This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.
Happy New Year! I’m so excited to continue my blogging journey this year. I plan to focus on great recipes and less on filler content. I will still do some giveaways and reviews, but they are now in their own area and not in my main feed. I’m hoping y’all will like what I’ve done. I’ve stopped doing the Thursday carnival and probably won’t do Super 6 much anymore. I really want to get back to great recipes!
Have you ever made hot cocoa from scratch? It really is quite easy and tastes so much better than the packets of mix you buy at the store. I quickly whipped up a batch for our New Year’s Eve party. The mix would make a great house warming gift or hostess gift this time of year…or even make up a ton of it and put it in cute jars to give as Christmas gifts next year.
We had my parents, John’s parents, and John’s brother with his kids over for a potluck supper and fireworks. It’s a huge deal here to have fireworks. It’s new for us in Arizona…we can do small ground fireworks on our property now. WOOHOO! Luckily, we have a nice size piece of land (okay 1/2 acre) but it’s big enough that we don’t have to worry about fires and can keep everyone a safe distance.
Fireworks in our backyard on New Year’s Eve.
This was the first time I had made a huge pot of hot cocoa, but it was super easy. Just use your favorite recipe (or even a package mix if you’re pressed for time) and the amount of water called for in the instructions and place in the slow cooker. Stir well and heat on low for 2-4 hours. Turn down to warm setting, if you have one, when party starts so that the cocoa isn’t too hot. Easy!
The kids added a candy cane to their hot cocoa for a nice holiday twist! My nephew, Daniel, loved the hot cocoa!
Hot Cocoa Mix
This homemade hot cocoa mix makes perfect homemade hot cocoa. Just add warm water or milk.
Ingredients
- 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1½ cups cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)
- 1½ cups mini chocolate chips (or finely chopped dark chocolate)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
To make hot cocoa:
- Add 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup of hot water or milk. Top with whipped cream or mini marshmallows.
Love this a lot! Stop over and link up in my Happy Friday Link up today! It is all about drinks!! Susie http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-friday-link-up-drink.html
YUM. I love hot chocolate. I never thought about the slow cooker before but it is a great idea.. I will have to use this recipe for my munchkins
I have never done hot cocoa from scratch, but I can do a really mean one from Quik!! Looking forward to reading in the New Year!
i do something similar–except i don’t add the milk powder for my friends with lactose issues. Instead i tell them to put a tablespoon in a cup and add @ a tablespoon of water to make a slurry and dissolve everything. THen add the “milk” of their choice and pop in the microwave to warm to their liking. It’s a tad more work–but my friends who can’t have milk get to enjoy a warm cup of cocoa too!
Yum! I’ve been craving hot chocolate lately! I think I’ll give this recipe a try!
This looks wonderful. I’m sure it was really enjoyed too. I have so many cocoa mix recipes I can’t remember which ones I liked, and didn’t, so I am pinning this to make one day. Would be yummy with crushed peppermint candy in it too? I LOOOOVE hot cocoa!
Yep, the kids all added a candy cane, so crushed peppermint would be super tasty!
Yum, that looks heavenly!! My hot chocolate fairy is jealous she wasn’t there to taste it.
Looks yummy! I’m going to give it a try!
Blessings,
~Erin
Happy New Year! Thanks so much for sharing this! I love the idea of heating the cocoa and serving from the crock pot! So easy! I’ll be putting this idea to use very soon!
Homemade is so much better! I have heard that salt makes it really good. Cute picture. Happy new year!
I’ve never put salt in my cocoa! I’ll try that.
I try to add a pinch of salt to anything sweet. Cuts that overly sweet taste and brings out the other flavors!
Sounds delicious! I have never tried making my own. I’m sure it will taste much better than the store-bought stuff. Adding the ingredients to my grocery list. 🙂
I just remembered when I had to make hot cocoa for a large crowd I put it in one of those big orange igloo coolers. It kept it warm for a long time.
Great idea, Brenda!
I love to put French Vanilla Creamer in mine, it tastes like melted marshmallows in it.