I can’t choose a favorite hot chocolate mix; that would be unfair to both my hot chocolates! But if I was *going to* it would be this one. It has a subtle espresso flavor and deep, rich notes of cardamom, and it’s so easy to make! I know I’l probably be making many more make-and-take hot chocolate mixes in the future, but I hope all my future flavors can live up to the complex yet approachable notes of this coffee and cardamom blend.
How to make hot chocolate mix at home
It’s super simple to make hot cocoa mix at home, you just need to know what you’re doing first. It’s a bit of science to make a good, rich, and thick hot chocolate mix that can live on your shelf, but I think I’ve cracked the code.
The first thing, is I skip the powdered milk. Sure, it might be nice to just add hot water to a cocoa mix, but I prefer to let my family (or the people I’m gifting to!) choose their milk. This makes it so people can go the rich and creamy route (hellloooo half and half!) or they can go with a plant-based or allergy-friendly option.
Once I know I’ll be telling users to pick their own milk, then there’s one thing you need to do to make homemade hot chocolate mix: make sure the mix is all the same consistency.
If you don’t blend a hot cocoa mix into a consistent powder, then the sugar molecules and spices won’t dissolve into the milk at the same rate, making a chunky, funky and not flavorful hot chocolate mix. Especially since this Coffee & Cardamom hot chocolate uses cardamom seeds, blending to get everything the same consistency is crucial.
How to store this Coffee and Cardamom Hot Chocolate Mix
I love gifting this mix, but whether you are using it at home or gifting it to others, I’ve found a glass jar is the best way to keep it easy-to-use and fresh.
You can also store it in a ziploc bag if you are wanting to save space, and of course, any other airtight container will do.
The key is to keep air out so that the mix doesn’t become cakey, which can happen with sugars if they are exposed to moisture. So keep it cool, keep it dry, and use this hot chocolate within a month!
Ingredients you will need for the Coffee and Cardamom Hot Chocolate
While the flavors are big, this recipe is simple. You will need:
EQUIPMENT
- 1 small blender or spice grinder
- 1 small 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 turbinado sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
How to make this Coffee and Cardamom Hot Chocolate
And with the right tools, the full recipe is simple! Just add the ingredients to the blender and blend until everything is the same consistency. This might take some time, since the cardamom seeds will need a few seconds to blend down, but it’s worth it for the aromatics alone, I promise!
And that’s everything for this Coffee & Cardamom 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.
Coffee & Cardamom Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Equipment
- 1 small blender or spice grinder
- 1 small 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 turbinado sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
For serving and preparing
- 1 1/2 cups your milk of choice
- Homemade marshmallows
Instructions
- Using a small blender or spice grinder, blend together all the ingredients for at least 30 seconds.
- Continue blending until the sugar is fully powdered, the cardamom seeds are completely blended and the whole mixture looks one shade lighter.
- Roll the parchment paper into a cone and cut off the tip. Use this as a funnel to funnel the hot cocoa mix into a mason jar. This will now keep in the pantry or on the counter for up to 4 weeks.
- To make a serving, add 3 tablespoons of the hot chocolate powder to a mug. Heat the milk of your choice up to barely a simmer, and pour it over the hot cocoa mix. If you prefer a thicker hot chocolate, use only one cup of milk, if you prefer more in your mug, you can scale up to 1 & 1/2! I like to use half-and-half instead of milk for a particularly thick and creamy consistency. Whisk to fully combine and serve warm!
This looks like the perfect holiday gift!
How much milk per 3 TBS cocoa mix should I use for serving? I didn’t see it listed in the recipe.
Thanks!
It depends on your mug, but 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups is perfect!
How much milk then do you use per cup of cocoa? Thank you.
It depends on your mug, but 1-1 & 1/2 cups is perfect!
Could you use ground cardamom?
Totally, I’d just use half the amount that I call for. You can scale up in other batches to your preference, but I’ve found that’s my best amount for ground cardamom!
Looks so yummy. Could you use ground cardamom instead of seeds? If so, how much would you recommend? Thanks
Hi Cherie! Half of the amount of seeds should work! Cardamom can be quite aromatic, so I opt with a lower amount and then you can scale up to your preferences!
I found it Interesting that this recipe would come to my feed today. For the past few weeks I’ve been experimenting with Arabic coffee or Omanian coffee, all which contain cardamom in the few recipes I’ve read. A mixture of espresso (roasting my own beans), cardamom, turbinado sugar, cocoa & milk was on my mind to try soon. That’s a combination I had not seen anywhere until this article.
Would there be any way to tweak it that people could mix it with water? Would I just add dry milk? Thx!!
I prefer making gifts and this is is such a great idea! Can’t wait to put these together this weekend. Which marshmallow would you serve with this flavor? Definitely making both the hot chocolate mix and marshmallows! Do you have a recommendation on how to include / package the marshmallows as a gift? Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes Justine!
Hi! I like to give the Tiramisu Marshmallows with the Coffee & Cardamom Hot Chocolate (coffee on coffee!) and I like to give the Salted Sesame Marshmallows with the Cinnamon & Spice Hot Chocolate. When portioning the marshmallows as a gift, I like to dust them in rice flour or cornstarch right after I slice them, and then add them to either a small jar or a nice plastic bag (with a bow!) The dusting will make sure they all stay separated. Hope this helps!
Hello! Thank you for sharing. Are there any subs for dutch processed cocoa powder?
Hi! Dutch-process is pretty integral to the rich cocoa flavor, since it has been treated with alkalizing agents that reduce the acidity of the cocoa, making the hot chocolate naturally sweeter! However, if you don’t mind a slightly less chocolately mix, I’ve found dried and ground cacao powder is a great sub! And of course, old-school cocoa powder will also work, but it’s just not as rich and delicious in my opinion. I hope this helps, and I apologize that there aren’t more options!
Mmmm okay just made a trial run for Christmas presents this year and YUMMO! Ppl about to be impressed when they open & taste this!