I have a confession...I love hot cocoa. I also love to make hot cocoa for my children. We all love hot cocoa...and chocolate milk...and chocolate sauce...you get the picture? This morning as I awoke to about 4 inches of snow I decided this was an appropriate post because, I want cocoa.
When I first had children I used to buy Nestle brand cocoa and make a quick and easy cup, but as I had more children and the price of the Nestle kept climbing I realized that I had to come up with a better alternative for my sweet tooth. I decided it would be so much more economical to just make my own cocoa.
It is so very simple that I now wish I could go back and get all that money I spent on Nestle cocoa back...I was quite naive!
All you need is a 2:1 ratio of sugar and cocoa powder. I usually mix it up by using 1/2 cup cocoa and 1 cup sugar. Really, it's that simple. When I make the cocoa I just put a pan on the stove with milk, heat the milk and whisk in several tablespoons of my cocoa mix to taste. If I really want to make it delectable I add in a tsp or so of vanilla or almond extract after I pull the cocoa off the stove (Peppermint is also another favorite). I refuse to buy those Swiss Miss packets because for one they are too watery and for two, this is so much better. If you wanted to make your own "swiss miss" style where you add only water, you just make the mix I mentioned and add powdered milk to it. Personally, I prefer the real milk though.
When I first had children I used to buy Nestle brand cocoa and make a quick and easy cup, but as I had more children and the price of the Nestle kept climbing I realized that I had to come up with a better alternative for my sweet tooth. I decided it would be so much more economical to just make my own cocoa.
It is so very simple that I now wish I could go back and get all that money I spent on Nestle cocoa back...I was quite naive!
All you need is a 2:1 ratio of sugar and cocoa powder. I usually mix it up by using 1/2 cup cocoa and 1 cup sugar. Really, it's that simple. When I make the cocoa I just put a pan on the stove with milk, heat the milk and whisk in several tablespoons of my cocoa mix to taste. If I really want to make it delectable I add in a tsp or so of vanilla or almond extract after I pull the cocoa off the stove (Peppermint is also another favorite). I refuse to buy those Swiss Miss packets because for one they are too watery and for two, this is so much better. If you wanted to make your own "swiss miss" style where you add only water, you just make the mix I mentioned and add powdered milk to it. Personally, I prefer the real milk though.
 Here is my cocoa that I keep in the cupboard. I have upcycled a starbucks frappaccino bottle and I find it super cute! |   |
