Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

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This easy delicious Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is made with only 4 ingredients, or 5 ingredients if you want to make it the Italian way. And no powdered milk added. Either way gives you a mug full of comfort. Perfect for warming up during these cold and dreary days!

I don’t know about you but when I buy the store bought mix or I order a hot chocolate in a cafe or take out I always find there is a strange after taste. Well no more with this homemade mix. No additives added, made with ingredients you already have on hand.

With the Holiday Season just around the corner, this Hot Chocolate mix would make the perfect gift. Place it in a pretty jar with a seasonal bow. Attach a small bag of chocolate chips or even marshmallows. Or why not include it with a pretty pair of mugs?

Table of Contents

Recipe Ingredients

Dark Chocolate – be sure to use a good quality chocolate.
Unsweetened cocoa – Dutch-processed because it has a darker color and less acidity. Be sure to sift the cocoa, it will remove any lumps.
Sugar – I usually use fine/caster sugar but powdered/icing sugar works also.
Salt –
Corn Starch – this is optional, if you prefer a thick Italian Hot Chocolate then you add in the corn starch.

hot chocolate milk in a glass mug and the mix in a glass jar.

Why use chocolate rather than cocoa?

This is actually an Italian way of making hot chocolate, and I knew I had to add it to my recipe, the taste is amazing. I used a dark 55% cocoa chocolate although you could also use half milk and have dark chocolate. Don’t use chocolate chips because they have a covering on them so that they don’t stick together, therefore not a good idea for this recipe.

How to make the Hot Chocolate mix

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a food processor or blender. Whisk the cocoa, salt and sugar in a separate bowl.

Chopped chocolate in a blender and ingredients in a silver bowl.

Pulse or blend the chocolate until it becomes a powder.

Add the cocoa mixture and again blend or pulse until completely combined and all the ingredients have become a powder.

Dry ingredients with powdered chocolate in the food processor.

Transfer the mix to an airtight container and store in a cool dry area.

How to make fine/caster sugar

Caster sugar is basically granulated sugar that is extremely fine. You can make it at home, just place the granulated sugar in a blender or food processor and blend or pulse until fine, be careful not to blend too much or you will be making powdered sugar.

What additions can I add to the mix?

I like to add 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon to the cocoa mixture or even a teaspoon of powdered vanilla instead. You can substitute half the fine/caster sugar and use turbinado sugar instead. You could also substitute the caster sugar with powdered/icing sugar, although you might want to use a bit less.

How to know if the mix is bad?

Smell it first and if it has a strange or off odor, or flavor or even the appearance isn’t right or you can see insects in the mix, it’s time to throw it out.

FAQs

How to store the hot chocolate mix

The mix should be stored in an airtight container or jar. Keep it in a cool dry place. It will last up to 3 months.

How to use the mix

Heat the milk, approximately 1 – 1 1/4 cups (depending how big your mug is) in a pot until hot, whisk in 1 – 1 1/2 heaping tablespoon of mix, continue to whisk until completely combined. Or why not mix some into your hot coffee? And there you have a mocha coffee!

Can you mix the hot chocolate mix with cold milk?

You can but it will take longer to combine the two, eventually after stirring for a bit it should mix together, but be advised that it won’t completely dissolve as it would with hot milk.

Can I use the mix with hot water?

Yes you can, but you aren’t going to have the creamy taste as you do when you use milk, since this mix doesn’t contain powdered milk, it is better with milk. Any type of milk will work.

Nothing easier than making your own Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Enjoy!

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