Recipe

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This homemade hot cocoa mix is rich, chocolatey, and easy to make. Just add water for a warm drink in seconds!

Ditch the store-bought packets and use this hot cocoa mix recipe to make instant cups of homemade chocolatey comfort.

overhead view of a glass storage container filled with homemade hot cocoa mix and a measuring spoon measuring out an amount of the powder

Easy Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

While I sometimes make homemade hot cocoa from scratch, this pantry-friendly hot cocoa mix is my way of always having a better option than store-bought packets on hand. It lets my kids whip up a cozy cup in seconds without any supervision. Here is the dairy-free version.

Ingredients

The chocolatey taste comes from unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed, as it’s not as rich), powdered sugar (which dissolves easily), and powdered milk as the base. A bit of salt to enhance the flavor, and cornstarch to prevent caking (clumping) and to thicken it.

How to Make Hot Cocoa Mix with Powdered Milk

Mix the powdered ingredients in a large bowl or with a food processor. Just make sure they’re well mixed.
Store the hot cocoa mix in an airtight container, jar, or zip bag. It keeps for up to 6 months in the pantry.
Make a cup of hot cocoa with ⅓ cup mix and 1 cup hot water. Mix it well and enjoy.

a glass storage container filled with homemade hot cocoa mix

Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe {Just Add Water}

glass jar filled with homemade hot cocoa mix. A measuring spoon measuring out amount to make hot cocoa

Servings: 16

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

This homemade hot cocoa mix is rich, chocolatey, and easy to make. Just add water for a warm drink in seconds!

5 from 15 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
2 ½ cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch, optional

Instructions

Mix & store:

Add all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Use a whisk to mix well. You can also add them to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.
Transfer the cocoa mix to a lidded container or zip bag and store in the pantry for up to 6 months.

Make hot cocoa:

Measure ⅓ cup of mix into a mug. Fill with 1 cup boiling water and mix. While this recipe already has powdered milk, many people like mixing it with warm milk for a richer cup.
Top the hot cocoa with marshmallows or whipped cream.