0 from 57 votes
Hot Cocoa
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!
Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 418 kcal
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 1 Tablespoon natural cocoa powder
- Pinch of table salt about 1/16th teaspoon
- ¾ ¾ cup milk divided
- ¼ ¼ cup heavy cream (may substitute with more milk)
- ¼ ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk together.
- Add approximately 2-3 Tablespoons of your milk and whisk until smooth.
- 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.
- 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.!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- 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.
- Use natural/unsweetened cocoa powder. I do not recommend using Dutch cocoa, it has an unpleasant taste in this recipe.
- I prefer light brown sugar, but regular granulated sugar could be substituted.
- I use and recommend whole milk, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- 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).
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cup
Calories
418kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
37g
(12%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
17g
(85%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Cholesterol
89mg
(30%)
Sodium
93mg
(4%)
Potassium
440mg
(13%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
34g
(68%)
Vitamin A
1171IU
(23%)
Vitamin C
0.4mg
(0%)
Calcium
291mg
(29%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 418
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 418kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 37g | 12% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 17g | 85% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 89mg | 30% |
| Sodium | 93mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 440mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 34g | 68% |
| Vitamin A | 1171IU | 23% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 291mg | 29% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.