Skip the store-bought packets and make this 5-minute hot cocoa recipe! It tastes SO much better and uses just 6 pantry staples. Perfect for a snow day! Recipe includes a how-to video!
In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk together.
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon natural cocoa powder, Pinch of table salt
Add approximately 2-3 Tablespoons of your milk and whisk until smooth.
¾ cup milk
Place saucepan over low heat and whisk until sugar begins to melt and mixture darkens in color.
Add the remaining milk and the heavy cream and whisk until mixture is steaming.
¼ cup heavy cream
Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Stir well then pour into heatproof mug. Enjoy warm, this cocoa is excellent enjoyed plain/as-is or topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, etc.!
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Video
Notes
Servings
This recipe makes 1 cup of hot cocoa. Feel free to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe to make as many cups of cocoa as you’d like.
Cocoa
Use natural/unsweetened cocoa powder. I do not recommend using Dutch cocoa, it has an unpleasant taste in this recipe.
Sugar
I prefer light brown sugar, but regular granulated sugar could be substituted.
Milk
I use and recommend whole milk, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
Heavy cream
This ingredient is optional. If you don’t have it on hand or don’t want to use it, simply substitute with more milk (bringing the total amount of milk to 1 cup (236ml).