DIY Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

Have hot cocoa in an instant! This DIY Instant Hot Cocoa Mix makes a lovely holiday gift.

Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

Whenever I make hot cocoa for dinner guests or visiting friends, I make it the old fashioned way with whole milk and heavy cream blended with high quality chopped chocolate. It simmers on the stove-top until steamy and then it’s poured into extra-large mugs. An obscene amount of whipped cream is usually the finishing touch.

Without guests to serve, I’m more likely to make myself a cup of instant hot cocoa. I’m the only one in the house who drinks it regularly, and I find it’s more convenient to make (and there’s no pot to clean!). I’ve developed a powdered formula that can be poured into a mug and roused into a satisfying treat with just the addition of hot water or hot milk.

Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

Cute packaging idea!

You can package the powdered mixture in four 8 ounce mason jars, but when I found these gumball tubes, I thought they’d make the niftiest stocking stuffers! A tube filled to the brim with the cocoa mixture yields about 2 servings prepared – or! You can also get creative by filling the tubes halfway with cocoa and then topping it with crushed peppermint, chocolate chips (for double hot chocolate) or tiny marshmallows. The latter is my favorite because it looks pretty and makes one large cup of souped-up cocoa!

Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

Dark cocoa powder makes it rich.

I always use dark cocoa powder in this recipe. Why? Because the chocolate flavor is more pronounced. It is sold at most grocery stores, but if you’re coming up empty-handed then regular cocoa powder is an acceptable substitution. I also use a little espresso powder in this recipe. Which punctuates the chocolate flavor. If you don’t have espresso powder on hand, try using instant coffee granules. Those sensitive to caffeine may choose to omit the coffee completely.

The powdered creamer makes this cocoa creamy when prepared with hot water, but for an extra-indulgent treat make it with hot milk.

Want more giftable goodies? 

Last year’s eighth day advent recipe was 

Five Minute Cran-Pistachio Fudge!

 Cran-Pistachio Fudge

Instant Hot Cocoa Mix

Heather Baird
Have hot cocoa in an instant! This cocoa is creamy and makes a lovely holiday gift. Dark cocoa makes it rich, but regular cocoa powder can be used instead.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 cups dry mix

Ingredients
 
 

Cocoa:

  • 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweet dark cocoa powder
  • 1 cup vanilla non-dairy coffee creamer
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional

Add-ins:

  • chocolate chips
  • crushed peppermint candies
  • mini marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • Combine all the ingredients for the hot cocoa in a large bowl and whisk together until well incorporated. Divvy the mixture between four 8 oz. jars and top with add-ins. Alternatively, fill six gumball tubes with the mixture, or in twelve tubes, a mixture of cocoa mixture and add-ins.
  • Add a label to jars or tubes with the instructions.
  • For jars of cocoa: For one serving, add 2-3 tablespoons cocoa mix with 6 ounces of hot water or hot milk..
  • For tubes of cocoa: For one serving, add half the tube of cocoa mix to 6 ounces of hot water or hot milk.
  • For tubes of cocoa with mix-ins: Add entire contents of tube to an extra-large (15 oz.) mug and fill with hot water or hot milk.
Keyword instant espresso powder, unsweet dark cocoa powder, vanilla non-dairy creamer
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Unknown
Unknown
7 years ago

Such a good idea, I love hot chocolate, might have to make this for myself!!

Rachael xx.
theteacozykitchen.blogspot.co.uk

Jennifer
Jennifer
7 years ago

This is adorable, thank you for posting!

Nica D
Nica D
7 years ago

Cute! Plus this is a creative way to gift cocoa without gifting a mug with it. I know so many people now (including myself) that aren't fans of getting yet another mug to add to the cupboard. Would also be cute to have a basket of these out at a party, have mugs and a kettle next to them for people to grab a mug of cocoa when they want. 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
7 years ago

Looks like a fun foodie holiday gift!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/honey-bunches-oats-almond-treats/

Anonymous
Anonymous
7 years ago

I love the tubes! You have such fab creative ideas – I'm always inspired when I see your posts Heather 🙂

Colette (Coco)
Colette (Coco)
7 years ago

Heather, you come up with the cutest ideas!
I make a spice rack out of test tubes.

Leanna
Leanna
7 years ago

I ordered the gumball tubes and filled them with homemade tiny chocolate and vanilla marshmallows and salted caramel cocoa mix. Thanks for the tube suggestion!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
7 years ago
Reply to  Leanna

Sounds amazing!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
5 years ago

This recipe sounds awesome and I have decided to make this for my daughter's wedding favors. I am a little confused about the amount of powdered sugar. It states 2 1/4 cups (10 oz), my measuring cup shows 10 oz as 1 1/4 cups. So which is correct, 2 1/4 cups or 10 oz which is 1 1/4 cups?

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
5 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Hi! Good luck with your daughter's wedding! I think it's really awesome and special that you're making a homemade favor. 🙂

2 1/4 cups is correct.
Also, you are likely reading the 10 oz. measurement from a liquid measure with a pour spout. Is that correct? That type of measure is only for liquid indgredients. If you weigh powdered sugar on a scale, 2 1/4 cups weighs about 9.95 oz.

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 years ago

What size tubes did you use? The most common seem to be 45 ml which are just over 5" tall. In the picture they looked taller than that. Thank you, I just love the idea!!!!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
3 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Hi, the tubes are 8-inches long by 1-inch wide. They are linked in the blog post, but currently out of stock. These are very similar at 7"x1":

https://amzn.to/3rY2bqb (affiliate)

Lyra
Lyra
2 years ago

How long will this last? Will it get bad after how many days?