The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This DIY Hot Chocolate Mix Gift is an easy, cost-effective gift for the holiday season. We love packaging it and giving it to teachers, neighbors, and friends, along with some cute mugs.
It only costs $0.50 per serving to make this drink. The recipe makes ten servings for a total of $5.01.
We all love homemade gifts during the holiday season. For more DIY ideas for holiday gifting, check out our recipes for Homemade Vanilla Extract and Rainbow White Hot Chocolate Bombs.
On a cold night, you can find us snuggling up under a blanket with a cup of Hot Chocolate. It is like drinking a warm hug. There is just something so magical about it. Unfortunately, however, the price of pre-packaged hot chocolate mixes from the store is not magical!
We knew we needed to create a DIY recipe to solve this problem. Especially at the rate, we go through hot chocolate! Our families drink it year-round.
Yes, even in Arizona! After swimming in the pool on a hot summer day and then coming into the air-conditioned house, the children get cold and want hot chocolate! We would call the kiddos crazy, but we remember doing the same thing as kids. We even bring it on our summer Lake Powell trips!
With this recipe, we can indulge in hot chocolate any time we want and not spend an arm and a leg on those packets from the store. And truth be told, our homemade version tastes a lot better than the store version!
DIY Hot Chocolate Mix Gift
This homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is creamy, rich, and chocolatey. You can keep it in an airtight container to have a cup at home on those cold (or warm summer) days!
But this is more than just a recipe. Put the DIY Hot Chocolate Mix Gift in mason jars for a perfect gift for teachers, friends, and neighbors. They will appreciate the thoughtful, practical, homemade gift. The kiddos can even help you make and assemble the jars because it is super easy (and fun) to make them from scratch and then gift them.
Ingredients & Cost:
- 2 cups instant dry milk – $2.72
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder – $1.60
- 2 cups powdered sugar – $0.58
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar – $0.11
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
INSTRUCTIONS
- First, add the dry milk to a bowl.
- Sift the powdered sugar on top of the dry milk.
- Next, sift in the cocoa powder.
- Then add the granulated sugar.
- Whisk everything together until combined.
- Place the mix in an airtight container for gifting.
- To drink, add ⅓ cup of the mix to a mug and stir in 1 cup of warm milk until combined. Enjoy.
RECIPE VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Add in different mix-ins to the hot chooclate , such as peppermint extract and almond extract.
- For a fun gift idea, put the hot chocolate mix in a gift basket along with items such as flavored marshmallows, flavored chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, homemade marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, Christmas sprinkles, and candy canes.
STORAGE TIPS
Serve: Combine the mix with warm milk in a mug and top with desired toppings.
Store: The mix can be stored in an airtight jar for up to 3 months.
Freeze: Place the mix in an airtight jar and freeze for up to 6 months.
COOK’S TOOLS
- measuring cups
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- mason jars
RECIPE FAQs
Many people use the terms interchangeably. However, technically there are a couple of differences. Hot cocoa traditionally has a thinner consistency and is sweeter. Meanwhile, hot chocolate has a thicker consistency and is richer in taste.
You should 100% use milk over water when making hot chocolate for a thicker and creamier taste. Whole milk will give a creamier and sweeter taste than other kinds of milk, but you can use different types according to your preference.
GET KIDS INVOLVED
Ages 2-3: Practice counting skills with your little one as you help them measure out the dry ingredients and pour them into the mixing bowl.
Ages 4-5: Have your child pre-measure the ingredients. They can also help by cleaning the jars for making the hot cocoa mix.
Ages 6-8: Have your child measure out the ingredients and mix them. Guide their hands to show them how to pour the mix into the mason jars, and then let them do it independently.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
BUDGET TIPS
This is an excellent idea for gift-giving during the holiday season. It is a cost-effective way to make sure you get a gift for all the people you love without having to break the bank to do it.
MORE HOLIDAY RECIPES
- Brownie Cookies
- Cake Mix Banana Bread
- Chick-Fil-A Copycat Peppermint Shake
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
- Crockpot Candy
- Easy Chocolate Fudge
- Homemade Peanut Brittle
- Peppermint Pie
- Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies
- Rocky Road Fudge
- Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies
DIY Hot Chocolate Mix Gift
Recipe Cost 5.01 Serving Cost 0.50Equipment
- measuring cups
- large mixing bowl
- mixing spoon
- Mason jars
Ingredients
HOT CHOCOLATE MIX:
- 2 cups instant dry milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
ADD INS: (optional)
- ½ cup chocolate chips white, milk or semi-sweet
- Mini marshmallows
- Peppermint extract
Instructions
MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX:
- In a large bowl, add dry milk. Sift powdered sugar on top of the dry milk.
- Then, sift the cocoa powder on top of the powdered sugar.
- Add granulated sugar and whisk until well combined.
- Transfer the mix to airtight containers for gifting.
- The mix can be stored in an airtight jar for up to 3 months.
MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE:
- To make hot chocolate, add ⅓ cup of the mix to a mug, stir in 1 cup of warm milk until combined. Add toppings of your choice and serve.
GUSTAVO says
I love this recipe and the idea of having readily made a hot chocolate mix to make it super fast! Thank you!
Saif says
I could definitely use this hot chocolate mix recipe for my drinks, cakes or dessert. Best part is that I can keep it for other days
Natalie says
DIY Christmas gifts are the best. I love receiving them and making them for my family and friends. I just saved your recipe. I will give gift it to my mom and dad. They love hot chocolate. Thanks!
Farrah says
Seasonal and beautiful! Absolutely love this idea for holiday gifts, thanks for the recipe !
Heather says
I always do a DIY gift for all my coworkers each year and was looking for a new idea to try this year. Can’t wait to make up batches of this to give them!
Lisalia says
What a brilliant idea for neighbor gifts! EVERYONE (practically everyone) loves hot cocoa. This is affordable and perfect for crowds. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Paula says
can u use boiling water as well, instead of warm milk.
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Paula, yes you can use water instead of milk, it will just not be as creamy.