Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar: An Easy DIY Christmas Gift
A simple dry hot cocoa mix made with pantry ingredients, ready to keep on the shelf for cozy mugs or divide into small jars for easy homemade Christmas gifts.
A jar of homemade hot cocoa mix is one of those small kitchen projects that can do more than one job. Keep it in the pantry for cold evenings, set it out with mugs and toppings for a family cookie-decorating night, or divide it into smaller jars for a simple homemade Christmas gift that is actually meant to be used.
The goal here is not to turn hot cocoa into a complicated project. The mix stays intentionally simple: instant nonfat dry milk, powdered sugar, Dutch-process cocoa, a little cornstarch and salt.
For gifting, keep the cocoa mix itself plain and package marshmallows, peppermint, chocolate, or other toppings separately. That keeps the serving directions simple and lets each person finish a mug the way they like it.
A Bit More Homemade note: This recipe is currently based on research rather than a completed ABMH kitchen test. The serving amount below is a practical starting point and may be adjusted after firsthand testing.
Why This Hot Cocoa Mix Works Well for DIY Gifts
- The dry milk is already in the mix. That gives the recipient the option of making a mug with hot water instead of needing fresh milk on hand.
- It works well in smaller jars. Dividing the mix into individual gift jars makes it easy to package and share.
- You can keep it simple or dress it up. Add a tag, ribbon or a small package of toppings without turning the gift into a complicated project.
- It fits naturally into a homemade Christmas. A simple hot cocoa station works especially well alongside a family cookie-baking and decorating night.
A Bit More Homemade: A homemade gift does not have to be elaborate to feel thoughtful. A useful pantry mix, clear directions and a simple jar are enough.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 3 cups instant nonfat dry milk — Carnation Instant Nonfat Dry Milk is one readily available option. (affiliate link)
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 1/4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Why Dutch-Process Cocoa?
Dutch-process cocoa gives the mix a deep chocolate color and a smoother cocoa flavor. Because this is a beverage rather than a baking formula that depends on a specific acid-and-leavener reaction, the cocoa choice here is mainly about flavor.
Natural cocoa can taste a little sharper, so it is better treated as a variation rather than assuming it will taste exactly the same.
Dry-milk note: Instant nonfat dry milk is the best choice here because it is designed to dissolve more readily. Keep the finished mix completely dry and tightly covered.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- OXO Good Grips 8-inch fine-mesh strainer or another fine-mesh sieve (affiliate link)
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small airtight jars or one larger airtight container
How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
1. Sift the powdered ingredients.
Sift the powdered sugar, Dutch-process cocoa and cornstarch into a large mixing bowl.
Cocoa and powdered sugar tend to develop small lumps in storage, so this extra step makes the finished mix easier to combine evenly.
2. Add the dry milk and salt.
Add the instant nonfat dry milk and fine salt.
Whisk thoroughly, working through the bowl until the color and texture look evenly blended from top to bottom.
For a smoother mug later: Start each serving by stirring the cocoa mix with a small splash of hot liquid to form a smooth paste. Then gradually add the rest of the hot water or milk.
3. Divide the mix into jars or transfer it to a container.
Spoon or funnel the finished cocoa mix into clean, completely dry airtight jars or a larger pantry container.
For smaller gifts, these 17-ounce ComSaf airtight swing-top glass jars are one option for dividing the mix into individual jars. They come in a set of six. (affiliate link)
Do not worry about filling every jar to a particular line yet. Divide the batch as evenly as you can and attach the serving directions to each gift.
How to Make One Mug of Hot Cocoa
Start with about 1/4 cup hot cocoa mix for an 8-ounce mug.
Add a small splash of very hot water or milk and stir until the cocoa mixture forms a smooth paste.
Gradually add the remaining hot liquid while stirring until the cocoa is completely combined.
Using hot water keeps the mix especially convenient because the dry milk is already included. Using whole milk should create a richer cup.
