Recipe: Creating Your Own Hot Chocolate Mix

Creating Your Own Hot Chocolate Mix

Instead of cocoa, which must be cooked a few minutes to dissolve well, this extra-easy hot drink mix uses chocolate chips, which melt quickly in boiling water.

Your choice of chocolate determines the flavor; try semisweet, minute, milk or white chocolate. Or use part butterscotch or peanut butter chips. You can also add malted milk powder, instant coffee, orange peel or spices.

With adult supervision, children can easily prepare this mix. It makes a great gift for relatives, teachers or friends.

Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

3 cups instant nonfat dry milk
2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet, mint or milk chocolate baking chips
1 cups miniature marshmallows, optional
Boiling water

Put half of the dry milk in a blender or food processor, add half the chips and whirl until finely ground. If using a blender, stop motor once to scrape mixture away from blades; do not continue mixing after finely ground or mixture may clump.

Pour mixture into a bowl and repeat to grind remaining milk and chips. Stir in marshmallows. Spoon into a jar (or jar) cover tightly.

Store airtight up to 6 months. For each serving: mix 1/3 cup mix with cup boiling water and stir until well combined. Makes 4 to 5 cups mix, enough for 12 to 15 servings.

Variations:

Hot Malted Chocolate Mix

Follow directions fro instant hot chocolate mix (preceding but do not use mini chips),, decreasing dry milk to 1 cups and adding 1 cups malted milk powder with it.

Hot Mocha Mix

Follow directions for instant hot chocolate mix (preceding), adding cup instant coffee powder with the dry milk.

Orange-Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Mix
Follow directions fro instant hot chocolate mix (preceding but do not use mini chips);thoroughly stir in with marshmallows 1 Tablespoon grated orange peel and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Store 6 weeks at room temperature, up to 3 months chilled.

Butterscotch or Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Mix

Follow directions for instant hot chocolate mix (preceding), decreasing semisweet chocolate baking chips to 1 cup and adding them with 1 cup (6 oz.) butterscotch or peanut butter baking chips.

Hot Spiced White Chocolate Mix

Follow directions for instant hot chocolate mix (preceding), but omit semisweet chocolate chips and use 2 cups (12 oz.) white chocolate baking chips. With the chips, grind 1 teaspoon ground cardamom or ground mace. teaspoon