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The best instant hot cocoa mix is incredibly easy. Imagine the nostalgia of Swiss Miss cocoa packets, but extra chocolatey and delightful. Homemade, zero preservatives, real ingredients, and beautifully simple, instant hot cocoa mix is the perfect pantry staple to have whenever the mood for a cup of cozy strikes. Instant hot cocoa mix is a great stocking stuffer, Christmas gifts for teachers, or neighbor gifts. No milk is required to have a decadent cup of smooth, chocolaty goodness. All you need is water and the best instant hot cocoa mix! Get ready for instantaneous joy!

Jump to Recipe

The Perfect Cup of Cocoa

What makes a great cup of cocoa? Chocolate snobs may turn their nose up at instant hot cocoa, but I believe that experiences make hot cocoa special no matter how fancy it is. Hot cocoa is so nostalgic to me. One sip of that warm chocolatey goodness brings me back to snow tubing on the Snow Bunny hill in Mount Hood, soup picnics while freezing our toes off watching the Christmas Ships parade on the Columbia river, or warming up after a rainy Christmas tree hunt. Who says no to a cup of steaming hot chocolate? Whether the perfect cup of cozy is finished off with toasted marshmallows, whip cream, sprinkles, or candy canes, cocoa is an integral part of the holiday season. While I love a good cup of homemade hot chocolate with milk and quality chocolate, sometimes you need an instant and easy pick-me-up with zero hassle. Let’s make some hot cocoa mix!

Step By Step

If you enjoy baking, I guarantee you should have most of these ingredients in your pantry. Chocolate chips are a fairly unique ingredient to most instant hot cocoa recipes. I felt like the addition of real chocolate gave it a creamier, silky taste and a rich chocolate flavor. Cinnamon is completely optional, but I love the hint of spice it gives to the sweet cocoa. Brown sugar gives the cocoa a little more of a caramel flavor which is subtle, but I think it adds to the flavor. If you can easily substitute more granulated sugar in it’s place.

Step 1: Blend it UP!

In order to make this recipe work, you need a food processor or a blender that can blend dry ingredients. Combine all the ingredients and pulse to combine. Pulse the food processor until the chocolate chips are reduced to a fairly fine powder. It’s ok if a few small chocolate crumbs remain. Blending the whole mixture into oblivion makes the cocoa mix is less lumpy and melts easily.

Step 2: Drink Up!

To drink, boil water and add your hot cocoa mix into a mug. Pour in boiling water, mix to combine, and drink it plain or top it with anything your heart desires!

Storage

This instant hot cocoa mix can be stored in an airtight container for up to 6 months. However, I have never had one batch last that long. EVER. It’s that good! Besides drinks, I use this hot cocoa mix in my baking or I add it to coffee for a poor man’s mocha! I keep it in the pantry year-round for anytime the mood for hot cocoa strikes!

Gifting!

Did I mention, this instant hot chocolate makes AMAZING Christmas presents? I have designed some beautiful ready-to-print labels for my hot chocolate recipe. Snag your Christmas gift labels here!

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Happy eating!

~Anna