Hot Chocolate (Cocoa)

Homemade hot chocolate or hot cocoa is so simple and inexpensive to make there is no reason to buy prepared packets that usually have manmade chemical preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. It also allows you to control the flavor and sweetness of your hot chocolate. Increase the amount of cocoa for a darker chocolate flavor or decrease the amount of sugar.

Ingredients

• cocoa powder
• granulated sugar
• vanilla extract
• milk

That’s it. Prepared cocoa mixes usually have salt and other ingredients like:

• Nonfat dry milk
• Corn Strup
• Hydrogenated coconut oil
• Dipotasium phosphate
• Mono- and diglycerides
• Carrageenan
• Natural flavor
• Artificial flavor

This recipe and nutrition facts are for one 8-oz. cup. Below you will find the recipe to make enough mix for 10 cups of hot chocolate. Just add hot milk and vanilla. You can use more or less chocolate depending on your preference.

About Cocoa Powder

When it comes to cocoa powder, you have two choices; regular or Dutch chocolate. What’s the difference? There are two; flavor and flavanols. Dutch chocolate is made using alkali resulting in a milder tasting chocolate. The problem with this process is that it destroys the flavanols in chocolate that some research indicates may provide health benefits. Two tablespoons (10 g) of regular cocoa powder has 230 milligrams of flavanols whereas 2 tablespoons of Dutch cocoa powder has zero flavanols

Cocoa powder is available two ways: prepackaged or bulk. Bulk cocoa powder is about half the price of packaged cocoa powder. One brand of cocoa powder not made with alkali is Hershey’s available in the baking area of most supermarkets. If your store carries other brands, check the ingredients label for “processed with alkali”. An 8-oz. (226 g) container of cocoa powder makes about 22 cups cups of hot chocolate.

Hot Chocolate Mix – Makes 12 to 24 cups

To save time, you can prepare the following mix. Store the mix in an airtight container or jar. Refrigeration is not required.

• 1 1/4 cup (120 g) cocoa power
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

Use a spoon or whisk to combine sugar and cocoa until uniform. Adjust ratio of cocoa to sugar to taste. Store in an air-tight container or jar.

To make 1 cup of Hot Chocolate, follow recipe below using 1 to 2 tablespoons (15- 30ml) of mix, 1 to 2 heaping teaspoons, or to taste.

Homemade Cocoa Mix

For hot chocolate at work, school or vacation when refrigeration is not available, add mix for one cup of chocolate to 1/4 to 1/3 cup (18 to 23 g) of nonfat dried milk. Adding vanilla is optional. Stir in hot water and enjoy.

Nutrition Values

• Add 30 calories when using whole milk (3.25% milk fat).
• Subtract 40 calories when using nonfat (skim) milk.
• Subtract 55 calories when using 1 tbsp. each cocoa and sugar.

Variations

• Moca Cocoa – add 1 ounce (30 ml) of espresso or strong coffee
• Brandy Alexander Cocoa – add 1 tbsp. (15 ml) brandy
• Almond Cocoa – add 1 tbsp. (15 ml) Amaretto
• Irish Cocoa – add 1 tbsp. (15 ml) whiskey

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) cocoa powder
• 1 to 2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) 2% milk
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) pure vanilla extract

Method of Preparation