Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix (Homemade)
Published Dec 05, 2022 Updated Nov 09, 2024
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Indulge in the rich flavor of this Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mix—it’s even tastier than the store-bought ones! It also makes a fantastic option for a DIY holiday gift. This blend is both dairy-free and can be customized to be sugar-free, providing a warm and comforting way to beat the winter chill.
What Makes This Recipe Great
Elevate your gifting game with this fantastic DIY option—just place the mix in a charming jar, tie it with a bow, and accentuate with some greenery. It serves as a thoughtful and practical gift, ideal for showing appreciation to teachers, neighbors, and friends. As an added bonus, this blend is both sugar and dairy-free.
Ingredient Notes
The full ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card of this post.
- Powdered Coconut Milk: I opt for powdered coconut milk to keep my mix dairy-free, but you can also choose powdered oat milk or powdered soy milk. If you’re not avoiding dairy, regular milk powder works too.
- Powdered Swerve: For a sugar-free version, I recommend using Swerve. However, if sugar is not a concern, regular powdered sugar is a suitable alternative. I prefer powdered over granulated as it helps thicken the hot chocolate.
- Cocoa Powder: I use unsweetened, Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
- Brown Swerve: To keep it sugar-free, I opt for brown Swerve. If you’re not focused on avoiding sugar, regular brown sugar is a suitable substitute.
- Salt: Fine salt is my preference for balancing the sweetness of the mix.
- Chocolate Chips: I rely on Hu Kitchen Chocolate Chips for their dairy-free quality.
Recipe Step By Step
- COMBINE: Add all the ingredients except for the topping to a large mixing bowl. Mix together until evenly combined.
- SIFT: Add mixture to a sifter or sieve to remove any large clumps. This process will ensure your mixture is nice and fine. Stir together one more time making sure there is no white left in the mix.
- STORE: Scoop the mixture into containers or jars of choice.
- DRINK: place 1/4- 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug along with 3/4 cup of hot water or hot milk of choice. Top with marshmallows or toppings of choice. If you like it extra sweet, stir in some honey.
recipe Tip
Pro Tips
Sifting The Mixture: To ensure there are no clumps, be sure to sift the hot cocoa mixture so that it is smooth and fine. You can add the hot cocoa mixture to a food processor if you don’t have sifter. If you use the food processor make sure to add the chocolate chips after you pulse the mix.
Adding Chocolate Chips: I love adding chocolate chips to the mix to give it a little more creamy chocolate flavor.
Mixing: You can use hot water instead of milk, however, it won’t be as creamy and delicious. I always, always suggest mixing the hot cocoa powder with almond milk or milk of choice for best results.
Toppings & Booze
Feel free to add toppings of choice. The possibilities really are endless, however, below are some of my favorites.
- crushed peppermints
- crushed mint chocolate (dairy free if desired)
- marshmallows
- M&M’s (if not dairy free)
- shredded coconut
If you are in the mood for a spiked hot chocolate you can easily add 1 oz of one of the following:
- Bourbon
- Dark Rum
- Baileys
- Kahlua
- Peanut Butter Whiskey
An Easy DIY Gift
This delightful hot cocoa mix serves as an ideal and thoughtful do-it-yourself holiday gift for friends, teachers, or neighbors this festive season! It’s especially wonderful for sharing with those who have a milk allergy. You can elegantly package it in a mason jar adorned with a festive ribbon. Personally, I opted for repurposing a Bonne Maman jelly jars, tying them with twine bows, and adding a touch of fresh greenery and berries from my yard. Not only is it a breeze to assemble, but it’s also a budget-friendly option for spreading holiday cheer.
Recipe FAQs
Store this hot chocolate mix in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
I highly recommend sifting. This is to ensure there are no clumps. Sifting will get the hot cocoa mixture smooth and fine.
You can add the hot cocoa mixture to a food processor if you don’t have a sifter. If you use the food processor make sure to add the chocolate chips after you pulse the mix.
For sure! You can really use any milk powder such as powdered oat milk, powdered soy milk, or regular powdered milk.
I use Swerve in this recipe instead of regular sugar and powdered sugar. Swerve is a no-sugar and calorie sweetener that comes in both powdered and granulated form. Brown Monk Fruit would also be a great no-sugar sweetener in place of brown sugar.
Hot chocolate is usually made with a base of thick, melted chocolate and mixed with milk or cream. Hot cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa, sugar, and added flavorings. For my recipe, I use both cocoa powder and chocolate, so it is very similar and close to being the same. Although, hot chocolate will be a little thicker than hot cocoa.
You can use hot water instead of milk, however, it won’t be as creamy and delicious. I always, always suggest mixing the hot cocoa powder with almond milk or milk of choice for best results.
Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix (Homemade)
Ingredients
Hot Cocoa Mix
- 2 cups powdered coconut milk*
- 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar OR powdered Swerve
- 1 1/3 cups unsweetened cocoa powder I prefer Dutch-processed
- 1/3 cup brown sugar OR brown Swerve
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips*
Toppings
- crushed peppermints
- crushed mint chocolate dairy free
- marshmallows
- M&M's if not dairy free
- shredded coconut
Spiked Hot Cocoa (1 oz of one of the following)
- Bourbon
- Dark Rum
- Baileys
- Kahlua
- Peanut Butter Whiskey
Instructions
- COMBINE: Add all the ingredients except for the topping to a large mixing bowl. Mix together until evenly combined.
- SIFT: Add mixture to a sifter or sieve to remove any large clumps. This process will ensure your mixture is nice and fine. Stir together one more time making sure there is no white left in the mix.
- STORE: Scoop the mixture into containers or jars of choice. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
- DRINK: Place 1/4- 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug along with 3/4-1 cup of hot milk of choice. Top with marshmallows or toppings of choice. If you like it extra sweet, stir in some honey.
Video
Notes
- I like to keep my mix sugar-free by using Swerve of Monk Fruit. However, feel free to sub regular powdered sugar and brown sugar.
- If you are not dairy-free you can use regular milk powder.
- I love Hu Kitchen’s dairy-free chocolate chips.
- The jars I am using in the photos are old jelly jars by Bonne Maman. Any jar will work as a gift though.
- You can use hot water instead of milk when mixing the drink, however, it won’t be as creamy and delicious.
Equipment
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This mix is creamy and delicious. It also makes the most adorable DIY gift for teachers, neighbors or friends.
We made these last year for hostess gifts and everyone loved them. Making them again this year and I can’t wait to share.
Love that you did this last year. Glad to hear you are making again this year.
Love all things home made. Thx for sharing all of your vast experience!!
can you use cacao powder instead?
I haven’t tested it myself, but I think it would be a perfectly fine switch!
How many jars did you fill using this recipe?
The recipe makes about 6 cups, so the number of jars you’ll need depends on their size.