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If you love the idea of keeping hot chocolate mix on hand, but you also prefer using natural sweeteners, this hot chocolate mix recipe is for you. It requires just 2 simple ingredients and can be stirred together quickly.
This also happens to be one of my family’s favorite DIY gifts. You can transfer the mix to a jar, add a bow, and the printable card below for an easy gift.
I originally shared this recipe over 11 years ago, but every time I make it I learn something new, so today I’ll share even more tips and tricks that I’ve learned over time. I feel so put together when I have a jar of this on hand. Not only is it delicious when heated with milk, but you can also add it to your morning coffee for a tasty boost.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review
“Great idea! Kids and I made some this weekend for kids for their aunts and grandparents!! Thank you! Had to have a cup too! Soo delish!” – Kelly
What’s in Hot Chocolate Mix?
- Cacao Powder. I always keep raw cacao powder in my pantry, so that’s the ingredient I use here. If you keep Dutch-processed cocoa powder on hand, that should work, too. Cacao powder tends to taste more bitter than cocoa powder, so you might find the mix is a little sweeter when you use cocoa powder, instead.
- Granulated Sugar. For a natural sweetener, we use coconut sugar, but you can use brown sugar if you prefer. This will dissolve when heated with milk, but you can speed the process by briefly blitzing it in a blender or food processor first.
That’s all you need! This recipe is allergy-friendly, because it doesn’t include powdered milk. Add the mix to your favorite milk, whether that’s almond, oat, or regular cow’s milk, and it will be ready to drink in minutes.
How to Make Hot Chocolate MIx
Step 1:
Add the coconut sugar to a blender or food processor, if you have one. Secure the lid and process the sugar briefly, just until it looks powdered and fluffier.
Then add the cocoa powder and blend again to incorporate the 2 ingredients evenly. Stop and scrape down the machine with a spatula to make sure there’s no sugar stuck in the bottom.
Step 2:
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Once the mixture looks uniform, transfer it to a 16-ounce jar with a lid. Or make two smaller 8-ounce jars as gifts, if you prefer.
You may end up with a little extra leftover, because blending the sugar makes it fluffier. If you have extra, just save it for later. (Extra hot chocolate for you… yay!)
Print the recipe card here and punch a hole through the card so you can thread ribbon through it. Tie the card to the jar, make a bow, and your hot chocolate jar is ready to gift. I’ve included 3 cards on the printable download, in case you want to make multiple jars.
How to Make Hot Chocolate Using the Mix
Pour 1 cup (or 8 ounces) of your favorite milk into a small saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix and whisk them together over medium-high heat on the stove. The powder won’t look like it’s dissolving at first, but keep stirring until it does.
Carefully taste the mixture to check on the temperature and flavor. If you want a richer chocolate flavor, you can add up to 1 more tablespoon of mix. As soon as it’s hot enough to serve, it’s ready to go! (No need to bring it to a boil; you want it cooler than that for serving.)
Add your favorite toppings and enjoy right away.
Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups coconut sugar
- ¾ cup cacao powder
Instructions
- For the smoothest results, add the coconut sugar to a blender or food processor. Secure the lid and process briefly, about 60 seconds, until the sugar looks fluffy and powdered. Then add the cacao powder, secure the lid, and blend again. This will make sure the two ingredients are well mixed.
- Transfer the mixture to a glass jar with a lid. You can make one 16-ounce jar or two smaller 8-ounce jars for a gift. (You might also find yourself with a little leftover; save it for extra hot chocolate for yourself.) Print the free hot chocolate mix card, punch a hole through the card, and then thread a ribbon through it so you can tie it to the jar. Make a bow, and the chocolate jar is ready to gift!
- How to Make a Cup of Hot Chocolate: Add 1 cup of your favorite milk to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix and whisk well until it's warm. (No need for it to boil; that would be too hot!) Taste the mixture and add more mix, if desired. Serve it warm right away with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
For your convenience, here’s a label you can print off and attach to your holiday gift jars:
(Click on the image above for a PDF to download)
If you enjoy this hot chocolate mix recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.
Hi Megan, can I substitute truvia/stevia baking blend for the coconut sugar? And if yes, would it be 1/2 cup or 1 cup of sugar for the 1 cup of cocoa? Thanks again!
I love this! I will make this as a gift for my work “Secret Santa” next week. Thanks, Megan! I want you to know that I tell my work friends about your website. Many of them are gluten and vegan, so this is a go-to when talking about recipes and food in general. I also use many of your recipes for babies/toddlers, as mine just turned one yesterday!
Love this idea. The coconut sugar gives it a wonderful rich taste.
My daughter loves your original recipe of hot chocolate and I was wondering how i can make it ready to use so she can do it herself just by adding hot milk. will definately try this version.
thanks
Since my original version calls for maple syrup, it wouldn’t work as well as a pre-made mix. It would be wet and need to be refrigerated… nothing like the dry mix people have come to expect. That’s why I used coconut sugar for this version– I think it tastes very similar to my original recipe, but this one is more convenient and shelf-stable!
I make mine at home with raw cacao powder and organic maple sugar. I’ll be doing my mix using the same for gifts! Maple sugar is a bit sweeter than coconut sugar so something to keep in mind (although I don’t think anyone will complain their hot cocoa is TOO sweet). I also have someone in the family who is allergic to coconut so I’ve become used to using the maple sugar. Coombs Family Farms has a great one you can buy on Amazon.
Great idea! how long will hot chocolate mix last?
Since both ingredients are shelf-stable, I imagine it will last for a while! I’d check the expiration date on your ingredients, but I’d guess it could last 6 months or so.
I love this idea. I will make this but substitute the cacao for organic full cream milk powder and add vanilla bean to make my mum a healthier alternative to her beloved white hot chocolates 🙂
I can’t wait to try this myself! What a cool gift idea. Thanks!
I absolutely LOVE that you used coconut sugar. What a great and cute gift for the holidays that can be thrown together last minute. Because lets face it, I haven’t done any holiday shopping yet!
what is the difference between using raw Caoco powder vs unsweetened cocoa powder?
The taste should be the same, they are just processed differently. As I understand it, raw cacao is thought to have a higher antioxidant content, so I use that version most often, but cocoa powder tends to be more affordable– which might be better if you need to make a lot of gift jars! Since the cocoa will be added to warm milk anyway, there’s no need for it to be “raw.”
What a great idea! I love DIY gifts. Thanks for sharing. 🙂