Single Serve Hot Cocoa Recipe: Easy Drink Idea
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This single serve hot cocoa recipe is great when you want to enjoy a quick cup of hot chocolate yourself before bedtime. This homemade hot chocolate recipe makes a single cup of hot chocolate, delicious and rich enough that you feel a warm satisfied feeling after drinking it.
Hello Kenarry readers, this is Marissa from Squirrels of a Feather bringing you a quick pick-me-up full of chocolately holiday cheer with a single serve hot chocolate recipe, made from scratch!
Why would you want to make a single cup of hot chocolate? Well, I can think of two reasons myself:
- Husbands who don’t like hot chocolate
- Hyperactive children who don’t need hot chocolate
So there are my reasons for wanting to make one cup of hot cocoa at a time! Let me know your reasons in the comments section below. 🙂
How to Make Single Serve Hot Cocoa
Here is the recipe to make one cup of hot chocolate that is still rich and delicious.
What you need:
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Kitchen Tools Needed:
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cup
- Small cereal or mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Small saucepan
Ingredients Needed:
- Cocoa powder – Use either unsweetened cocoa or dark chocolate. Any kind will work
- Milk – I used dairy milk, but if you want to make dairy-free cocoa, you can use almond milk or oat milk.
- White Sugar – If you want to make this keto-friendly, you can use your favorite granular sugar substitute.
- Salt
Instructions:
The complete instructions for my single-serve hot cocoa is in the printable recipe card further down. But here are some step by step pictures to help you along.
1. Combine the dry ingredients
The first step is to measure out the dry ingredients per the recipe instructions. Combine and stir.
2. Heat milk gently
Place 8 oz of milk in a small saucepan and begin to warm up over medium heat. Heat until hot but not boiling, stirring often with a whisk or a spoon.
3. Add the dry mix
Once the milk is hot but not boiling, whisk in the dry hot chocolate mix. Add it slowly and whisk quickly to break up any chunks of dry mix and make sure all of the dry mix has been fully combined into the milk.
4. Pour and serve
Pour into a cup and add marshmallows if desired. Enjoy while hot (don’t burn your tongue!)
Hot Chocolate Toppings
What are your favorite hot cocoa toppings that aren’t marshmallows? Try one of these ideas in your next mug.
- Whipped Cream
- Crushed peppermint candy pieces
- Chocolate chips
- Pirouette cookies
- Caramel Drizzle
- Sprinkles
- Toffee Bits
- Cinnamon
Single Serve Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 8 oz milk
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Measure out the dry ingredients into a small bowl and gently mix to combine.
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. You want to heat until hot but not quite boiling.
- Once the milk is hot, slowly and briskly whisk in the dry ingredients. Whisk as you are pouring in the dry ingredients and keep whisking until completely incorporated into the liquid, with no pockets of dry mix visible.
- Remove from heat and drink at leisure. Add marshmallows or other ingredients as desired.
Nutrition
How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix In A Jar
Homemade hot cocoa mix is a thoughtful DIY gift idea. It can also save you lots of time when you are making your own hot cocoa. I changed Alton Brown’s recipe just slightly. Here’s how I did it.
I put the following ingredients into a mason jar:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
- 1 1/4 cups nonfat dry milk powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain salt
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Then, when I’m ready to make my hot cocoa, I just fill a mug with 2 tablespoons of my homemade mix, 2 ounces of milk, and stir. Then, I fill up the mug with more milk and heat it up. Yum!
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What’s Next?
Peppermint Infused Hot Chocolate Recipe
Healthy Butternut Squash Muffins with a Kale Swirl
DIY Holiday Hurricane Vase with Gold Faux Antlers
You may also enjoy these drink ideas on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® –
- Snickerdoodle Milk Recipe with Cinnamon and Vanilla
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Idea with Labels
- Spiked White Hot Cocoa
Originally published January 2019. Updated October 2020.