I make a couple jars of this hot cocoa every winter. This recipe for homemade hot cocoa is great for gifting or just for keeping in your cupboard for cold days. And it’s just delicious! It will store for a few months in a covered container.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups sugar (I use organic, natural sugar but you can use white sugar if you prefer)
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa – use double dutch process cocoa for a darker, richer cocoa and but regular cocoa will work just as well
  • 3 teaspoons sea salt

Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine with a wire whisk. Transfer to a 4 cup canning jar or a couple smaller containers or mason jars for gifting.

To mix up as hot chocolate, simply add 2 tablespoons of the mix to one cup of hot milk (any type will work, but whole milk will give you the richest and smoothest hot chocolate). If you are a non-cow’s milk family you could experiment with almond, coconut, and cashew milk as well.

This basic recipe is easy to add different flavors to make it a little different or personal – here are just a couple ideas for some add-ins. Add to taste or about 1/4 cup per batch.

Add-ins:

  • crushed peppermint candies / garnish with a candy cane
  • cinnamon /garnish with a cinnamon stick
  • vanilla sugar / garnish with a vanilla bean
  • mini marshmallows / garnish with a large marshmallow
  • espresso powder / garnish with a chocolate covered espresso bean

I split the cocoa into three 2 cup mason jars and mix-ins and labeled them using this method.

Perfect for a little gift or to enjoy for yourself!