Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

I don’t know about you, but when it gets nippy outside I like to mix up things with my hot beverage selections by making Hot Cocoa. I feel kind of guilty drinking this luscious chocolaty treat during warmer months, but there’s something about chilly nights that make me feel that all those calories will be eaten away by the shivers they help to eliminate.

I’ve been making my own Cocoa mix for years-and the kids start asking for it about now. However, I’ve never been altogether happy with it-it had a lot of extras, like Instant Milk (which seems like it should be cheap-but it’s not!), powdered creamer and powdered sugar. While it was creamy, the chocolate taste got a little lost. So, heads-up kids! Momma’s got a NEW Hot Cocoa mix. Grab the mini-marshmallows and let’s whip some up!

This recipe was inspired by a Giada De Laurentiis offering in a recent edition of USA Weekend Magazine. If you’d like to take a peek at it, follow this link, then scroll to page 3 to see Giada’s Spiced Cocoa recipe: http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20101112/FOOD04/11140317/Gifts-from-the-kitchen

Now, I’m a big fan of Giada, but I wasn’t crazy about the recipe. To begin with, we’d rather not have cayenne in our cocoa. I know it’s a trendy thing, but out here in the flyover states, we like our spicy foods with margaritas not chocolate.

Also, it wasn’t sweet enough. (Sorry, Giada, just calling it like I see it!) Not that we want cloying sweetness, but unsweetened cocoa powder needs sugar. Giada used brown sugar, but I’ve added some white sugar too-just enough to make a difference. If you are into the whole pepper thing with chocolate, add a pinch of whatever lights your fire, but otherwise, this ought to be indulgence enough of any wintery night!

FYI: Give it as a Gift! One batch of this, in a jar, with a little baggie of mini-marshmallows attached would make a nice housewarming gift for the holidays. Or, if you are so inclined, accompany it with something that has a little more kick; think cinnamon schnapps or Baileys!

Homemade Hot Cocoa

Mix the following three ingredients altogether in a bowl:

1 cup dark brown sugar (Giada didn’t say if you should use dark or light, but my philosophy is always that, if you’re not using dark, why are you using brown sugar to begin with? You want the deep brown sugar taste and dark is the way to go!)

1 cup Cocoa (Giada says Dutch-processed, which would be great but can be pricey. I used Hershey’s and it’s plenty tasty by me!)

1/3 cup white sugar (adds just enough extra “Yum factor”, aside from bringing out the chocolate taste.)

Heat :

1 cup milk in a small pitcher or bowl on the beverage setting of your microwave (warning, if you use 1% it will taste ‘thin’. I mixed 2/3 cup 2% milk with 1/3 cup half-and-half....but it’s totally between you and your cholesterol count!)

Add

2 Tb. Cocoa Mix and stir well (a small whisk is great here).

Pour into a cup and, if you are so inclined, top with mini-marshmallows, whipping cream, perhaps a sprinkle of cinnamon or add a splash of a favorite liquor-whatever brings back happy cocoa memories-and enjoy!

Okay, kids, this is the recipe I’m sending in the next care package, along with cookies for dipping, of course!