Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Without Dry Powdered Milk
Make your own homemade hot cocoa mix from scratch without dry powdered milk. This recipe is so easy, all you need are two ingredients!
Cocoa mix is a staple in our house this time of year. I always try to have a pot of hot cocoa ready and waiting when the kids come in from playing in the snow. It’s the best way to warm up after hours of sledding and making snow angels.
I used to buy the giant canister of Swiss Miss at Sam’s Club every year. Swiss Miss is my favorite store-bought cocoa because it has just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of salt.
Well a couple of years ago I forgot to pick one up, and we were hit with a good old snow storm. Everyone wanted cocoa so I decided to try making it from scratch.
Turns out, the ingredients are super basic! Sugar, cocoa and milk. It took 2 minutes to mix up a batch of our own hot chocolate mix that would last us all Winter and that was it! I never went back to buying store-bought hot cocoa mixes again.
Have you tried my homemade peppermint marshmallow recipe?
Homemade cocoa makes a great gift too, because everyone loves cocoa! I mean maybe there are a few sad people who don’t but they probably don’t like Christmas gifts anyway!
Ready to make the easiest recipe ever?
why you’ll like this cocoa mix recipe:
super easy recipe
Making your own cocoa mix is even easier than grabbing some from the store. Mix two ingredients in a jar, give it a shake or a stir and you’re good to go!
Did you know you can make your own chocolate milk without chocolate syrup too?!
only 2 simple ingredients
Even though I recommend adding a pinch of salt to your cocoa mix, you can make it with just cocoa powder and white sugar. No dry milk powder or artificial flavorings.
can be made in bulk
This recipe is really simple to double, triple or even quadruple. I like to mix up a big batch at the beginning of the holiday season that way we have it on hand all Winter.
Just store it in a nice big jar of dry mix in your pantry to pull out whenever you start craving cocoa.
doesn’t call for powdered milk
Most cocoa mixes you buy in the store contain dry powdered milk. That way they can be mixed with hot water instead of warm milk.
Making your cocoa with real milk makes all the difference. The cocoa tastes more real and the texture is richer and creamier.
For a really rich cocoa, try making it with chocolate chips instead of cocoa powder!
what you need to make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Without Powdered Milk:
ingredients:
Cocoa Powder – Any kind of unsweetened cocoa powder is fine. Hershey’s brand is what I generally use. Just make sure the only ingredient in your cocoa powder is cacao powder.
Sugar – White granulated sugar works best in this recipe.
Salt (optional) – Adding salt to you cocoa mix enhances the chocolate flavor and actually makes it taste sweeter!
Tools to Use:
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Airtight Container
How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Without Powdered Milk:
Prep – Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk together until completely combined.
Store – Keep cocoa mix in an airtight container.
Tips for success:
To Serve – Add two to three tablespoons of hot cocoa mix to 8 ounces of warmed milk. Stir until no clumps are left.
Milk – This recipe cannot be made using water since its made without powdered milk. Skim, 2% or whole are all fine to use but whole milk will give you the creamiest and most delicious homemade hot cocoa.
To Store – Homemade hot cocoa mix will last almost indefinitely when stored in an airtight container.
Variations – For added flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to an individual cup of cocoa. When making a whole pot or cocoa, add 1 tablespoon of vanilla after the pot has been removed from the heat.
Ways to Enjoy Homemade Hot Cocoa:
- topped with marshmallows (homemade marshmallows are extra delicious)
- stirring with a peppermint stick or mini candy canes
- topped with homemade whipped cream
- sprinkled with cinnamon
FAQ about cocoa mix without powdered milk:
Do You Make Cocoa With Milk or Water?
If the cocoa mix you are using contains dry powdered milk, you can either use milk or water. Using milk will add to the calories in your prepared cup of cocoa, but it will taste creamier and more flavorful than coca made with water.
If the cocoa mix you are using doesn’t contain any powdered milk (like this recipe) you will have to use milk when preparing your cup of cocoa.
Can You Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Without Powdered Milk?
Cocoa mix that is made with powdered milk is meant to be used in water. Making cocoa mix without powdered milk, just means it needs to be prepared using hot milk instead of water.
Whole milk will give you the creamiest, and most balanced cup of hot chocolate.
Can This Hot Cocoa Recipe Be Gluten Free and Dairy Free?
This recipe is! There is no gluten or dairy in the mix itself. To prepare your cocoa to make it dairy free, consider using almond milk or your favorite non-dairy milk in place of cow’s milk.
What Do You Put in a Hot Cocoa Kit?
Homemade cocoa mix makes a great addition to Christmas gift baskets or favors at Holiday parties! This recipe fits in a pint sized mason jar.
Any of these ingredients would make a great addition!
- marshmallows
- a cinnamon stick
- a candy cane tied to the outside of the jar
- espresso powder
- crunched up peppermint candies
More Homemade Holiday Recipes on the blog:
If you liked this recipe, I think you’ll really enjoy these other homemade treats on the blog:
- Old Fashioned Hot Apple Cider
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
- Honey Whipped Cream
- Hot Chocolate Recipe Without Cocoa Powder
- Peppermint Marshmallow Recipe
I hope you love this recipe for homemade hot cocoa mix! If you make it, I’d love for you to come back and leave a comment and rating so that I know how you like it!
