Want homemade hot chocolate without hot chocolate mix? This easy homemade hot cocoa recipe is a rich and creamy drink that kids AND adults will love and is made with a few simple ingredients. Don’t miss the list of what toppings go on hot chocolate, too! Try this winter drink recipe after winter activities outdoors or as fun kids activities for cooking.
The Best Homemade Hot Chocolate Without Hot Chocolate Mix
We’ve all gotten so accustomed to the convenience of those little packs of instant hot chocolate mix that many of us no longer make our own hot chocolate. However, this easy hot chocolate recipe will change your mind! This hot chocolate recipes cocoa powder is like I used to make as a kid, so it tastes like home to me! (Try this recipe hot chocolate on your hot chocolate charcuterie board or hot chocolate bar, too!)
How To Make Hot Chocolate Without Hot Chocolate Mix
How to make hot chocolate with cocoa powder and water:
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, Cadbury cocoa powder, or your favorite cocoa powder
- Sugar
- Salt
- Hot Water
- Whole milk (makes a creamy hot chocolate) or heavy cream (heavy whipping cream) / coconut milk / almond milk / soy milk / oat milk (or other non-dairy milk / dairy-free options)
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Mini Marshmallows (optional)
- Chocolate chips (optional)
- Additional fun toppings (see list of best toppings for hot chocolate below!)
See the full homemade hot chocolate recipe without mix below! If you’re looking for a hot chocolate with cocoa powder recipe, this is it! KEEP SCROLLING for how make homemade hot chocolate — such a great recipe for a cold day!
What is a substitute for hot chocolate powder?
You can also make hot chocolate homemade with:
- Chocolate chips and water
- Carob powder
- Chocolate bars (chocolate candy bars)
- Cacao powder
- Cacao nibs
- Chocolate milk
- Nutella
- Cocoa powder
The taste of this homemade hot chocolate mix is so rich and creamy that you have to try it (at least once!) — especially if you’re doing a hot chocolate charcuterie board or hot cocoa bar!
You don’t need a hot cocoa mix! We’ll show you how to make hot chocolate without mix below!
KEEP SCROLLING to get the printable recipe card for this homemade hot cocoa recipe!
Can you substitute cocoa for hot chocolate mix?
Yes! You can substitute unsweetened cocoa for hot chocolate mix. Just remember that pre-packaged hot cocoa mix has sugar mixed in, so you will need to add some sweetness (sugar or honey) to your hot chocolate made with cocoa.
You may also be wondering can you make hot chocolate without cocoa powder or hot chocolate or chocolate milk?
Does chocolate milk make good hot chocolate?
Yes, chocolate milk also makes good hot chocolate because of the creaminess of the milk. Just heat up the hot chocolate in a mug in the microwave or in a pan on the stove. Then, add the normal hot chocolate toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate drizzle or shavings, crushed peppermint and more.
This is especially good if you’re looking how to make hot chocolate without cocoa powder or a hot cocoa mix.
(And, it’s super easy!)
It’s a creamy hot cocoa and this best hot chocolate recipe makes a fun hot chocolate for kids activity for winter!
What about a hot chocolate toppings list?
What are good toppings for hot chocolate?
So what toppings go with hot chocolate?
Get creative with your list of hot chocolate toppings, especially if you’re making hot cocoa for a party!
Favorite hot chocolate toppings:
- Whipped cream
- Marshmallows / homemade marshmallows
- Crushed cookies
- Caramel drizzle
- Sprinkles
- Shaved chocolate or chocolate chips
- Chopped chocolate
- Fudge topping
- Crushed candy canes
- Candy cane sticks
- White chocolate chips
- Cinnamon
- Gingerbread cookies
- Star anise
- Coconut
- Nuts
- Crushed graham crackers
- Cookie sticks
ALSO CHECK OUT HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX FOR A GREAT GIFT:
How To Make a Hot Cocoa Gift Jar Recipe Mix (Hot Chocolate Jar Gift Ideas)
How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream for Hot Chocolate
How do I make hot chocolate better?
If you want to spice up your hot chocolate a little or you’re wondering how to make rich hot chocolate with cocoa powder, try one of these mix-ins for your hot chocolate homemade recipe!
Use these for the best homemade hot cocoa add-ins:
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Marshmallow cream
- Chili powder (for a spicy hot chocolate)
- Vanilla
- Shaved milk chocolate or dark chocolate
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter
- Nutella
- Crushed cookies
Learn How to Make Hot Chocolate Boards (How To Serve Hot Chocolate At A Party)
Here’s how to make hot chocolate with powder cocoa. It’s such an easy homemade hot chocolate recipe!
How Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Without Mix!
Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate Without Hot Chocolate Mix (How To Make Hot Chocolate with Cocoa Powder and Sugar)
This recipe covers how to make hot chocolate with milk, but if you have dietary issues with dairy you can leave out the milk and just use water.
(It won’t be a creamy homemade hot cocoa recipe, but it’s still yummy!)
This is an easy recipe to play around with and adjust to your tastes and figure out what to add to hot chocolate mix and how your family likes it.
(For example, some people leave out the vanilla.)
One great thing is that this is an easy recipe to double or triple and make a big batch if you’re celebrating a sweet holiday party, or after snow sledding or playing outside on a cold day and ready to cozy up with this winter in front of a fire! (It’s easy to reheat over low or medium heat, too!)
(You can even make this as a homemade slow cooker hot chocolate recipe / crock pot hot chocolate.)
Here’s how to make hot chocolate without chocolate mix pre-made!
(You can even mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and keep them in a mason jar or an airtight container and just add the water and milk later. You’ll never need to use those expensive packets of hot cocoa from the store again!)
This is the best way to make hot chocolate with cocoa powder!
Homemade Hot Chocolate Without Hot Chocolate Mix
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/3 cup boiling water
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream optional
- Marshmallows optional
Instructions
- Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan.
- Add in the boiling water.
- Bring to slow boil, stirring constantly.
- Simmer mixture, while stirring, for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the milk and heat until very hot, being careful not to boil or scorch.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Divide between 4 cups and top with whipped cream or marshmallows (or other toppings).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
Homemade Hot Chocolate paired with The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate Children’s Book
We paired up our homemade hot chocolate recipe with a book about (what else?) hot chocolate!
At our house, we love books that tells the history behind stuff, so The Sweet Story of Hot Chocolate! (History of Fun Stuff) by by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Rob McClurkan was perfect for this.
The book starts by asking the kids enticing questions like who first made hot chocolate, how it’s made and how it became popular.
Through simple but colorful illustration, the book then goes on an interesting journey from the cacao bean all the way to drinking the hot chocolate!
You’ll also like this recipe and read for kids pairing:
Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? How Animals Keep Warm
They’re both fun to read while drinking your delicious hot chocolate!
We hope you have fun learning how to make hot chocolate drink from cocoa powder with your kids!
