Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix (Homemade)
Published Dec 05, 2022 Updated Jul 10, 2023
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What Makes This Recipe Great
This Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mix not only tastes better than the store-bought version, but it also makes an excellent DIY gift. Simply add this mix to a pretty jar with a bow and some greenery. It’s the perfect thoughtful and useful gift for teachers, neighbors, and friends. And if that wasn’t enough, this mixture is also 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 love keeping my mix dairy-free by using powdered coconut milk. You can also use powdered oat milk or powdered soy milk. If you are not dairy-free you can use regular milk powder.
Powdered Swerve: To keep this recipe sugar-free, I like using swerve. However, if you are not sugar-free you can use regular powdered sugar. I also use powdered over granulates because it helps thicken your hot chocolate drink.
Cocoa Powder: I use unsweetened and prefer Dutch-processed.
Brown Swerve: I like using brown swerve because it is sugar-free. However, if you are not sugar-free you can use regular brown sugar.
Salt: This is key to balancing the sweetness of the mix. I like using fine salt instead of coarse salt.
Chocolate Chips: I always use Hu Kitchen Chocolate Chips because they are dairy-free.
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.
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 With Milk: 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
- marshmallows
- M&M’s
- shredded coconut
If you are in the mood for a spiked hot chocolate you can easily add1 oz of one of the following:
- Bourbon
- Dark Rum
- Baileys
- Kahlua
- Peanut Butter Whiskey
An Easy DIY Gift
This hot cocoa mix makes the perfect useful and practical DIY holiday gift for friends, teachers or neighbors this holiday season! It is also great to share with others who have a milk allergy. You can pack in a mason jar with a ribbon or I used old Bonne Maman jelly jars with a twine bow and fresh greenery and berries from my yard. It’s so easy and affordable.
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.
Want More Holiday Recipes?
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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
- marshmallows
- M&M's
- shredded coconut
Spiked Hot Cocoa
If you want to have a Spiked Hot Chocolate add 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.
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.