Pin these steps to try later. Tag @athomeontheprairie on Instagram to share what you’ve made with us!
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix Without Powdered Milk
You'll never want to buy store-bought cocoa after seeing how easy it is to make it from scratch! This homemade hot cocoa mix recipe is made without powdered milk. In fact it only takes two ingredients.
Ingredients
For a Batch of Cocoa
- 1 - 1/2 cups cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For a Single Serving
- 1- 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
Prep - Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk together until completely combined.
To Store - Homemade hot cocoa mix will last almost indefinitely when stored in an airtight container.
Serve - Add two tablespoons of cocoa mix to 8 ounces of warmed milk. Stir until no clumps are left.
Notes
This recipe cannot be made using water since its made without powdered milk. Skim, 2% or whole are all fine to use but whole milk will give you the creamiest and most delicious homemade cocoa.
For added flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to an individual cup of cocoa. When making a whole pot or cocoa, add 1 tablespoon of vanilla after the pot has been removed from the heat.
Try different variations of homemade cocoa by adding a pinch of cinnamon, espresso powder or a drop of peppermint oil to your cup.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 83mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 2gSugar: 53gProtein: 2g
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Looking forward to trying this soon!! The first time I went to France I didn’t realize that the cocoa mix I was served didn’t have powdered milk in it so I added it to hot water! Haha! That was a bit of a hard drink to finish!
Oh no! The cocoa I had in France was just milk with cocoa powder in it! That was hard to get down too, haha!
So simple! Love the idea of putting the mix together for Christmas gifts.
Aw, this makes me want to make a cup right now. I have all the ingredients… 🙂 I also love that you linked your recipe for homemade marshmallows! I’ll definitely be trying that, too! Thank you so much!
I love this! I’ll be making some to keep on hand for sure!
I had a hot cocoa recipe that used for gift given for years, but for the life of me ,I wasn’t able to find it this year. So I decided to find a new one. Came across yours and tried the single serving. . I must say it’s very good and has a rich taste of chocolate to it. I will be using your recipe this year. Thank you!
Does the batch recipe make 1 gallon?
No, it’s more to have a batch on hand in your pantry to pull out to make several single servings.
Can I substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar?
Good question! I haven’t tried it but maybe do it in a single serving amount to test!
Thank you for the recipe! I just don’t like the flavor of powdered milk, so this is one I plan to try.
I’m glad you’re going to try it!
Hi,
Loved your recipe. Planning to make hot chocolate bombs using the recipe but the 2 TBsp of the mix may not fit in. Everywhere i read it says add 1 Tbsp of the mix to bomb. Any suggestions?
Hi Liyana, I wonder if the cocoa bomb recipes call for less mix because of the chocolate the mix is in encased in making up for having less mix vs. milk? I would do what the bomb recipe recommends and stick with 1 Tablespoon of cocoa mix.
Thank you. My family loved your recipe and what a perfect time to come accross it.
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends or to enjoy yourself!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
This Hot Chocolate mix is very very good I have been buying Star Bucks hot chocolate from the store and this taste just like it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I love to hear that Jean!!
I just made this! I cut the recipe in half and blended the mix in my Nutribullet with the milling blade and it came out perfect. I used Kirkland signature nondairy oat drink and added about a half teaspoon of instant decaf coffee to my cup. So delicious!!!! I am lactose intolerant so the packaged mixes just don’t work for me and the other stuff that you add to milk has too much sugar. This is just the right amount! Thank you so much for this recipe! I will be making it for gifts too!
I’m so glad he hear that Donna! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Oh, this was very good! I used unsweetened cocoa powder and coconut sugar. I had to add more sugar as I like it a bit sweet. I sent it to my daughter as she can’t do dairy because she’s nursing our sweet boy and dairy free for now.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m from PR and we use chocolate bars for a yummy cup of hot cocoa. They have so many different ingredients and not the healthiest. So, thank you!
We add cheese to our hot cocoa. Gouda. I know, the combination. We grew up drinking it that way. And saltines or our bread with butter. Yum.
I love hearing that you enjoyed it so much! And we will have to try Gouda with our hot cocoa too! That’s my family’s favorite type of cheese. God Bless!
I’m a type 2 diabetic and am supposed to watch my sugar intake. I do enjoy hot chocolate though. Can I use something else other than sugar like Swerve? That’s what I mainly use.
Love this recipe!! One thing that I do when I make my own hot chocolate mix is to infuse my sugar with vanilla: I cut and split 2-3 vanilla beans and place them in a jar with 3 cups of sugar (use more vanilla beans and sugar depending on how much you need for whatever recipe you plan to make). I put a lid on the jar and place in a cupboard for 2-3 weeks (or longer – better!!). Then when using, just pick out the vanilla beans and use the sugar as you would for baking. I also reuse those vanilla beans by adding them to fresh ones – want to get all the goodness out of the beans!
Oh my goodness! That’s such a good idea! Definitely going to give it a try
Wow! I don’t know if it was the brand of cocoa I used (popular namebrand) but wow. Better than any envelope I’ve ever had.
I’m so glad to hear that Crystal!