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Homemade hot cocoa mix in a glass jar beside a mug of hot chocolate

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Homemade hot cocoa mix made with powdered milk, sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Stir into hot water or warm milk for an easy cup of cocoa, or package in jars for homemade Christmas gifts.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 22
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2½ cups instant powdered milk
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • Small pinch of cayenne pepper optional

Method
 

  1. Start with a dry bowl. Sift the cocoa powder into a large bowl and break up any lumps in the powdered milk.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients. Whisk in the sugar, salt, and optional cayenne pepper.
  3. Mix thoroughly. Continue whisking until the color is even throughout, scraping the bottom of the bowl so no pockets of powdered milk remain.
  4. Transfer to an airtight container. Use clean, completely dry mason jars or another tightly sealed pantry container.
  5. Label the mix. Add the preparation date and serving instructions.

Notes

For a finer texture, you can briefly pulse the dry ingredients in a food processor. Let the powder settle before opening the lid. This step is optional, but it helps reduce larger sugar granules and break up stubborn clumps.
The batch makes approximately 5½ cups of mix, or about 22 servings using ¼ cup per serving. The finished volume can vary depending on the powdered milk and how finely you process the ingredients.