You know when you’re going to a holiday party and you have no idea what to bring? Or when you want to give a gift to all of your friends but don’t want to break the bank? Well, this Cinnamon & Spice Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is the perfect gift idea for the holiday season. Not only is it a cute idea with even cuter packing, but it’s also absolutely delicious.
This hot cocoa mix is for “adult hot chocolate,” meaning it has flavors that are more nuanced and sophisticated, all while still being a classic cup cozy. It’s cinnamony with a hint of spice, making it all the more warming. You can make this recipe in a large batch for the perfect go-to gift this year.
Table of contents
The ingredients you’ll need for this cinnamon spice hot cocoa mix
The ingredients for this hot cocoa mix are easy to come by and inexpensive, making this a very easy and cost-effective gift! This mix has a lot of bang for your buck but doesn’t lack in deliciousness. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, I like the Droste brand
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
What is happening when you make homemade hot chocolate mix
When you make hot cocoa mix by grinding together the above ingredients, what you are doing is taking sugar and grinding it until it becomes powdered sugar, making all the granules the same size as the cocoa powder. This makes it so that the mixture will dissolve evenly in any warm milk, which is the full appeal of making hot chocolate mix at home!
So yes, you do need to grind it or blend it, but also yes, it is totally worth it!
Packing ideas for this hot chocolate mix
There are plenty of fun and cute ways to package this hot chocolate that will just scream FESTIVE. I decided to pack the mix in little mason jars, then label the lids and tie a red ribbon around the jar.
I love the “cottage” look of this, but if you want to go with something a bit more inexpensive, you could pack the mix in little paper gift boxes like these on Amazon. Pop a little bow on the paper box with a note tied to it, and you’ve got a festive-looking gift.
Or, you could go for a more personalized gift and include a fun mug and spoon! Then package some hot cocoa mix in a plastic bag, place it in the mug with the spoon, then wrap the mug in a cellophane bag with a ribbon tied around it.
How to make the best homemade hot chocolate with this mix
When you give this hot chocolate mix as a gift, make sure to have this little recipe written down and attached to the gift. You’ll want your gift receiver to know exactly how to make it to have the most delicious cup of hot chocolate possible. Here’s how to make it:
To use the mix, scoop 3 tablespoons into your mug of choice. Heat up 1 cup of your milk of choice (heavy cream will also make a decadent hot cocoa!) until just barely simmering. Pour this over the mix and whisk to combine. Serve warm!
And that’s everything for this Cinnamon & Spice Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix!
If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.
And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3
Watch the recipe here
The video may not fully represent the recipe. For best results, follow the instructions as written.
Cinnamon & Spice Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Equipment
- 1 small blender or spice grinder
- 1 piece of parchment paper
- 1 16 ounce mason jar
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder I like the Droste brand
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For serving and preparing
- 1 1/2 cups your milk of choice
- Homemade Marshmallows
Instructions
- In a small blender or spice grinder, combine the ingredients and blend for at least 30 seconds.
- Blend until the sugar has fully turned into powdered sugar, the red pepper flakes are fully ground and the whole mixture looks one shade lighter in color and a bit "fluffier."
- Roll a piece of parchment paper into a cone and cut off the tip. Use this as a funnel to funnel the cocoa mix into your mason jar. The mix will now keep for up to 4 weeks in your pantry or on the counter.
- To use the mix, scoop 3 tablespoons into your mug of choice. Heat up 1 cup of your milk of choice (heavy cream will also make a decadent hot cocoa!) until just barely simmering. If you prefer more in your mug, you can also scale this up to 1 & 1/2 cups. Pour this over the mix and whisk to combine. Serve warm!
Such a great gifting idea! I tested my first batch out before making for my recipients & decided I needed to adjust. I enjoy spicy things but this seemed a bit heavy on the chile flakes and I couldn’t really taste the cinnamon. I think I’m going to swap the measurements. Perhaps my chile flakes were a bit stronger than yours!