Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Before you start

A good cocoa mix is three things in balance: unsweetened cocoa for depth, sugar to tame its bitterness, and milk powder so the mix works with plain hot water. Finely chopped chocolate is the upgrade that separates a homemade jar from a packet, because the cocoa butter it brings makes the cup taste rounder and richer.

The weak point of every dry mix is clumping. Cocoa powder repels water, so dumping it into a full mug leaves dry pockets floating on top. Two habits solve it: blitz the mix so the sugar and chocolate are fine, and always start each cup by stirring the mix into a splash of hot liquid to make a paste. This jar makes about 12 cups and keeps for months in a dry cupboard.

Ingredients

• 85 g (1 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder — Dutch-process gives a darker, smoother cup; natural is fruitier
• 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 70 g (1 cup) instant nonfat dry milk powder
• 100 g (about ⅔ cup chopped) dark or semisweet chocolate — finely chopped
• 1 tbsp cornstarch — optional, for a slightly thicker cup
• ¾ tsp fine salt
• 240 ml (1 cup) per mug hot milk or water — for serving

Method

1. Weigh everything. Cocoa and milk powder pack very differently from cup to cup, and weight keeps the jar consistent from one batch to the next.
2. Put the sugar and chopped chocolate in the food processor and pulse in short bursts until the chocolate looks like coarse sand, about 20 pulses. Running it continuously warms the chocolate and makes it clump.
3. Sift the cocoa powder, milk powder, cornstarch and salt into a large bowl to break up lumps. Add the sugar and chocolate mixture.
4. Whisk for a full minute until the color is even with no streaks of pale milk powder. Spoon or funnel it into a clean, completely dry jar and seal.
5. To make one mug, spoon 3 heaping tablespoons (about 40 g) into the mug and add about 2 tablespoons of hot liquid. Stir into a smooth, shiny paste with no dry spots.
6. Pour in the rest of 240 ml (1 cup) hot milk or water, steaming but not boiling, stirring as you go. Taste and add another spoonful of mix for a stronger cup.

Tips for success

• Shake or stir the jar before each use. Fine chocolate and cocoa settle at different rates, and the last cups can end up weaker than the first.
• Made with water, the mix gives a light, everyday cup. Made with milk, it becomes rich enough for dessert; you may want slightly less mix.
• For gifts, attach a card with the per-mug amount and a reminder to make a paste first. That one step prevents most complaints.

Substitutions

Instant nonfat dry milk

Whole milk powder makes a creamier cup but goes stale sooner because of its fat; use it within about a month. Leave milk powder out entirely if the mix will always be made with milk.

Granulated sugar

Light brown sugar adds a caramel note but can harden in the jar. Coconut sugar works one-for-one with a darker, less sweet result.

Dark chocolate

Milk chocolate makes a sweeter, mellower cup that children often prefer. Mini chocolate chips save chopping but melt less completely because of their stabilizers.

Variations

Mexican-spiced mix

Add 2 tsp ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp cayenne to the jar.

Peppermint mix

Pulse in 4 crushed peppermint candies with the sugar and chocolate; store away from heat so the candy stays dry.

Troubleshooting

Dry lumps float on the surface

The mix went into too much liquid at once. Always make a paste with a little hot liquid first, and sift lumpy cocoa when making the jar.

The mix hardened into a brick

Moisture got in, often from a damp spoon or a humid kitchen. Break it up and pulse it in the processor, and keep the lid tight with a dry spoon.

Chocolate specks sit at the bottom of the mug

The liquid was not hot enough to melt them, or the pieces were too big. Use steaming liquid around 70°C to 80°C (160°F to 175°F) and process the chocolate finer.

Storage

Store the sealed jar in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove. Use within about 3 months for the best flavor, since milk powder and chocolate slowly lose freshness. Discard the mix if it smells stale or rancid or shows any moisture.