Adjust to taste: The 1/4-cup serving is the current researched starting point. Add a little more mix for stronger cocoa or a little more hot liquid for a lighter mug.
How to Turn the Cocoa Mix Into DIY Gift Jars
Divide the cocoa mix among clean, completely dry airtight jars and finish them with a simple tag or ribbon.
The 17-ounce ComSaf swing-top jars are one option for this smaller-gift format. (affiliate link)
For the simplest serving directions, keep marshmallows, peppermint and chocolate separate from the cocoa mix. A small food-safe bag tied to the jar works well. If you choose to layer toppings directly on top of the cocoa mix for presentation, add a note telling the recipient to remove the toppings before measuring the cocoa mix.
Optional Toppings to Package Separately
- Mini marshmallows
- Crushed peppermint candy
- Chopped chocolate or chocolate shavings
- Ground cinnamon
Simple Gift-Tag Directions
A Simple Hot Cocoa Station for Cookie Night
Our family has a Christmas cookie-baking and decorating night, and a simple hot cocoa station is an easy way to make that evening feel a little more special without turning it into another complicated project.
Set out the cocoa mix, mugs, a kettle or another safe source of hot water, and a few toppings in separate bowls.
If you want a richer option, warm milk can be offered separately.
The point is not to build an elaborate themed cocoa bar. It is simply to make something warm and homemade easy for everyone to put together while the cookies are being decorated.
Tips for a Better Jar of Cocoa Mix
Keep Everything Dry
Start with a dry bowl, dry utensils and a completely dry jar. Moisture encourages clumping and shortens the useful life of dry pantry ingredients.
Whisk Thoroughly
Dry milk, cocoa and powdered sugar all have slightly different textures. Thorough mixing helps each scoop contain a more even balance of ingredients.
Use Instant Dry Milk
Instant nonfat dry milk is designed to disperse more readily in liquid than non-instant dry milk, which makes it better suited for this kind of drink mix.
Store Clear Jars in the Dark
Clear jars are pretty for gifting, but after the gift is opened they should be kept in a dark pantry or cupboard, away from heat and moisture.
How to Store Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Store the cocoa mix tightly sealed in a cool, dark, dry place away from heat, light and moisture. If you use clear glass gift jars, keep them inside a pantry or cupboard rather than on a sunny countertop or open shelf.
Utah State University Extension recommends protecting nonfat dry milk from light, moisture and warmer temperatures and notes that once a package of nonfat dry milk is opened, it has about a three-month shelf life. Because dry milk is one of the main ingredients here, use the finished cocoa mix within about three months and never beyond the earliest best-by date of the ingredients you used.
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar
A simple dry cocoa mix made with instant nonfat dry milk, powdered sugar and Dutch-process cocoa for winter mugs or homemade gift jars.
Ingredients
- 3 cups instant nonfat dry milk
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 1/4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
- Sift the powdered ingredients. Sift the powdered sugar, Dutch-process cocoa and cornstarch into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the dry milk and salt. Add the instant nonfat dry milk and fine salt. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture looks evenly blended.
- Divide or store the mix. Transfer the cocoa mix to clean, completely dry airtight jars or a larger container.
- Make one mug. Start with about 1/4 cup cocoa mix in an 8-ounce mug. Add a small splash of very hot water or milk and stir into a smooth paste. Gradually add the remaining hot liquid while stirring until combined.
- Finish as you like. Serve plain or add marshmallows, peppermint, cinnamon or chocolate as desired.
A Bit More Homemade
A jar of cocoa mix is a small project, but that is part of the point. It is useful, giftable and easy to keep around for the nights when something warm sounds good.
You don’t have to do everything. Just start with something—and make your home a bit more homemade one change at a time.
Research Notes & Sources
This recipe was developed from established hot-cocoa-mix structures and dry-milk storage guidance. It has not yet been kitchen-tested by ABMH.
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