (if omitting, plan on stirring well).

How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix

If mixing the ingredients by hand, I like to put everything in a sifter so they are evenly combined. Otherwise, use a food processor and process until everything is smooth and well combined. Transfer the mix to a jar, large zip bag, or pre-measure ⅓ to ½ cup of the mix into snack-sized zip bags. Traditional milk powder was used in the following video, but the ingredients and steps are the same:

Best Instant Dairy-Free Milk Powder

Dairy-free “milk” powder can be oat-based, soy-based, or coconut-milk based. Here are 3 that mix smoothly and well with this recipe: Upright Instant Oat Milk, this Coconut Milk Powder or this Coconut Milk Powder, and Cashew Milk Powder.

How to Store DIY Cocoa Mix

Your dairy-free mix can be stored in a sealed jar or inside individual zip bags for up to 6 months in the pantry.

Keeping it from Getting Clumpy

After lots of cocoa mixing, my tips for keeping the cocoa mix from getting clumpy include:

Use powdered sugar. It dissolves quicker and much easier than granulated sugar.

Proper storage, away from humidity, is key to preventing clumps in your mix.

Pour very hot water. Cold or lukewarm water will not dissolve the ingredients and will lead to clumping instead. For this reason, I recommend boiling water (or nearly). It’s best to let the hot cocoa cool down rather than sipping a clumpy drink.

Keep mixing. Not mixing the cocoa mix with hot water long enough can also result in clumps or the cocoa mix settling at the bottom of the mug. You can also use a hand-held milk frother to do the job.

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix

Servings: 10

Prep Time: 2

Total Time: 2

Make a packet or a jar with this easy recipe for dairy-free hot cocoa mix! All you need is water to make the drink.

5 from 13 votes

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Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
2 ½ cups dairy-free powdered milk
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

Mix:

If mixing the ingredients by hand, place all ingredients into a sifter and sift into a bowl. If using a food processor, place all ingredients in the bowl and process until everything is smooth and well combined.

Store:

Store the mix in a jar, large zip bag, or pre-measure ⅓ to ½ cup of the hot cocoa mix into snack-sized zip bags.

Use:

To enjoy a mug of hot cocoa, simply measure out ⅓ to ½ cup of the powdered mix into a mug and pour about a cup of hot water on top. With a spoon or a hand-held milk frother, mix to combine.