Best Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipes

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt. Add water; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in milk; heat to serving temperature (do not boil). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Whisk until frothy. If desired, garnish with marshmallows, cream or cinnamon sticks.

HOMEMADE CANDY CANE HOT COCOA MIX

Steps:

• Put the chocolate bars in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This will help you grind them in the food processor without the chocolate melting.
• In a very large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, and kosher salt.
• Break the dark chocolate and white chocolate bars into the food processor and pulse until the chocolate is ground into small crumb-size bits. Add to the cocoa powder mixture.
• Break the candy canes into pieces and add to the food processor. Pulse until they are ground. Add to the cocoa powder mixture and chocolate.
• Stir everything together, then add to the food processor in batches and grind until the mixture is a fine powder consistency.
• Add to mason jars and gift away!
• To make the cocoa, add two heaping tablespoons cocoa mix to one cup (8 ounces) warm milk and add a candy cane stir stick.

HOT COCOA AND HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Take the bittersweet chocolate and roughly chop it up to give a chunky but consistent size. Mix well with a wooden spoon and then store in a dry airtight container. To make the hot chocolate, simply add 1 cup of water per 1/2 cup of hot cocoa mix. Heat in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring with a whisk. Heat until hot, but do not boil, about 6 to 7 minutes. Serve with marshmallows.
• In a medium sized saucepan soak the gelatin in the cold water. After the gelatin has softened, approximately 10 minutes, add the regular sugar and then gently dissolve over low heat, approximately 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• In a mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks and then fold in the sifted confectioners' sugar. While the mixer is on low, slowly pour in the cooled gelatin mixture. Increase the speed and beat until white and thick. The volume should double in size and should form between soft and firm peaks.
• Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with high sides with foil, grease slightly with butter, and coat with confectioners' sugar. Alternatively, you can use a baking sheet, but the marshmallows will not be as tall. Pour marshmallow mixture in and top with more sifted confectioners' sugar. Leave out overnight or for at least 3 hours to set. The marshmallow should be light and spongy when set.
• Loosen marshmallow from edges of tray and invert onto a large cutting board. Peel off foil and use a large knife to cut the marshmallows into cubes. Dredge each piece in confectioners' sugar.

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA (PENZEYS RECIPE)

Steps:

• Combine milk, sugar, cocoa, and vanilla in saucepan.
• Whisk or stir quickly to dissolve cocoa into milk.
• Warm over med-low heat till steaming, stirring frequently.
• Pour into mugs, top with mini-marshmallows, and use cinnamon sticks to stir.

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a very large bowl. Store in an airtight container. To serve, mix 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup boiling water.