Cozy Up With a Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix This Winter

As temperatures drop, many of us reach for a warm cup of hot cocoa. While store-bought packets are convenient, making your own mix at home is surprisingly simple—and much cleaner in terms of ingredients. With just three basics—sugar, cocoa powder, and milk—you can create a rich, warming drink without the corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, and preservatives commonly found in commercial mixes. And best of all, most people agree that homemade hot cocoa simply tastes better.

Although we often use the terms interchangeably, hot cocoa and hot chocolate aren’t quite the same. Hot cocoa is made using cocoa powder, whereas hot chocolate starts with melted chocolate. If you opt for cocoa powder, choose unsweetened natural or Dutch-processed varieties. Dutch-processed cocoa is darker and lends a deeper, more chocolate-forward flavor. White granulated sugar is the most common sweetener, but others can be used. Many recipes follow a 2:1 sugar-to-cocoa ratio; however, that can deliver about 25 grams of added sugar per cup—equivalent to the American Heart Association’s entire daily limit for women and children. If using melted chocolate instead, additional sugar may not be needed.

Milk is typically preferred over water for mixing, as it creates a richer, creamier beverage while adding nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. Whole milk will produce the fullest flavor, though it also contains more saturated fat. Whether heating milk on the stovetop or in the microwave, warm it gently and avoid boiling. For a shelf-stable option, nonfat dry milk works well and allows you to prepare a homemade mix that’s ready whenever the craving strikes.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Yields: About 2.5 cups of mix

  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 1 ½ cups nonfat dry milk powder
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  1. Combine sugar and nonfat dry milk powder in a mixing bowl.
  2. Sift in the cocoa powder.
  3. Stir well until fully blended, then store the mixture in an airtight container.
  4. To prepare, bring 1 cup (8 oz.) of water just to a boil, add 4 tablespoons of the mix, and stir until smooth.

 

By LeeAnn Blevins
County Extension Agent - FCS
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: LeeAnn Blevins
County Extension Agent - FCS
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
3 East 9th St. Mountain Home AR 72653
(870) 425-2335
lblevins@uada.edu


Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.