2022 has been an eye-opening year for me. I have figured out something that I wish I had learned years ago. I have entirely too much stuff!!!
My mother was very sentimental. She saved a lot of things over the years. So when we cleaned out her house and took the things that were precious to us, there was still a ton of stuff.
That experience has me looking at everything in my house differently. It has even shifted my thoughts on gift-giving. So, this Christmas, I will take my friends to lunch instead of running to Bath and Body Works for the trusty candle I have always been so good at giving. I will bake a dozen cookies, make a pan of homemade fudge, or maybe give a jar of this delicious hot cocoa mix.
This hot cocoa mix can be customized to your liking. If you like it sweeter, add more powdered sugar. I use these exact measurements, and then I can add a pump of vanilla, caramel, or white chocolate syrup. It’s delicious with marshmallows or whipped cream. For gift-giving, pour the mix into Ball jars and tie a pretty ribbon around the lid.
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry milk powder whole or nonfat
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar sift after measuring for no lumps in the mix
- 1 1/2 cup Dutch cocoa powder or Special Dark cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla powder
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk powder, powdered sugar, cocoa, chips, salt and vanilla powder. Working in batches, pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the chocolate is finely ground.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
- To prepare a cup of hot cocoa, add 1/4 cup of the mix to a large mug and stir in 1 cup hot milk or water. (Be sure to include a tag with instructions with gifts.)
