Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot chocolate and marshmallows in bugs and hot chocolate mix in a jar with a spoon

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 2 mins
Total: 7 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This hot chocolate mix recipe is one of those great homemade food gifts that are perfect for almost anyone on your list, from teachers to school bus drivers to delivery persons. Or you can just give as gifts to friends—especially kids. When placed in a cute jar tied with a ribbon (don't forget to include the recipe directions on a tag), this homemade hot chocolate mix will be a welcome gift.

A lot of hot chocolate mix recipes call for non-dairy creamer because it eliminates the need for stirring the hot chocolate mix into warmed milk—you can just use hot water to make the hot chocolate instead. If you prefer a richer hot chocolate that is made with warmed milk, leave out the non-dairy creamer.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups powdered nonfat dry milk

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1/2 cup non-dairy creamer, optional

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

  • 1/4 cup miniature marshmallows

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Hot chocolate mix ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk nonfat dry milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and creamer, if using, until smooth.

    Dry milk, sugar, cocoa powder and creamer mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Using a funnel, pour the hot chocolate mix into a Mason jar, filling it about 3/4 of the way to the top.

    Hot Chocolate mix in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. Layer chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate mix. Seal the jar and include the recipe for making homemade hot chocolate using the mix.

    Hot chocolate mix, with chocolate chips and marshmallows in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

How to Use the Mix

If using the non-dairy creamer in the mix, place 2 to 3 heaping tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix in a mug. Add boiling water, and stir well. Top with chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows.

If you aren't adding non-dairy creamer to the mix, warm 6 to 8 ounces of milk in a saucepan or the microwave until hot, but not boiling. Add 2 to 3 heaping tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix. Stir well. Top with chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows.

Additional Toppings

If you are gifting this homemade hot chocolate mix for the holidays, adding a bit of broken up candy cane would add the perfect festive touch—or you can add a whole candy cane to the outside of the jar that can be used as a stirrer. You can also add a few white chocolate chips, red and green mini M&Ms, or even crushed pretzels to sprinkle on top. Placing a couple of caramel candies in the jar will bring delicious flavor to the hot beverage, and chocolate or colored sprinkles create a fun finish to the drink. To give the hot chocolate a little Mexican flair, add a few pinches of cinnamon to the mix.

Other Food Gifts in a Jar

If you enjoy making food from scratch and know others who do as well, edible mixes in a jar are a perfect present any time of year. Treat your friends to baked good mixes, such as blonde brownies, snickerdoodle cookies, and blueberry muffins, or mixes for cornbread or biscuits.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
424 Calories
8g Fat
78g Carbs
15g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 424
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 6mg 2%
Sodium 194mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 78g 28%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 69g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 2mg 10%
Calcium 431mg 33%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 667mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)