Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix (Easy Gift in a Jar) • Everyday Cheapskate

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Some things I’m perfectly happy to buy already made. Then there are the things that make me look at the price tag and think, “I can make that.” Hot chocolate mix falls squarely into that second category. This one takes four ingredients and zero cooking, and it makes about 50 mugs. Keep it in the pantry for yourself. Or spoon some into a pretty jar with the directions and you’ve got a Christmas gift people will actually use. That’s my kind of gift.

Mug of homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows and a bowl of hot chocolate mix

This isn’t one of those homemade recipes that requires six specialty ingredients and most of your afternoon. You need four ingredients, and making it amounts to dumping everything into a very large bowl and mixing it thoroughly. Done.

The powdered milk gives you the convenience of making each cup with hot water. Coffee creamer makes it especially creamy. Powdered sugar dissolves easily, and Nesquik provides the chocolate flavor and sweetness without having to fiddle with cocoa powder and additional sugar every time you make a mug.

And this makes a seriously generous batch: about 17 cups of dry mix, enough for roughly 50 mugs of hot chocolate when you use 1/3 cup per serving. That’s plenty to keep some and give some away.

MORE: Skip the Box! How to Make Bisquick Recipe at Home

What you’ll need

Powdered milk

This is what makes the mix self-contained. Add hot water and you’ve got a creamy cup without needing milk from the refrigerator.

Powdered coffee creamer

I use CoffeeMate Original Powdered Coffee Creamer. It gives the finished hot chocolate an extra-rich, creamy texture even though you’re making each mug with water.

Powdered sugar

Not granulated sugar. Powdered sugar blends easily into the dry ingredients and dissolves beautifully when you make the hot chocolate.

Nesquik chocolate powder

Here’s an important distinction: Nesquik chocolate powder is not the same thing as unsweetened cocoa powder. It’s already sweetened and made to be a drink mix, so cocoa powder isn’t a one-for-one substitute.

How to make homemade hot chocolate mix

You’ll need a very large bowl or a stockpot because this makes a lot. Pour in everything. Now mix. And mix some more.

You want it evenly blended so one mug doesn’t get mostly powdered milk while the next lucky person gets the mother lode of chocolate.

A big whisk works. So does dividing everything between large food-storage bags and gently shaking and turning them. Once the color looks uniform throughout, transfer the mix to airtight containers.

That’s it.

How much hot chocolate mix goes in a mug?

For one mug, measure 1/3 cup of hot chocolate mix into your cup and fill with about 1 cup of hot water.

Stir thoroughly until the mix has dissolved.

Want it stronger? Add more mix. Lighter? Use less.

Top it with marshmallows, whipped cream, a little cinnamon, or nothing at all. It’s plenty good on its own.

Is homemade hot chocolate mix cheaper?

I did the math because, well, that’s what I do.

At the prices I paid, one batch cost about $21. At 1/3 cup per mug, that’s about 51 mugs, or roughly 41 cents a cup.

Is that always cheaper than hot chocolate packets? Nope. Catch a big value box on sale and the packets may cost less. But compare it with smaller boxes or the fancy stuff, and homemade starts looking pretty good.

Price isn’t the only reason I make it, though. This mix is rich and creamy, it’s ready whenever I am, and it doubles as an inexpensive gift.

Sometimes homemade saves money. Sometimes it gives you more for the money you’re already spending. I’ll take either one.

Turn it into a hot chocolate gift in a jar

This may be my favorite part.

Homemade food gifts don’t have to be elaborate to feel special. A jar of something delicious that saves the recipient a little time later? That’s useful. And useful wins a lot of points with me.

Fill a clean, completely dry jar (or a food-safe container) with the well-mixed hot chocolate mix and seal it tightly. Dress it up with ribbon, twine, a scrap of fabric, whatever you’ve already got tucked away.

Then add a tag with these directions:

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Add 1/3 cup mix to a mug. Fill with about 1 cup hot water and stir well. Adjust to taste: more mix for a stronger cup, less for a lighter one. Enjoy!

That’s all the recipient needs.

How much mix should you give?

Please don’t hand over the whole batch. Unless you really, really like the person.

Four cups of mix makes about 12 mugs and costs roughly $5 in ingredients, at the prices I paid. Two cups makes about six mugs for around $2.50. One batch becomes several gifts, with plenty left for you.

I’ve seen plenty of “frugal” homemade gifts that somehow call for $23 worth of supplies. We’re not doing that.

Want to make the gift a little fancier?

Pair the jar with a mug, a small bag of marshmallows, peppermint sticks, or a chocolate-dipped spoon. But don’t let a simple gift turn into a $27 production. The hot chocolate is the gift.

Need a few more ideas? Here are more homemade Christmas gifts that don’t require spending a fortune.

A few fun ways to serve it

Once you’ve made the basic mix, you can change up individual mugs without committing the entire batch to one flavor.

Peppermint: Stir with a candy cane, or add one tiny drop of peppermint extract.
Mocha: Add a little instant coffee or espresso powder to your mug.
Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon over the top or stir a small amount into your cup.
Extra chocolate: Drop in a few chocolate chips and let them melt while you stir.
Loaded: Marshmallows, whipped cream and chocolate shavings, all at once. Some days call for restraint. Hot chocolate doesn’t have to be one of them.

How to store homemade hot chocolate mix

Keep it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.

Moisture is the enemy here. Always use a completely dry scoop and close the container tightly after every use. For gift jars, make sure the jar is clean and bone dry before you fill it.

For best quality, keep the mix tightly sealed and use it while the ingredients are still fresh. If you’re giving it as a gift, I like to make it reasonably close to the date I’ll be giving it rather than mixing it months ahead.

