Hot Chocolate Mix

By Melissa Clark

Published Dec. 7, 2022

Hot Chocolate Mix
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
Total Time
10 minutes
Rating
4(389)
Comments
Read comments

Fancy hot chocolate mixes can be wildly expensive, but they’re extremely easy to make at home. This one uses a mix of bittersweet and milk chocolate to give it a deeply complex flavor. (For a vegan version, you can substitute vegan milk chocolate.) This makes an excellent winter gift, packaged in festive jars or tins and will keep for at least six months stored at room temperature. Feel free to double or triple the recipe as needed.

Featured in: 4 Homemade Food Gifts They’ll Love (and So Will Your Wallet)

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • ⅓cup/35 grams confectioners’ sugar
  • ¼cup/30 grams unsweetened cocoa powder, either natural or Dutch-process (see Tip)
  • ¼cup/40 grams chopped bittersweet chocolate (preferably 62 to 72 percent cacao)
  • ¼cup/40 grams chopped milk chocolate or vegan milk chocolate
  • 1teaspoon vanilla bean paste (optional)
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • Mini marshmallows
Ingredient Substitution Guide
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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, cocoa powder, both chocolates, vanilla paste (if using) and salt. Pulse to pulverize into a coarse powder. Transfer to an airtight jar. Package marshmallows in another airtight jar.

  2. Step 2

    To prepare: Fill a small pot with 4 cups whole milk or your favorite alternative milk (almond, oat, rice, coconut, etc.), and bring to a simmer. Whisk in cocoa mixture until very smooth. Serve topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Tip
  • Natural cocoa will give you a more complex flavor; Dutch-process gives a deeper, richer color.

Ratings

4 out of 5
389 user ratings
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Comments

Mary from Wisconsin

1 c. milk 2.5 T mix = YUM Ghiradelli chips in 72% Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips Ghiradelli Dutch process cocoa

Shari

I’m a little confused. With 2 cups of milk and the entire recipe, you only get 4 servings? A serving is 1/2 cup?

Krysten Chambrot, Associate Editor, New York Times Cooking

You're so right, Shari! Thank you so much for flagging. I've adjusted the recipe accordingly.

shane

Loved Lauren’s suggestion to add cinnamon. This came together best using my mini food processor. A very tasty hot chocolate and good gift idea!

Quinn

2.5 tbsp is one serving (1 cup) and that’s about 2 oz So small ones are 3 servings and big ones are 5

Quinn

I'm going to ask maybe a sacrilegious question: does the mix work just as well by stirring into hot water? I'm planning on making a big batch of these for Christmas and there is no way some of my friends are going to simmer milk lol, so I want to provide some lower-bar instructions. :) Any insights are appreciated, thanks!

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