For Day Three of Homemade Holiday Gifts Week I present to you: Hot Chocolate Mix.
Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate Mix, to be exact. Made with both cocoa powder and chocolate chips, for maximum chocolate bliss.
Things are getting very chocolatey around here, and I’m not remotely mad about it.
Let’s make hot chocolate mix!
I know hot chocolate mix sounds soooooo 2002, but trust me, this Chai Spiced version is totally 2018. Yes, I’m already advancing the year we’re in, just to keep things extra trendy and relevant.
This Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate has plenty of warm, masala chai flavor and an extra dose of chocolate for an ultra rich, smooth, drinking chocolate experience.
This 10-ingredient (8 of which are just spices), 2-minute recipe is easy to make, customizable, and totally delicious.
The first and most important thing to start with is quality cocoa powder. I like to choose one that’s dark in color, preferable not processed with alkali (just based on my own taste preferences), and, when possible, fair trade and/or organic. The cocoa powder in the bulk bin at Whole Foods is actually one of my favorites, though I’m also partial to this one and this one. I’ve also made this hot chocolate mix with Trader Joe’s brand cocoa powder; as long as you’re using a cocoa powder you enjoy the flavor of, the hot chocolate will be great!
To sweeten up this hot chocolate, I opted to use organic cane sugar. Just a half cup for the entire recipe makes it sweet enough that it’s enjoyable to sip on, but not so sweet that the flavors of the cocoa and spices are overpowered.
The next important ingredient is chocolate! I used chocolate chips to keep my life easier, but if you wanted to chop up a bar of chocolate, that works too. The chocolate gets blended in the food processor with all the other ingredients, which turns it into tiny flecks of chocolate that easily melt in your mug.
Lastly, this Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate just wouldn’t be, well, Chai Spiced without all the spices! Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, and salt add all the flavors of Chai Tea to a rich, bold, creamy cup of hot chocolate. Yes!
I think you’re going to love this hot chocolate mix! It’s quick, easy, and makes for a fun twist on the classic hot chocolate. Dump it into a jar, stick a label on it, top it with a bow, and you have yourself a fun, simple homemade gift for anyone in your life who loves hot chocolate. Maybe pair it with a few Dark Chocolate Truffles? I mean, if you’re already riding the chocolate train, you might as well add a little more.
To turn this mix into a cup of hot chocolate, all you need to do it stir 3 Tablespoons with 8oz of hot milk (any milk will work- cow’s, almond, coconut, etc). You could even add a tablespoon or two to your morning cup of coffee for a mocha chai experience. Trust me, it’s totally tasty.
Stay tuned this week for four more brand new Homemade Gift Ideas, as well as my roundup of homemade gift ideas on Monday December 18th!
As always, if you make this recipe, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below, or take a picture and tag me on Instagram so I can see all your homemade gifts in action!
Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or chopped up chocolate
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- 1. Put all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chocolate chips have been ground into very fine bits. Pour the mixture into a 16-ounce jar and label with these instructions: Add 3 Tablespoons hot chocolate mix to 1 cup of hot milk.
Notes