The BEST Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix with Real Chocolate Inside
A chocolate drink is winter or summer can be a real treat. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for the best homemade hot chocolate mix made with real chocolate makes the most amazing thick, creamy and delicious chocolate drink that taste like vanilla pastry cream. Use it as a base for making hot chocolate drinks in winter as well frozen chocolate drinks in summer.
The BEST Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix – How to make hot chocolate mix.
One of our family favorite drinks in winter is, of course, hot chocolate and in summer its frozen chocolate drinks. We like our chocolate drinks thick and creamy. In summer I make a jug of hot chocolate and leave it in the fridge so the kids can have it when it’s cold or when they feel the need. Personally, I’d rather they drink some good homemade chocolate drink compared to those frizzy sweet drinks.
How to make the BEST homemade Hot Chocolate Drink – How to make hot chocolate mix
Thick and creamy and taste like Vanilla Pastry Cream
We like our hot chocolate thick and creamy so I add real chocolate and just a little cornstarch in the mix. This thickens the hot cocoa making it extra luxurious. Just like you do when you make eggless vanilla pastry cream – not as thick as that but you get the idea.
I love to grate some chocolate for extra dusting and dress the rim sometimes too. Just makes it a little extra special.
How to make the best Hot Chocolate Mix with Real Chocolate Inside – How to make hot chocolate mix
Let’s talk ingredients and Substitutes Hot Cocoa Mix (Save/Pin)
- Cocoa Powder – I use unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder. Its just regular cocoa powder we use for stand baking, nothing fancy.
- Confectioners Sugar – is regular powder sugar that has been processed with cornstarch or potato starch to prevent caking.
- Cornflour – this is what helps us achieve that thick luscious creamy and velvety texture. The more cornstarch you add the thicker the hot chocolate will become. I highly recommend you do not add any more than the recommended amount here as you want this to be a pouring hot chocolate consistency, not vanilla pastry cream consistency.
- Grated Chocolate – While it’s not absolutely necessary and you can avoid it? I highly recommend you don’t omit it. Real chocolate had cocoa butter which adds richness, flavor, and sheen to our finished hot chocolate. Having said that we all know that real chocolate has to be good quality chocolate – no less!! A good quality chocolate will shine thru and give you that gorgeous velvet like texture so I highly recommend using a good eating chocolate.
- Spices – This can be omitted or switched depending on your preference or season. For example, in fall I love to add pumpkin spice or ginge bread spice. I winter I love to add garam masala (yes garam masala) or cinnamon. I know cinnamon is a very common addition but I highly recommend trying a pinch of garam masala.
How to make the best Hot Chocolate Mix with Real Chocolate Inside
Milk and Milk Substitutes
- Milk – To make a drink you can use regular dairy milk. For a vegan version use Almond or Soy based milk. You can also use Coconut milk but take note that coconut milk will also have a coconut flavor. Personally, I love it but just make sure the person you serve it too like it too.
- Milk Powder – As a kid, my mom used milk powder in her cocoa mix – that way all she did was add water to make the hot chocolate. If you prefer to do that just add 2 cups of milk powder and you can use a cup of water for every 2 tbsp of powder. Personally, I prefer the real mix I do not add milk powder in my cocoa mix.
Kahlua Chocolate Milkshake
Recipe – The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix – How to make Hot Cocoa Mix (Save/Pin)
Tools
Cinnamon Mocha Hot Chocolate Milk
Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Mix
- Confectioner sugar – 250 grams (2 cups)
- Cocoa powder – 100 grams (1 cup)
- Grated semi sweet chocolate (I use 60%) – 65 grams (1/2 cup)
- Cornstarch – 2 tbsp
- Spice powder – 1 tbsp (Optional)
Method
For the Hot Chocolate Mix
- Grate the chocolate with a fine grater or use a food processor.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Use a whisk to make sure the powders mix well.
- Store it in an airtight container – I prefer to use a glass jar.
To make the drink
- As a guide use 2 tbsp of powder for each cup of milk (dairy or almond milk)
- Add powder to the milk
- Heat on medium low until the mixture is thick and creamy
- Strain into individual serving cups to remove any undissolved bits of chocolate
- Top with grated chocolate or Marshmallows.
