Coffee and tea certainly have their situations—getting you out the door in the morning, keeping you awake during dull, drawn-out days at work, or getting you charged up for some serious late night overthinking. But when it’s frigid outside and all you want is something warm that feels like a hug in a mug, hot chocolate wins. Every time. It’s cozy, it’s nostalgic, and honestly, it just feels different. Everyone in my family loves it, especially kids. You should see us in the cold evenings, cozy, around the TV, drinking hot choco. I love those kinds of moments.
But for real, I used to be all about the instant stuff. You know how it goes: boil the water, open one of those packets, mix it together, and call it a day. Was it great? No. But it was warm, vaguely chocolatey and took zero effort. That was more than enough for me… or so I thought. Then I stumbled across this ridiculously simple homemade version and now I’m kicking myself for not trying it so much sooner.
So, here’s the thing. I had always assumed that a homemade hot chocolate mix would be complicated and required some obscure ingredient I’d use once and completely forget about. But this? It only uses three super simple ingredients. That’s it. And if you want to get technical, the version in the video includes a fourth optional ingredient that you can add. Even with the fourth ingredient, it is way, way easier than you would think. Especially for something that is so rich and satisfying.
Even better, it comes from Martha Stewart so you know it’s not going to be a weird-tasting, half-baked internet trend. You whisk over the stove for 45 minutes. It’s simple, and classic, and really delicious. There is something about the balance with the ingredients in this mix. It makes it feel like you’re drinking the upgraded version of hot chocolate from your childhood—while keeping that nostalgic flavor. It feels like the older and slightly fancier cousin of the mix you begged your parents for after sledding.
And the best part of a dry mix? You can make a batch and just keep it in a jar. When you feel the craving, you just scoop some in. You don’t have to dig through your pantry box for that one crushed packet at the bottom. You just mix a spoonful or two into hot milk or hot water, stir, and you’ve got instant comfort! It’s also a great gift—put it in a cute mason jar or bag, label it, and you’ve got a little something for a teacher, coworker, or anyone who appreciates a warm drink in the winter.
If you want to see how it comes together, the full how-to is in the video from YouTube/Everyday Food. It will show you exactly how to do it, and it really is that simple. And once you’ve got the basic mix down, go wild. You can add a pinch of cinnamon, a few mini marshmallows, a splash of peppermint extract—or basically anything that makes it your own. But honestly, even without any additions it’s really pretty perfect as-is.
Oh, and if you’re already on board with the hot version, you might also want to try it frozen. Yep, frozen hot chocolate is a thing, and it’s just as delicious as it sounds. There is a double chocolate chip frappe recipe that’s been circulating. It takes this same homemade mixture and turns it into a frozen drink you can enjoy as a refreshing treat in the heat of summer. Because let’s face it—chocolate cravings don’t care what season it is!
So if you’ve got some cocoa powder, sugar, and powdered milk lingering in a cupboard somewhere, you’re already most of the way there. Try it once and I’m guessing you’ll reach for the homemade hot chocolate rather than those premade packets pretty frequently going forward. Sometimes a homemade version is just that simple—and in this case, way better too!
