Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix

You can make Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix at home and save money.  You may even want to put this in a pretty jar and give it for a gift.

homemade Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix in a bowl next to mugs of hot cocoa


You were one lucky kid if you grew up with the kind of mother who would greet you at the door with a steaming cup of hot cocoa after a long day of sledding and snowball fights. While it’s probably a long time since your mother clipped your mittens to your coat sleeves, it doesn’t mean the days of warming your bones with a delicious cup of hot cocoa have to be over.

This recipe recreates the classic taste of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix for a fraction of the cost of any store-bought mix out there. All you need are three ingredients and a few seconds to stir together with a winter’s worth of warmth. Save it for yourself and your family, or give as a thoughtful holiday gift.

So Much Better Than the Stuff in the Pouches

Not only is making your hot cocoa mix at home cheaper than the commercial products, but you also get the chance to make it the way you like it. Try some of these add-ins to make your mix special.

  • Add a 1/2 teaspoon of instant espresso powder per serving for an additional caffeine kick.
  • Add a 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper things spicy. Chili peppers go surprisingly well with chocolate.
  • A sprinkling of fresh nutmeg and cinnamon (and perhaps a splash of rum) transforms hot cocoa into a holiday-worthy drink.
  • Finely crush half a peppermint candy and mix with each serving of hot cocoa for some serious Christmas cheer.

The Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate

It is essential to know that this recipe is not for the best hot chocolate mix but is for the best hot cocoa mix. Many people use the terms “hot chocolate” and “hot cocoa” interchangeably, but there is a difference. So. what is it?

You make hot cocoa with cocoa powder, milk, and sugar. It is thinner in consistency than hot chocolate and has significantly fewer calories. On the other hand, hot chocolate contains finely chopped chocolate melted in hot milk and then thinned out slightly with a splash of heavy cream. Loaded with fat and exceedingly thick, most folks drink real hot chocolate from small, espresso-sized cups. Authentic hot chocolate is pretty rare in the US, although it is popular in Europe and Central and South America.

If you want to try making your own hot chocolate, you don’t need a homemade hot chocolate mix. Just heat a cup and a half of whole milk in a small saucepan until warm. Add 8 ounces of chopped dark chocolate and continuously stir until the chocolate melts. Turn off the heat and stir in a half cup of heavy cream and serve immediately in small cups.

Tips For Serving and Storing Homemade Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix

  • Everyone loves whipped cream and marshmallows. Homemade whipped cream and homemade marshmallows are even better!
  • Add caramel flavor. Dissolve a soft caramel chew in your hot cocoa for a delightful taste.
  • Keep your mix dry. Store your hot cocoa mix in a glass jar or sealed plastic bag in the cupboard away from the light and moisture.

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Swiss Miss Ingredients

What you need to make hot chocolate mix:

  • Powdered Milk
  • Sugar
  • Cocoa Powder
Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix ingredients

How to Make Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix

  1. Sift all ingredients together three times.
    homemade Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix being sifted into a bowl
  2. Store this mixture in a tightly sealed container in a cool place.
  3. When ready to use, you can add a couple of heaping tablespoons to hot water.
a bowl of homemade Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix

Love chocolate? Try these recipes:

More Hot Chocolate Recipes

Be sure to check out more of my DIY recipes and easy drink recipes.

homemade Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix in a bowl next to mugs of hot cocoa

Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix

Make your own Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Mix at home. 
5 from 11 votes
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Hot chocolate, Hot Cocoa, Swiss Miss Cocoa Mix
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 40
Calories: 79kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces powdered milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup cocoa

Instructions

  • Sift all ingredients together three times. Store this mixture in a tightly sealed container in a cool place. When ready to use, you can add a couple of heaping tablespoons to hot water.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 0.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gwen

    I used hershey cocoa powder, powdered milk, and granulated sugar. It tastes fine for a dark hot chocolate but if you want something sweeter like the swiss miss milk chocolate hot cocoa packet, I think it needs more sugar.

  2. Unclassified Jerk

    5 stars
    This is so cool! Tastes EXACTLY like the real thing (assuming you do it right) and even better! Drank with a BUNCH of whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and marshmallows!

  3. Betty Parker

    5 stars
    This recipe has been around since the 80’s, I found it in a school cookbook, but I added mini marshmallows and coffee mate to the mix, and it made around 60 servings, kids loved it! Just make sure you put it in a air tight container.

  4. Bill Wielenbeck

    5 stars
    I’ve used this recipe several times, make sure you use Nestle’s Tollhouse cocoa powder and not Hersey’s, Herseys came out horrible, the bottom third of your mug turns out gritty and clumpy, not very good, Nestle’s always turns out great, (I haven’t used store brands yet to say either way)

  5. Heidimarie

    This recipe was great, thank you so much. I also added non dairy creamer powder to it and a bit more sugar to take away the bitter taste from cocoa powder. We also tricramered it just using non dairy creamer instead of the non fat dry milk. Tasted great also.

    Any copy cat recipes for “sugar free swiss miss cocoa”?

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