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Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix – Hot Cocoa Mix
The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix aka Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
Hot Chocolate Mix
- 250 grams Confectioner sugar
- 100 grams Cocoa powder
- 65 grams Grated semi sweet chocolate I use 60%
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Spice powder Optional
Instructions
For the Hot Chocolate Mix
- Grate the chocolate with a fine grater or use a food processor.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Use a whisk to make sure the powders mix well.
- Store it in an airtight container - I prefer to use a glass jar.
To make the drink
- As a guide use 2 tbsp of powder for each cup of milk (dairy or almond milk)
- Add powder to the milk
- Heat on medium low until the mixture is thick and creamy
- Strain into individual serving cups to remove any undissolved bits of chocolate
- Top with grated chocolate or Marshmallows.
Love Drinks? Cold or Hot?
Check out my collection of hot and cold drinks here on this page. Or
See a full list of all recipes here on my Recipe Index
A collection of Drink Recipes for Summer and Winter.
OMG this is definitely the best hot coooa mix ever. We make it every week for the last month!! So glad I found this recipe and your blog. Love it. I make mine more thick and like you say more like thick pastry cream.
Thank you so much Ambrose – you just made my day! I think so too!! . Happy to hear you had success with this recipe and loved it as much as I do.I love it thick too! Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Always happy to her from those who has tried my recipes or tutorials. If you share it on Instagram please do tag me @veenaazmanov so I can see your finished work. Thanks
Hot chocolate is the best! I love how thick and creamy this looks..! Can’t wait to try this.
Thank you Rebecca. Happy to hear you will try it. Let me know what you think
I love homemade hot chocolate mix, I’ve heard about it but have never made my own. Such a great idea to save time!
You must try this Diana. Ain’t nothing like homemade. YOu will love it
I love all of your creative ideas and variations on hot cocoa. I can’t believe I’ve never made it homemade! Can’t wait to try this out on my kids!
Thank you Karen. Yes I love hot chocolate and these make a real treat for my kids.
We love hot chocolate too! This mix would be great to keep on hand. I love how you used real, grated chocolate.
Thank you Ellen. Chocolate is a soft spot for me so I love making I use good quality and when it’s absolutely necessary.
Homemade hot chocolate is sooo yummy! It so much better than that packaged stuff! Saving this recipe!
Absolutely Deanna. I love homemade Chocolate and there is nothing better than homemade with these things.
I love the tip about cornstarch. I’ll definitely use it in the future! Thank you so much for sharing!
Always a pleasure Julia
This is such a great idea. Skip the store bought stuff and make your own. You can even adjust the amount of coffee/sugar/cocoa to you liking. Perfect for the dead of winter we are in right now.
Absolutely Gloria.. My mom never ever purchased these things – she always complained that she was a control freak who wanted to be in control but now I see the positives of it all.
Sounds delicious! I love the combo of chocolate and cinnamon, so warming. We like to make cocoa mix at home since we can’t have the store-bought kind sue to allergies. I’ll have to try adding corn starch next time!
Thanks Sarah. The cornstarch juts makes it a tad thicker and more luxurious.
Homemade hot chocolate is so delicious. One of my favourite drinks on a cold day.
Mine too Bintu – Thanks
It looks delicious and i love the idea of adding a little cornstarch to make it really thick and creamy – that’s a tip I’m definitely going to try!
Thanks Corina.. Yeah I love it thicker… goes down so smooth.
I do like a good Mocha when the weather is colder, and I imagine the additon of cinnamon makes this delicious and warming.
I so does Helen.. I love cinnamon..!
Oh wow! A drinkable pastry cream LOL! Like this – hits all the right spots!
It doesn’t doesn’t it?
I would love a cuppa of this delicious hot chocolate today, it’s so gloomy outside!
Oh here too! Kids using any excuse to make a cup.
Love a little cinnamon in my hot chocolate – it makes all the difference!
Sure does Lisa.. Love cinnamon
I love hot chocolate but I usually just get the pre made mix. Now I’m thinking I should make it at home!
Yeah I love making the mix at home.. can control the sugar
This sounds so delicious! I love the idea of chocolate, cinnamon and coffee all wrapped up in one delicious drink! Thanks for the recipe!
You are very welcome Elizabeth
Yum, I love hot cocoa in the winter. It’s so comforting! One of my favorite things to have when the weather is really stormy. This looks like a great version!
Thanks Michelle!
MMM I love homemade hot chocolate!!! This looks yummy!
Thanks Deanna !