Some of my best memories from my childhood were days playing outside in the snow with my siblings. We would stay out there for hours making snowmen, snow angels and attempting to make an igloo or at least a really cool snow fort. I can almost feel myself whizzing down the tiny hill across the street and landing with a big kah-rump in the snow! It didn’t matter how cold it got because there was always something warm waiting for us when we got home – Homemade Hot Chocolate. We would wrap our hands around a steaming mug of cocoa and talk about the adventures of our day.
Now that I am a mom I find myself making this same homemade hot chocolate for my kids while listening to their exploits of the snow day. Thank goodness for this simple, frugal recipe or I think it could really take a hit to my budget. Here is my recipe for homemade Hot Chocolate.
My Thrifty Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 cups milk (any kind but I prefer whole milk)
Instructions
- Mix the cocoa powder and sugar together with a whisk in a medium saucepan. Add in 1 cup of milk. Heat on low while stirring until it is incorporated. Then add in the other 3 cups of milk and heat until desired temperature. Pour into cups and get ready to sit by the fire!
If you would prefer to have the mix ready to go here is the recipe.
Servings: 32
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 8 cups white sugar
Use 4 rounded Tablespoons of the mixture to 1 cup of milk. Mix the dry ingredients and store in a lidded jar. I like to write the directions on the front of it so I don’t forget. It should last you all winter long…unless you share!
Additions to the Homemade Hot Chocolate
On special occasions – or when I actually get to plan for a snow day! – I have a couple tricks up my sleeve to spice up my homemade hot chocolate.
Freeze whipped cream into holiday shapes or in pretty little dollops with sprinkles on them to place on the hot cocoa. It holds its form for a bit before dissolving into the liquid and creating an extra creamy flavor. Another addition I love to do is to use a small candy cane and add a marshmallow on the end. The candy cane hangs on the mug’s rim while dunking the marshmallow in the hot liquid. It creates a wonderful chocolate-marshmallow flavor. My last tip is to add in a handful of chopped up Andes Mints. It dissolves quickly and leaves a perfectly minty flavor in your cocoa.
So the next snowy day instead of racing to the store to buy some cocoa mix try making this homemade hot chocolate!
These days I make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate.
Can you share your secret on how to make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate? I would so appreciate it. Thank you.
I assume the cocoa powder you mean is like a Hershey unsweetened powder ??
Please let me know asap. [email protected]
I do like Hershey’s cocoa powder but you can substitute whatever brand you have!