Decadent Hot Chocolate Mix
A rich, dark hot chocolate mix perfect for topping with whipped cream or marshmallows. Make it in advance so you can have hot chocolate any time! Simple to make, it stores well and makes great gifts.
Servings: 9 mugs
Calories: 103kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
- ½ cup cocoa powder (40 grams)
- ½ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips (about 85 grams/3 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
Instructions
To Make Mix
- Pour sugar and cocoa powder into a food processor. Top with chocolate chips and remaining ingredients. Pulse a few times to distribute all the ingredients.
- Process until finely ground or powdery. This may take a few minutes.
- If you don't have a food processor, grate the chocolate finely and mix with other ingredients.
- Store hot chocolate mix in a glass container. It will keep for a long time, as long as the best-by date on your package of chocolate.
To Make Hot Chocolate
- Add 3 tablespoons (~30 grams) of mix to a heat-safe mug. Stir in 1 cup (227 grams) of milk. Microwave for a minute.
- Stir the warm mixture well. Microwave another 30-60 seconds, until milk is hot. Stir vigorously again to mix and dissolve the chocolate.
- Top with marshmallows or whipped cream. Hot chocolate will be too hot to drink immediately, so let cool for a few minutes so you don't scald your mouth.
Notes
Your hot chocolate mix is only as good as the chocolate you use. Choose something you'd like to eat.
Chocolate has to be finely ground or grated to melt when you make hot chocolate. A food processor is the best tool to use for this job. If you don't have a food processor, use a grater or a very sharp knife to chop your chocolate into fine slivers.
This recipe can be made vegan! Use dairy-free chocolate (that has no milkfat), and combine the mix with soy, almond, or coconut milk. Almond and coconut milks add a great addition flavor to the hot chocolate! (And don't top with whipped cream or marshmallows, as neither are vegan.)
If you want to make hot chocolate on the stove, combine milk and hot chocolate mix in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and chocolate is melted.
This recipe yields about 1 ¾ cups of mix, and makes about 9 mugs of hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate mix is very shelf-stable, and works great as a gift.
Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen
Calorie count calculated in MyNetDiary and is an estimate only. Calorie count is for mix only and does not include milk.
Originally written in February 2017. Revised/rewritten in January 2025.
Nutrition
Calories: 103kcal
