For a homemade hot cocoa mix, whisk together 1 cup (86 g) of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup (200 g) of sugar, 1½ cups of nonfat dry milk powder and ¾ teaspoon of fine salt. Store it in a jar. To make a mug, stir 3 tablespoons of mix into a paste with a splash of hot milk, then add 1 cup (240 ml) more. One batch makes about 18 mugs.
Ready-made hot cocoa mixes vary a lot in how much sugar they carry, so it is worth reading the label. Making your own takes five minutes and puts you in charge of how sweet it gets.
Key facts for this hot cocoa mix
| What | Value | Unit | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | about 18 | mugs of 3 tbsp mix each | Grevista recipe, October 8, 2026 |
| Cocoa per mug | ≈5 (about 1 tbsp) | g | 86 g cup weight from USDA FoodData Central FDC 169593 ÷ 18 mugs, checked September 15, 2026 |
| Sugar per mug | ≈11 | g | 200 g per cup, USDA FoodData Central (granulated sugar) ÷ 18 mugs |
| Caffeine per mug (from the cocoa) | ≈11 | mg | USDA FoodData Central FDC 169593 caffeine value × cocoa per mug, checked September 15, 2026 |
What goes into a good hot cocoa mix?
Four things: cocoa for flavor, sugar for sweetness, dry milk for creaminess and a little salt to round off the bitterness. That is all, and every one of them is a pantry staple.
How do you make homemade hot cocoa mix?
Makes: about 18 mugs · Prep: 5 minutes · Cook: none
Ingredients
- 1 cup (86 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, or less to taste
- 1½ cups nonfat dry milk powder (leave out for a dairy-free mix)
- ¾ tsp fine salt
- Optional: a handful of mini marshmallows for the jar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Whisk it dry. Put the cocoa, sugar, milk powder and salt in a bowl and whisk until the color is even, with no streaks of white.
- Break up lumps. Cocoa and milk powder clump. Rub the mix through a sieve, or pulse it in a food processor for a finer powder.
- Jar it. Spoon the mix into an airtight jar and add marshmallows on top if you like.
- Make a mug. Stir 3 tablespoons of mix with 2 tablespoons of hot milk into a smooth paste, then whisk in 1 cup (240 ml) more hot milk.
Why make the paste first?
Dry cocoa does not dissolve well in cold or lukewarm liquid, so it floats and clumps. A thick paste with a little hot milk wets every particle first. If your mix still clumps, our guide to how to use cocoa powder covers the blooming trick in more detail.
How much mix should you use per mug?
| You want… | Mix per 1 cup (240 ml) hot milk |
|---|---|
| A light, sweet cup | 2 tbsp |
| A standard cup | 3 tbsp |
| A rich, dark cup | 4 tbsp |
How can you change the flavor?
| Twist | What to add to the jar |
|---|---|
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground cinnamon per batch |
| Peppermint | Crushed candy canes on top of each mug (see peppermint hot chocolate) |
| Mexican style | ½ tsp cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne (see Mexican hot chocolate) |
| Dairy-free | Skip the milk powder and make each mug with oat or almond milk |
How long does homemade hot cocoa mix keep?
Stored airtight in a cool, dry cupboard, a mix with dry milk is best used within about 3 months, and the cocoa and sugar alone last longer. Keep a clean, dry spoon in the jar; moisture is what spoils it. See does cocoa powder expire for more on storage.
Watching your sugar instead?
This mix uses real sugar, so every mug carries about 11 g. If you would rather skip it, our sugar-free hot cocoa mix uses the same method with no added sugar. And if you are serving a crowd, set the mix out as the base of a hot cocoa bar and let guests top their own cup. Curious how a ready-made sweetened mix compares? Sweetened cocoa powder lays out the sugar per serving.
Want to make it with our cocoa?
The cocoa in this mix is unsweetened and non-alkalized. Ours is single-origin Vietnamese Trinitario with nothing else in it, and its third-party heavy-metal reports are public on Lab Results & Awards. Check price: 200 g box
Frequently asked questions
How much cocoa powder is in homemade hot cocoa mix?
This recipe uses 1 cup (86 g) of unsweetened cocoa for about 18 mugs, or roughly 5 g (about 1 tablespoon) per mug.
Can I make hot cocoa mix without milk powder?
Yes. Leave it out and make each mug with milk or a plant milk instead of water; the mix will be less creamy if you use water.
How do I make hot cocoa mix less sweet?
Cut the sugar to ½ cup (100 g) and taste a mug. Unsweetened cocoa tastes sharp without enough sugar, so adjust in small steps.
Can I give homemade hot cocoa mix as a gift?
Yes. Layer the mix in a clean jar with mini marshmallows on top and attach the serving directions: 3 tablespoons of mix per cup of hot milk.
Keep reading
- Sugar-free hot cocoa mix — the same idea with no added sugar.
- Hot cocoa bar ideas — turn the jar into a self-serve party station.
- Hot chocolate recipe with cocoa powder — the single-mug method.
- Crockpot hot cocoa — a big batch for guests.
- Five checks for cocoa quality — what to look for in the cocoa you put in the jar.
Commercial relationship: Grevista distributes this cocoa and earns revenue from sales on Amazon. See our Affiliate & Commercial Disclosure.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened (FDC ID 169593), cup weight and caffeine, checked September 15, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central: granulated sugar, 200 g per cup, checked October 8, 2026.
- TSL Science Co., Ltd. Test report TSL1220400349-1, April 2022. Published on our Lab Results & Awards page.
Written by the Grevista Editorial Team. Last updated October 8, 2026. How we check facts: Editorial Policy.