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Two white mugs of homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows on top and sprinkled around the table.

3-Ingredient Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Avoid all the junk in store-bought hot chocolate mix by using just 3 simple ingredients to make your own. This recipe makes the best homemade hot chocolate ever!

Yield: 1 cup 1x
Prep: 2 minutesCook: 3 minutesTotal: 5 minutes
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk (sub: your favorite milk)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons 100% unsweetened cocoa powder (We recommend Ghirardelli brand.)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

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Instructions

Microwave Method: Add the milk to a microwave safe mug. Heat in 30 second increments until very hot. Use a fork to whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until fully combined.

Stovetop Method: Pour all three ingredients into a small saucepan and heat over medium to medium-low heat. Whisk constantly until the ingredients are fully combined and the milk is hot.

Serve warm and top with marshmallows or Homemade Whipped Cream, if desired.


Notes/Tips

  • To make a batch of mix for 10 servings: Put 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of cocoa powder into a 16 ounce mason jar (standard size) and give it a good shake. You’ll use 3 tablespoons of this powder per 1 cup of hot milk.
  • You can pull back on the sugar if you want.
  • I learned from a Taste of Home article (which referenced a taste test that America’s Test Kitchen did with expired cocoa) and a Simply Recipes article about sugar, both cocoa powder and sugar have an indefinite shelf life when it comes to safety. Be sure to store the hot chocolate mix in a dry, cool place in a container with an airtight lid. As long as it’s not moldy and it doesn’t have an unpleasant odor, there’s no reason to toss the hot chocolate mix…even years later!
© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: American Method: Mix