by Leslie Sausage - leslie@frugalhomemaker.com
We love Hot Cocoa and have tried many recipes! Laura, my daughter, has "tweaked" this recipe to become one of our favorite homemade hot cocoa recipes. It's very easy to make at home or share as a gift in a jar for a friend!
2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup non-dairy creamer
1 dash of salt
miniature marshmallows, optional
Combine ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container. Yield 4 cups mix
To make Laura's Hot Cocoa Mix:
Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of mix to your favorite mug and fill with boiling water. Stir to blend. Add some marshmallows or cream.
Sometimes we like to add some miniature marshmallows to the mix and then fill a quart jar with the cocoa mix and miniature marshmallows combination. The marshmallows dry and get firm, but soften when hot water is added.
For gift giving, one year we used clean one-quart mayonnaise jars for the cocoa mix. On red paper, my son wrote the directions and added a cute poem. He cut it out with pinking shears and glued it onto the jar. We used regular canning lids and rings for the jars rather than the mayonnaise lids. Add a circle of holiday fabric, which has been trimmed with pinking shears and tie with some raffia or ribbon. You can also attach a peppermint stick or candy cane to top of the jar with the raffia or ribbon. This gift is always well received!
Gift Tag Ideas:
Wishing you a Warm and Wonderful Christmas!
Wishing you a Warm and Wonderful Holiday Season!
Snowman Soup
When the weather outside is frightful,
Snowman Soup can be delightful.
May it warm your spirit and your soul.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
When you feel a chill or burrrrrr,
Use the peppermint stick to stir.
Add hot water and sip it slow.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.
Flavored Cocoa Variations
Try the Single Cup/Trial Version of this recipe to see if you like it:
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons non-dairy creamer
Try a sugar-free version by substituting artificial sweetener equal to 1 tablespoon of sugar in this recipe.
Note: Copyright 2003 by Leslie Sausage Leslie Sausage is a freelance writer, mom and author of 100 Gift Mixes -- Cocoa, Coffee, Tea and Cappuccino, an e-cookbook with variety of wonderful hot beverage mixes. For creative, practical and fun ideas for your home, visit Frugal Homemaker http://www.frugalhomemaker.com
Rhonda Jo in WA State Dec 15, 2008
Would make this again.
This was very good. I used 3 cups of dry milk instead of just 2 to make it a little creamier. Also, I ground up 8 candy canes in the magic bullet and mixed it in :) The cocoa comes out pink!!
David in Indiana Dec 6, 2008
Would make this again.
Simple and good--the way the best things in life should be! Sent a quart jar to my wife's work and they loved it. Made some for my neighbor, and now have given several neighbors this web and your web so they can make it too. The flavor variations are simple too. This is an extremely versatile formula. Thank you for your efforts.
Vanessa in Kansas Nov 28, 2008
Would make this again.
This is so good I've already made 4 batches!
Lynne in Michigan Oct 21, 2008
Would make this again.
One of my favorite recipes-we are doing this for my daughter & her room mates in college for Christmas gifts!
Susan in GA Jan 11, 2008
Would make this again.
I made this for gifts for Christmas and it was well received! I added 3 finely crushed candy canes (in food processor) to 4 cups of the mix, it was just the right amount of mint for me! Mixed 4 heaping teaspoonfuls to one mug of hot milk, added mini marshmallows and yum yum! I also sifted each ingredient twice to make a fine mix. Thanks so much Leslie and Laura!
