This easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is rich and so chocolatey! It’s made with two types of chocolate and is so perfect for gifting. Stop drinking the pouches of powder and make this easy homemade hot chocolate mix with real chocolate!

This recipe comes together in the food processor so quickly, stores well, and makes a great holiday gift. This Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is way better than store bought and uses real recognizable ingredients. It takes about 5 minutes to prep and then you have rich and silky hot chocolate all season long!

The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot chocolate and the holidays are basically synonymous! There’s something so special about enjoying the holiday mornings with a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate. It’s the perfect treat for a cold night, paired with snuggles on the couch and a good movie. I feel cozy inside just writing that.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are sipping hot chocolate on Christmas morning piled high with marshmallows and whipped cream.

This Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix recipe is so much better than the packaged stuff! It’s made with real recognizable ingredients and you get to control the quality. It takes 5 minutes to throw everything in the food processor and then you’ve got a delicious mix that you can store for the season.

Most store-bought hot chocolate mixes have hydrogenated oils, preservatives, and other undesirable things in them. The good news is that when you make it at home, none of that gets included, and the results are still delicious! Try mixing a couple of spoonfuls into your morning coffee for a special treat.

Hot Chocolate vs Hot Cocoa

They might seem similar, but hot chocolate and hot cocoa are actually very different! Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and powdered milk to make a much lighter drink.

Hot chocolate has actual chocolate in it and is much richer and has a deeper flavor than hot cocoa. This recipe is loaded with real dark chocolate that makes this homemade hot chocolate mix so rich and flavorful.

All you have to do is mix with some warm milk and you’ve got the most delicious hot chocolate ready to enjoy!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Easy – This recipe couldn’t be easier to make! All you have to do is dump the ingredients in a food processor and let it do its thing! In less than 5 minutes you’ll have a delicious Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.

Festive – Is there anything more festive than hot chocolate during the holidays? Serve it for a gathering and you can even spike it with a bit of bourbon or irish creme liqueur.

Giftable – If you’re a person who loves to give homemade gifts, this is so perfect! You can store the mix in little jars, wrap with a bow and preparation instructions and you have easy gifts for friends and family. Everyone loves a homemade touch!

How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

You definitely need a food processor for this recipe to break up the chocolate into a fine powder.

Tools Needed

• Food Processor
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Chocolate. This is not the recipe for using chocolate chips. Opt for a large bar of chocolate and chop it up. I always buy the giant bars of chocolate from Trader Joe’s for all my baking needs. Go for a semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate.
• Cocoa powder. Opt for dark dutch process cocoa powder. It’s richest and has the best flavor. I used the Rodelle brand that can be purchased here.
• Sugar. Granulated sugar is the play here, it tastes better than powdered sugar IMO.
• Powdered milk. If you can find powdered whole milk, that makes the creamiest mix. Nonfat powdered milk works fine too, so does goat milk powder.
• Salt. A pinch of salt helps balance out the sweet.
• Spices. You can add a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg for a spiced hot chocolate mix.

The Process

1. Chop the chocolate. Using a sharp knife, shop your chocolate into small pieces. This makes the work a bit easier on your food processor.
2. Process. Add the chopped chocolate, cocoa powder, and powdered milk to the food processor and process until smooth and no chunks of chocolate remain. Add the sugar and salt and process for 20 seconds.
3. Store. Store the homemade hot chocolate mix in an airtight jar or container for up to 2 months.
4. Prepare. Warm milk in a saucepan with a bit of vanilla and whisk in hot chocolate mix to your desired taste.

Tips for Making Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

1. Use quality ingredients. When you’re making something that has so few ingredients, they should always be the best. Use high-quality chocolate and cocoa powder for best results.
2. Don’t use chocolate chips. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers which keep them from melting well. Buy bars of chocolate and chop them up. I always buy the Pound Plus bittersweet bars from Trader Joe’s.
3. Make your hot chocolate with milk. Can you mix this into water? Yes, but milk yields the best and creamiest hot chocolate. I also always add a bit of vanilla to the milk and it is SO good.

How to Dress up Hot Chocolate

Once you have the hot chocolate there are so many ways to top it! Here are my favorite ways to dress up this Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix!

Whipped cream. Obviously a must! Homemade whipped cream makes hot chocolate that much better. Whisk cold cream, a bit of powdered sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.

Chocolate shavings. Always a beautiful way to jazz up a cup of hot chocolate!

Marshmallows. I’m a sucker for mini marshmallows! I also just discovered chocolate-covered peppermint marshmallows from Trader Joe’s and I’m obsessed!

Cookie straws. You can find these delightful chocolate filled cookie straws everywhere! Pepperidge farm makes them and Trader Joe’s have a great version too.

Storing Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Once you’ve made your Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix, store it in an airtight container or jar. The recipe makes about 4 cups of mix, so I used a large glass mason jar.

Store in a cool, dry area for up to 2 months.

We love this Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix recipe as part of our holiday traditions and I hope you’ll give it a try too. It makes the best hot chocolate ever! If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Chocolate Recipes to Try Now

Nutella Linzer Cookies
Texas Sheet Cake
Nutella Lava Cakes

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