Hot Cocoa Recipes

Hot Chocolate Mix

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Yield: About 1½ cups mix
• Category: Beverage
• No Bake

Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 squares (1 ounce each) semisweet baking chocolate, grated
• ½ cup baking cocoa
• ½ cup confectioners' or powdered sugar
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Grate chocolate into a mixing bowl.
2. Add cocoa, powdered sugar, and salt.
3. Stir until evenly mixed.
4. Store in a sealed plastic container.

To Make 1 Cup Hot Cocoa

Stir 2 tablespoons cocoa mix into ¾ cup hot milk or hot water. Add more mix for a richer flavor.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can scoop and stir the dry ingredients
• Label the container with a homemade gift tag
• Use a whisk to break up cocoa lumps

Hot Cocoa Mix with Mini Marshmallows

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Yield: About 4-5 cups mix
• Category: Beverage
• No Bake

Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup powdered non-dairy coffee creamer
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 ¾ cups nonfat milk powder
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix powdered sugar, cocoa, creamer, salt, and milk powder.
2. Stir in miniature marshmallows.
3. Store in a sealed container.

To Make 1 Cup Hot Cocoa

Stir 3- 4 tablespoons mix into 1 cup hot water or hot milk.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can pour ingredients into the bowl and stir
• Make "cocoa jars" as gifts with a ribbon and tag
• Use hot milk for the creamiest cup

Fresh Stovetop Cocoa

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Yield: 4 cups
• Category: Beverage
• Stovetop

Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• Dash of salt
• ? cup hot water
• 4 cups milk
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa, and salt.
2. Add hot water and bring to a gentle boil, stirring.
3. Stir in milk and vanilla.
4. Cook a few minutes until hot (do not boil hard).
5. Serve warm.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can measure and whisk the dry ingredients
• Adults should handle the stovetop and pouring
• Top with whipped cream or marshmallows for extra fun

White Hot Chocolate

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Yield: 1 serving
• Category: Beverage
• Stovetop or Microwave

Prep: 2 minutes | Cook: 3 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons white chocolate instant pudding mix
• Crushed peppermint candy (optional)

Instructions

1. Warm milk in a saucepan or microwave-safe mug until hot.
2. Whisk pudding mix into the hot milk until smooth.
3. Top with crushed peppermint candy if desired.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can whisk the mix in (adult handles hot milk)
• Try topping with mini marshmallows
• Use a candy cane stirrer for a festive touch

Hot Cocoa from the Inside Out

By Rikki

• Yield: 1 serving
• Category: Beverage
• Stovetop

Prep: 2 minutes | Cook: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 4 teaspoons cocoa mix (per person)
• Cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Add milk and cocoa mix to a small pot or tea pot on the stove.
2. Heat on high until hot, stirring often.
3. Add a pinch of cinnamon if desired and mix.
4. Serve warm.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can measure cocoa mix and sprinkle cinnamon
• Adults should handle heating and pouring
• Taste-test with and without cinnamon

Homemade Hot Cocoa Nesquik Mix

By Brandy

• Yield: About 10 servings
• Category: Beverage
• No Bake

Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup Nesquik
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• ¾ cup coffee creamer
• 2 cups powdered milk
• 1 quart hot water (to serve)

Instructions

1. Mix Nesquik, powdered sugar, creamer, and powdered milk together.
2. Stir into hot water and serve.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can measure and stir the dry mix
• Store mix in a labeled jar for easy use
• Adults handle the hot water

Marshmallow Snowman Cocoa Topper

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Category: Dessert
• No Bake
• Skill Level: Beginner

Prep: 15 minutes | Yield: 1 topper

Ingredients

• Large marshmallows (for body)
• Melted chocolate (buttons/face)
• Candy corn (nose)
• Pretzel sticks (arms)

Instructions

1. Stack marshmallows to form a snowman body.
2. Use melted chocolate to add eyes, mouth, and buttons.
3. Add a candy corn nose.
4. Press pretzel sticks into the sides for arms.
5. Place on top of hot cocoa and serve.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can assemble the snowman pieces
• Adults can help with melted chocolate
• Make several toppers ahead for a cocoa bar

Hot Cocoa Bombs

By Kids Cooking Activities

• Yield: 6 cocoa bombs
• Category: Dessert
• No Bake

Ingredients

• Cocoa mix
• Mini marshmallows
• Candy melts (or chocolate)
• Hot cocoa bomb mold
• Optional sprinkles (for decorating)

Instructions

1. Melt chocolate or candy melts in 30-second microwave intervals, stirring each time until smooth.
2. Spoon melted chocolate into each mold half and coat the sides (use a spoon or pastry brush).
3. Turn mold upside down to drip excess chocolate; chill in freezer about 5 minutes.
4. Add cocoa mix and mini marshmallows to one chocolate half.
5. Warm a skillet on low. Gently rub the edge of the empty half on the warm surface to slightly melt.
6. Press the two halves together to seal. Freeze 5 minutes to set.
7. Decorate with drizzle and sprinkles if desired.

To Serve

Place one cocoa bomb in 1 cup hot milk. Stir as it melts.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can add cocoa mix and marshmallows to the shells
• Adults should handle melting chocolate and the warm skillet
• Set up a "decorate station" with sprinkles and drizzle