Ready to snuggle up and have a warm, chocolatey beverage by the fire to keep warm? Learn to make this bulk DIY Hot Cocoa mix for your pantry for winter-time snuggles.

Here's an interesting tidbit! Did you know that there is actually a difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa? Does it really matter? It's all a hot, chocolatey drink in the end, right?

What is the Difference Between Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa

The basic difference really comes down to this:

Hot Chocolate is a beverage made from melted chocolate and milk or cream. Richy, dark, and chocolately...with a little whipped cream or marshmallow snow on top, it is a decadent treat for a cold winter's night.

Hot Cocoa, on the other hand, is a lighter, sweeter drink, made from cocoa powder, sugar, and milk or water (or even cream). It can be flavored with vanilla, caramel or cinnamon, and tends to be what we know as those store-bought packets with far too few of those teeny little marshmallow pieces

• LEARN MORE: DIY Marshmallow Bits

While it's dreamy to make a fresh cup of hot chocolate for the family as a special treat, I know you're busy. I also know you also want to be able to stock your pantry with easy and healthy options for your family (well, who am I kidding, hot cocoa isn't exactly healthy!).

It is easy to store chocolate in the pantry to make hot chocolate from, I want to help you save a little time and money with this fast and easy hot cocoa mix to stock your pantry with.

Mom's DIY Hot Cocoa Mix (Bulk)

I will be completely upfront and tell you that this recipe is highly influenced by Alton Brown. But I've made a few of my own changes, over-time, with testing, researching, and more testing.

Mom: "Hey, kids, wanna test the next batch?
Kids: "Nah," said no child of mine ever.

Mom's Hot Cocoa Mix Ingredients:

• 3.5 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder*
• 1 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk powder (See non-dairy options below)
• 1 cup malted milk powder . (Your store might carry it as Ovaltine malt powder)
• 1 teaspoon ground salt (not table salt, but you might want to grind up your real salt or kosher salt a little to help it blend better).
• 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder **
• Hot milk or water to serve (water is fine, but milk will always make it a little creamier and milky tasting).

Yes, this may seem like a lot of sugar, but it is between a barely sweet hot cocoa and the overly-sweet instant packs from the store. If you like less sweet, add less powdered sugar.

This recipe makes approximately 7.5+cups of powder, which is approximately 40 cups of hot cocoa

Directions:

Directions for serving:

• Place 2 heaping of Mom's Hot Cocoa Mix into a mug (needs to be a mug, a teacup won't do).
• Pour 2 oz. of hot milk or water and thoroughly mix. A whisk is really handy for this.
• Fill the rest of the mug with hot milk or water.

Notes:

*You can use natural cocoa powder instead of Dutch-process cocoa powder if that's what you have in your pantry. But the Dutch-process is a deeper, richer flavor than natural cocoa powder, but you really can use either.

**The inclusion of arrowroot powder serves two purposes. It helps make the cocoa mix less prone to caking or clumping in storage, AND adds a little creamier texture to the final product.

Mom's Secret Sleepy-Time Hot Cocoa Mix

This is the magical, sleepy-time hot cocoa mix that I have served my boys during the annual viewing of Polar Express on Christmas Eve their entire lives (and the oldest one is 20 now!) it blends a little of both worlds of an instant hot cocoa mix with creamy hot chocolate.

I've never told them the secret....but it's a quite simple piece of love that I add to the above hot cocoa mix before they hit the sack to dreams of sugar plums and Christmas cheer.

Instructions

• 1 Serving of Hot Cocoa Mix
• Add 1 Hershey's kiss or another favorite chocolate chunk (or more...it's Christmas Eve!)
• Add 1 peppermint candy. You can use a candy cane, instead, if you don't mind giving away a little of the secret.
• A little marshmallow snow or whipped cream on top.

When will I give up the secret? Once they have kids of their own. They've pretty much already guessed the secret already, but it can't be officially confirmed until they've become parents themselves.

Hot Cocoa Topping & Add-in Suggestions

• Marshmallow bits (or try your own dehydrated version)
• Mini Marshmallows
• Marshmallow snow (peppermint might be your family's favorite, too!)
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate Shavings
• Crushed peppermint candies
• Cinnamon or pumpkin spice sprinkled on top
• Pure vanilla extract or peppermint extract added into the cup
• Raspberry Powder - add a tsp of raspberry powder per cup for a subtle raspberry flavor
• For an adult version, add a splash of rum or bourbon

Healthy Hot Cocoa Ingredient Swaps

These healthier ingredient swap ideas are safe for storing the bulk recipe in your pantry for long-term.

Non-dairy alternatives:

Something to keep in mind when using non-diary milk alternatives is that the powders may not dissolve well. I'm listing a few alternatives that do, but you'll want t experiment with the ones that work best for you.

• Coconut milk powder
• Soy Milk Powder
• Non-dairy creamer - while not the cleanest substitute, it can be used for those who need to stay away from dairy, but don't want the cost of alternative milk substitutes.

Sugar Alternatives:

Use Sucanat or other Keto-friendly sweetener, or even coconut sugar to replace the confectioner's sugar. You may want to grind both of these up to help them dissolve better.

How to Store Bulk DIY Hot Cocoa Mix

Storing your DIY hot cocoa mix is best in an airtight container (mason jars are perfect for this) in a dark, cool place.

If it makes things easier for kids or to transport, feel free to divide this mix up into zip-top bags or reusable sandwich bags or even modified Foodsaver bags, then store in an airtight container together. Then you can grab a few to tuck into your bag and make your own hot cocoa mix wherever you can find hot water.

Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar Gift Idea

This hot cocoa mix is perfect for Christmas or hostess gifts! Be sure to attach a gift tag with the instructions!

• Layer the ingredients for a pretty sand art effect in mason jars.
• Place mix in a cute jar, and layer mini chocolate chips and dehydrated marshmallows.
• Package up in individual, holiday, cellophane treat bags.
• Buy a cute holiday mug, and stuff a zip-top bag with a few servings, a card with the instructions and a nice candy cane 'garnish'.

More DIY Hot Cocoa Mixes

Here are a few hot cocoa mixes from a few of my favorite friends! I hope you'll try a few out for yourself!

• Spiced Hot Cocoa Mix
• Hot Cocoa and Homemade Marshmallows
• Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix
• All Natural Hot Cocoa Mix
• Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix (you can store this!)
• Hot Chocolate Bombs (this is not a shelf-stable recipe, but you can make up bulk and store them in your freezer!)