Now that our house is filled with the pitter patter of little feet, the holidays have taken on a whole new meaning. As our boys have gone from baby to toddler, and now to preschooler and kindergartner, it’s been fun finding new ways to celebrate the holidays. We’ve made new family traditions- decorating the tree together, watching classic movies, and cruising the neighborhood looking for the house with the most festive lights.
Do you know what the one commonality in those traditions is? Hot cocoa! It’s so warm and comforting, and who doesn’t love sipping on a mug of sweet chocolatey goodness? Nothing gets me in the holiday mood like hot cocoa- especially when it’s spiked with a little somthin’ somethin’!
Our oldest son is a hot cocoa fanatic. One sip at the age of 2 and he was hooked! As soon as the temperatures take a dive, he starts asking for cocoa. I have to admit that up until now, I’ve always turned to the store bought instant cocoa packets. Although I made sure to buy quality brands, I never considered the idea of making it myself… until now!
This homemade White Chocolate Hot Cocoa is so easy, that my 6 year old prepared it all by himself. I was on hand to assist him of course, but he did all of the measuring, pouring, mixing (and taste testing) himself. He even helped whisk the cocoa on the stove (with supervision). He did a great job making this hot cocoa mix, and I am so happy to see him gaining some real skill in the kitchen! Of course, I caught him trying to sneak the chocolate chips every time I turned my back (I pretended not to notice the first time).
The best part of this homemade cocoa is knowing exactly what I ‘m feeding to my family. Only simple, high quality ingredients go into this recipe. I swapped regular refined sugar for a healthier alternative- coconut sugar, and used organic cocoa powder and white chocolate. You could even take it a step further and make your own marshmallows (click here for the recipe). The result is a mug of delicious cocoa that I feel good about giving to my boys. Making cocoa mix at home is so quick and easy that I will never be buying the store bought, over-processed kind again.
What better way to share some holiday cheer than giving your loved ones (or teachers, or friends, or neighbors) a little jar of homemade hot cocoa mix? Nothing shows that you care like a homemade gift, and this is one that is sure to please! It would be so sweet to get your kids involved in making it, and it would be a great way to spark their interest in cooking. My son was all smiles as he put together this homemade hot cocoa… although that’s probably because he was secretly stuffing himself silly with marshmallows behind my back!
Easy Homemade White Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
1 cup high quality, organic cocoa powder
1 cup coconut sugar
1 cup high quality, organic white chocolate chips
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Combine all ingredients into a blender and pulse on high until all ingredients are combined. The white chocolate chips should be broken down and fully integrated into the dry ingredients.
To serve, mix 2-3 Tbs of cocoa mix with a mug of warm milk. Stir gently to combine, and top with marshmallows (optional).
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