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Ditch the Swiss Miss and make your own dry hot chocolate mix for those cold winter nights. This decadent dark chocolate hot cocoa mix makes a fantastic gift and is quick to throw together at the last minute. Perfect for yourself or your friends!

A closeup of a white ceramic cup full of decadent dark hot chocolate made with a homemade cocoa mix sitting on a white plate with two shortbread cookies in front of a book about st. nicholas.

This hot chocolate is a great, go-to mix to have in the cabinet. It is also a wonderful gift to give with a cute mug and some homemade cookies.

It’s my go to for the Feast of St. Nicholas. Do you celebrate it? I’ve celebrated it my entire life.

He leaves treats in our slippers or stockings on the eve of December 5th and we find them on December 6th. Then we get our presents on Christmas day.

If you would like to know more about the holiday come over to my other blog, Pine Cones and Acorns and read all about it!

Why you’ll love this Decadent Dark Hot Chocolate mix

Super easy recipe you can make long before you need it
Great to keep on hand for future use
Perfect holiday gift for chocolate lovers
Huge recipe that makes 9 cups (ideal for those holiday parties!)

Ingredients

Sugar
Cornstarch
Semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate
Cocoa powder
Vanilla or vanilla bean pod seeds
Fine sea salt or kosher salt

How to Make Decadent Dark Hot Chocolate on the Eve of St. Nicholas

This recipe is originally from Smitten Kitchen.

For the mix:

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and blend until powdery.
Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

To make hot chocolate:

Heat one cup of milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steamy.
Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix and whisk for another minute or two until the mix is dissolved and the cocoa is creamy.
Pour into cups and top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Tips & Variations

Flavor it. When you make a cup of chocolate with this mix, add in any flavoring you want, like your favorite liqueur or flavored extracts.
Mix-ins. Add mix-ins to the cocoa mix, like dehydrated marshmallow bits or crushed peppermints.
Give as gifts. Put your mix in little mason jars and decorate for the holidays for a super popular gift.

overhead view of a white cup of decadent dark hot chocolate on a white plate with two vanilla chookies sitting on a Christmas book about st. nicholas.

Storage

This dark chocolate cocoa mix should be kept in a sealed container in your pantry for up to 2 months.

Related Recipes

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Easy Dark Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe (Shelf Stable)

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate roughly chopped
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or the seeds from a tiny segment of vanilla bean pod
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt or 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

For the mix:

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and blend until powdery.
Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

To use:

Heat one cup of milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steamy.
Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix and whisk for another minute or two until the mix is dissolved and the cocoa is creamy.
Pour into cups and top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dark chocolate hot chocolate powder, dark chocolate hot cocoa mix, hot cocoa mix with dark chocolate