Hershey’s DIY Hot Cocoa Mix is a quick and easy recipe to have on hand during the winter months. It’s been an unseasonably warm winter so far in New Hampshire. How ’bout where you are? Christmas Eve day was a balmy 64° here. Our shovels are all lined up, just waiting!!!

We sigh and moan about the white stuff, but truthfully, deep down in our heart of hearts, we New Englanders relish a good Nor’easter. (I hear the muttered whispers… “Speak for yourself. ” Yeah yeah yeah, I’m not the shoveler.) Our first storm of the season arrived last night, which is why I’ve got homemade hot chocolate on the brain.

I’m mixing up a quick batch of Hershey’s DIY Hot Cocoa Mix, for when the first kid comes in whining after ten minutes. “It’s too cold out.” The novelty of snow wears off quickly around here.

In fact, the January we moved back to the Northeast from South Carolina in 2004 just happened to be the coldest on record for decades. Figures. My blood was thin, and my feet were always freezing. But our little guys? They were born in the south and practically in shock with the -10 and -15 degree days.

Within a week of arriving back, Jon had business in northern VT and together we headed to St. Albans which rests on the Canadian border. Just prior to heading north, the heater in our old Volvo wagon died, so we borrowed a car for the northern trek. Stopping for a fill-up and dry gas in northern VT, another customer mentioned the thermometer at his house read -40 degrees that morning. We’re talking freezing. Frigid.

Antarctica and Siberia.

In the wee hours, we’d bundled up for the trip. My boys both resembled Ralphie from The Christmas Story movie: immobilized. Scarves, hats, puffy coats, boots and mittens. The layers made movement difficult, if nearly impossible, especially for our inexperienced little southern boys. We needed a refresher course too. With a three hour journey north, we were eager to get on the road. Jon got Jacob (3) buckled in with the extra layers, but in the rearview mirror I could see Jonathan (5) struggling.

“Honey, buckle your seatbelt,” I called back. “We can’t be late.”

“I can’t,” he moaned, wrestling with the seatbelt. Mittened and mummified under umpteen layers, he whined, “Why do I have to wear one anyway?”

“Because,” I answered shortly. “You were born in this world.”

“I was not born in this world,” replied an angry little voice. “I was born in South Carolina.”

Truth.

We drank many mugs of homemade hot cocoa that first winter back.

This Hershey’s DIY Hot Cocoa Mix recipe is so quick to make, uses just three ingredients: dry milk, Hershey’s baking cocoa and sugar. Just add hot water and stir. You’ll be amazed how easy!

Optional: add peppermint sticks, candy canes, mini-marshmallows or a sprinkle of baking cocoa for a special treat. Today I’m sharing the recipe for a delicious individual mug of hot cocoa or a batch of dry mix (24 servings) to keep in the pantry for wintry days. This hot cocoa mix makes rich and creamy, chocolaty hot cocoa. And doesn’t use up the milk in the fridge.

Hershey’s DIY Hot Cocoa Mix makes a perfect hostess gift or gourmet touch in a gift basket.

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Hershey's DIY Hot Cocoa Mix

Rich, creamy and chocolaty: easy hot cocoa mix for an individual mug or to keep on hand in the pantry for snowy days. No preservatives.

Author Allie Taylor

Ingredients

Hot Cocoa: (1 serving)

• 1/3 cup dry milk
• 2 teaspoons baking cocoa
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup hot water
• Optional garnish: mini-marshmallows peppermint sticks, whipped cream, sprinkle of baking cocoa.

Hot Cocoa Mix: (24 servings)

• 8 cups dry milk
• 1 cup baking cocoa
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Optional garnish: mini-marshmallows peppermint sticks, whipped cream, sprinkle of baking cocoa.

Instructions

Hot Cocoa: (1 serving)

• Place dry milk, baking cocoa and sugar in a mug.
• Pour in one cup hot water and stir 'til smooth.
• Optional garnish: mini-marshmallows, peppermint sticks, whipped cream, sprinkle of baking cocoa.

Hot Cocoa Mix: (24 servings)

• In large bowl, thoroughly mix together dry milk, baking cocoa and sugar.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Mix heaping 1/3 cup Hershey's DIY Hot Cocoa Mix with 1 cup hot water.
• Stir 'til dissolved and smooth.
• Optional garnish: mini-marshmallows, peppermint sticks, whipped cream, sprinkle of baking cocoa

Notes

For a less rich hot cocoa, just add more hot water.
Reminder: this recipe uses just 1 cup of hot water. Many of today's mugs hold 2 cups or more. You may need to double this recipe to fill your mug!

You may also like: DIY Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

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