This Hot Cocoa Recipe is a rich and creamy recipe, which is made with Dutch-process cocoa and powdered milk. It’s the perfect homemade gift, ready in about 5 minutes.
Jump to RecipeHot Cocoa Recipe Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
- Hot water
How To Make Hot Cocoa Recipe
- Mix the dry ingredients: Combine powdered sugar, cocoa, powdered milk, salt, cornstarch, and cayenne pepper in a large mixing bowl. Whisk or stir until ingredients are incorporated evenly and no lumps remain.
- Heat the liquid: In a small pot or kettle, heat 4 to 6 cups of water (or milk for extra richness) until simmering.
- Serve: Fill your mug about half full with the powder mixture. Pour in the hot water. Stir well to combine until smooth.
- Store: Seal the rest of the mixture in an airtight container; it keeps indefinitely in the pantry.
Recipe Tips
- Why Dutch-Process Cocoa?: Dutch-process cocoa has been treated with an alkalizing agent to reduce acidity. It produces a darker, fudgier, and smoother hot cocoa compared to natural cocoa powder, which can taste acidic in this application.
- The Secret Ingredient (Cornstarch): Don’t skip the cornstarch! It acts as a thickener, giving the hot cocoa a luxurious, velvety mouthfeel similar to Italian-style hot chocolate, rather than a thin, watery texture.
- Cayenne Pepper: A pinch of cayenne doesn’t make the drink spicy; instead, the heat enhances the chocolate flavor and warms the throat. It is a classic Mexican hot chocolate technique.
- Milk vs. Water: While the recipe includes powdered milk so you can use water, using hot milk instead of water will result in the richest, most decadent cup of cocoa possible.
- Adjusting the Ratio: The directions suggest filling the mug “half full” with mix, which yields a very intense, thick chocolate. For a lighter cup, start with 1/3 cup of mix and adjust to taste.
What To Serve With Hot Cocoa Recipe
This cozy drink is a dessert in itself, but toppings make it better.
- Homemade marshmallows or mini marshmallows
- A generous dollop of whipped cream
- A candy cane or cinnamon stick for stirring
- Butter cookies or shortbread
How To Store Hot Cocoa Recipe
- Pantry: Store the dry mix in a sealed jar or airtight container in a cool, dark pantry. It will last indefinitely (or until the expiration date of the powdered milk used).
- Gift Giving: This mix looks beautiful layered in mason jars with a ribbon and instruction tag, making it an excellent DIY holiday gift.
Hot Cocoa Recipe Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 190
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 280mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 38g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 32g
- Protein: 6g
Nutrition information is estimated per prepared cup (using water).
FAQs
Yes, you can use non-fat dry milk, but whole milk powder (often found in the baking aisle or online) provides a much creamier texture.
If the powdered milk or sugar has clumps, sift the ingredients together before storing. When making a cup, you can also make a “slurry” by adding just a splash of hot water to the powder first, stirring it into a paste, and then adding the rest of the liquid.
Absolutely. You can mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or even instant espresso powder (for a mocha version) into the dry mix.
Hot Cocoa Recipe
Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings5
minutes5
minutes190
kcalA bulk batch of rich, homemade hot chocolate mix featuring Dutch cocoa and a hint of cayenne for warmth.
Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup Dutch-process cocoa
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cornstarch
Pinch cayenne pepper
Directions
- Whisk all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Transfer to an airtight jar for storage.
- To serve, fill a mug 1/3 to 1/2 full with mix.
- Pour in hot water or milk.
- Stir until dissolved and enjoy.
Notes
- Texture: The cornstarch thickens the drink slightly for a “gourmet” mouthfeel.
- Gifting: Add a label with instructions (“Add hot water & stir”) for a perfect gift.