MORE: What’s Really in Onion Soup Mix? Make It Yourself

FAQ about homemade hot chocolate mix

Can I use cocoa powder instead of Nesquik?

Not as a straight one-for-one substitution. Nesquik is a sweetened chocolate drink powder, while unsweetened cocoa powder is much more concentrated and contains no added sugar. Replacing the Nesquik with the same amount of cocoa would give you a very different result. For this recipe, stick with Nesquik.

Can I make it without powdered milk?

Not this version as written. The powdered milk is what allows you to make a creamy mug using only hot water. Leaving it out would change both the proportions and the finished drink. A cocoa mix meant to be stirred into hot milk is really a different recipe.

Can I use milk instead of water?

You can, but this mix already has powdered milk and creamer in it, and it was designed for hot water. I'd try the recipe as written first. You may find it's plenty creamy already.

One batch, lots of possibilities

I have a soft spot for homemade mixes because you do the work once and they pay you back later.

That’s exactly what happens here. A few minutes with four ingredients gets you about 17 cups of mix for cold evenings, unexpected company, Christmas morning, or the moment you suddenly remember someone you absolutely did not forget.

You were just pacing yourself.

Make a batch. Keep some. Give some away.

And definitely make yourself a cup before you wash the bowl.

Finished mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows with the a bowl of mix nearby

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Rich, creamy homemade hot chocolate mix made with just four ingredients. One big batch makes about 50 mugs and is perfect for keeping in the pantry or packaging in jars for easy homemade gifts.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Beverages

Cuisine: American

Servings: mugs

Calories: 188kcal

Ingredients

4 cups powdered milk
3 1/2 cups CoffeeMate Original Powdered Coffee Creamer about one 16-ounce container
4 cups powdered sugar about 16 ounces
5 1/2 cups Nestlé Nesquik Chocolate Powder about one 20.1-ounce container; not unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

Add the powdered milk, powdered coffee creamer, powdered sugar and Nesquik to a very large mixing bowl or container.
Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are evenly combined and the mixture is uniform in color.
Transfer the hot chocolate mix to airtight containers and store in a cool, dry place.

To Make One Mug

Add 1/3 cup hot chocolate mix to a mug.
Pour in about 1 cup hot water and stir thoroughly until dissolved.
Adjust to taste: use more mix for a stronger cup or less for a lighter one.

For a Gift in a Jar

Fill a clean, completely dry jar with the finished, thoroughly mixed hot chocolate mix and seal tightly.
Add a tag with these directions: Homemade Hot Chocolate. Add 1/3 cup mix to a mug. Fill with about 1 cup hot water and stir well. Adjust to taste: more mix for a stronger cup, less for a lighter one. Enjoy!

Notes

Yield: This recipe makes approximately 17 cups of dry hot chocolate mix, enough for about 50 mugs when using 1/3 cup of mix per serving.

Nesquik matters: This recipe uses sweetened Nestlé Nesquik Chocolate Powder, not unsweetened cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is not a one-for-one substitute.

Storage: Keep the mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry place. For the best guide to shelf life, check the dates on the ingredients you used and go by the ingredient with the earliest best-by date.

Gift size: Four cups of mix makes approximately 12 mugs of hot chocolate. Two cups makes approximately 6 mugs.

Cost: At approximately $21 per batch, each 1/3-cup serving costs about 41 cents, before toppings. Grocery prices will vary.

Nutrition

Question: What’s your favorite homemade food gift to give at Christmas? Share it in the comments below.

If you like homemade solutions that save money, simplify life and don’t require turning your kitchen into a small manufacturing plant, you’ll fit right in here. That’s the kind of practical help I share every day in the Everyday Cheapskate newsletter. Subscribe here and I’ll send it straight to your inbox, free.

EverydayCheapskate™ is reader-supported. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs, designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

More from Everyday Cheapskate

everyday cheapskate holiday gift guide 2026 for women her mom grandma sister woman

Best Christmas Gifts for Women 2026: Thoughtful Finds

everyday cheapskate holiday gift guide 2026 for men him dad grandpa brother man

Best Christmas Gifts for Men 2026: Gifts He’ll Actually Use

Master Muffin Mix with fresh baked banana nut muffins

The Master Muffin Mix That Makes Holiday Mornings Easy

Creamy homemade avocado dressing with fresh avocado, lemon and dill

Creamy Avocado Dressing and Dip Ready in 15 Minutes

10 Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes From Your Closet

Woman opening refrigerator stocked with fresh food and condiments

What Temperature Should a Refrigerator and Freezer Be?

Crispy potato cakes made with leftover mashed potatoes

Got Leftover Mashed Potatoes? Try These 5 Smart Ideas

Sweet pepper and onion relish in a white bowl with crackers and fresh red bell peppers

Sweet Pepper Onion Relish (Perfect Over Cream Cheese)

Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Homemade

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

linda says:

October 23, 2026 at 1:42 am

i keep a jar of half unsweetened cocoa and half stevia next to my coffee pot. before i pour the coffee, i add 1 tsp to my cup, then pour the coffee. top off with milk or if i am lucky, half and half. sprinkle of cinnamon. done.

Hot Cocoa mix says:

December 31, 2022 at 2:45 pm

I’m trying to locate the hot cocoa recipe I saw shortly before Christmas. Not the hot chocolate recipe, this one used unsweetened cocoa and included french vanilla creamer, as well as dry milk & powdered sugar. I neglected to write down the directions on how much of mix to use to make a cup of cocoa and every attempt to relocate the recipe has been unsuccessful. Please help.

Mary Hunt says:
December 31, 2022 at 11:47 pm

It may be in this post

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix That Makes a Great Gift, Too