Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa, I kind of love it a lot.

I wouldn't call it an obsession but I would say I am seriously attached to the sanctity of a good hot cocoa. There are so many wonderful childhood memories attached to the making and drinking of cocoa!

You know, I think cocoa is the gateway drug to coffee. Like, when you're a kid and you're at a restaurant and the grown-ups are having coffee after dinner and you want to feel all grown-up and chic, so you get a cuppa too.  

The next step up after cocoa are the fancy coffees, the cappuccinos, frappuccinos, mocha lattes, etc.

And then one day you graduate to coffee. 'Cause, you know, those drinks are expensive and plain old coffee isn't. I still haven't gotten myself to the black coffee stage mostly because I love cream and sugar too much to go there.

But, back to the cocoa.  In my drive to achieve hygge this past autumn and winter, I went a little cocoa crazy.  I bought all the big name brand mixes; with marshmallows, cocoa with only five ingredients, organic & fair-trade, flavored, extra marshmallows, super creamy- you name it I tried it.

I finally used up my stash and after using my last little packet, I was tossing it in the trash when I had a light bulb moment- I could probably save money and not create nearly as much waste if I just made the mix myself! 

I scoured the internet for some recipes and after trying more than is probably healthy, I found my mix and it.is.easy! All of the recipes out there are basically the same; sugar, cocoa, powdered milk. 

This is the one I've been using and it is deeeeeeeeeelicious!

2 C. Confectioners sugar

1 C. Cocoa powder

1/2 C. Dry milk

I actually had all of these ingredients in my pantry, why would I just randomly have powdered milk? Your guess is as good as mine. Such a win!

Just put everything in your food processor, or blender, or other mixy type thing and mix that bad boy up.

The first time I made it, it all fit in a quart jar, this time I needed a half-pint jar to hold the overflow. Huh. Well, I'll tell you a secret, I am mostly not a good measurer.  

Now, you can technically use water to make this but, I feel like you're shorting yourself if you don't use milk. So, do yourself a favor and use 8 oz. of milk with 3 tbs. of mix, that's it! 

When I've used up the ingredients that I already have, I will get them from the bulk food store and be even less wasteful!

Vive le cacao chaud!