January 31, 2023
updated
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Just add water to this recipe for dairy-free hot cocoa mix, and you’ll enjoy a warm mug of joy fast!
Whether you make a jar or single-serve packets, this post shares the recipe and a few dairy-free instant milk options I’ve tested that mix well.
Homemade Cocoa Mix with No Dairy
While stores are filled with many varieties of instant hot cocoa mix, finding one without dairy can be challenging and expensive!
If hot cocoa is a thing at your house and dairy is a no-go, you’ll soon find out why the homemade cocoa mix below is not only more cost-effective but also just as convenient to have in the pantry!
You can also pre-measure each serving and store it in single-serve snack bags for the ultimate convenience.
What You Need
To make this hot cocoa mix without dairy with the following ingredients:
- Cocoa Powder: the base for chocolatey goodness in a mug. Use unsweetened cocoa powder, regular or dark cocoa powder.
- Powdered Sugar: sweetens and dissolves easily with water.
- Dairy-free powdered milk: makes it creamy without dairy. Check the multiple options below.
- Salt: a little bit to enhance flavor.
- Cornstarch: a little to prevent caking when storing but can be omitted. Plan on stirring well if you omit it.
How to Make Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix
To make a jar or individual bags, you can do it by hand or using a food processor. You’ll:
- Combine the ingredients
If mixing the ingredients by hand, I like to put everything in a sifter so they are evenly combined. Otherwise, use a food processor and process until everything is smooth and well combined. - Store the dairy-free cocoa mix
Transfer the combined ingredients in a jar, large zip bag, or pre-measure ⅓ to ½ cup of mix into snack-sized zip bags
Here is a step-by-step video showing you how to make these packets. Note: traditional milk powder was used in the video, but the ingredients and steps are the same.
Best Instant Dairy-Free Milk Powder
Dairy-free “milk” powder can be oat-based, soy-based, or coconut-milk based. Here are 3 that mix smoothly and well with this recipe: Upright Instant Oat Milk, this Coconut Milk Powder or this Coconut Milk Powder, and Cashew Milk Powder.
How to Store DIY Cocoa Mix
Your dairy-free mix can be stored in a sealed jar or inside individual zip bags for up to 6 months in the pantry.
Keeping it from Getting Clumpy
After lots of cocoa mixing, my tips for keeping the cocoa mix from getting clumpy include:
Use powdered sugar:
It dissolves quicker and much easier than granulated sugar.
Proper storage:
Proper storage, away from humidity, is key to preventing clumps in your mix.
Pour very hot water:
Cold or lukewarm water will not dissolve the ingredients and will lead to clumping instead. For this reason, I recommend boiling water (or nearly). It’s best to let the hot cocoa cool down rather than sipping a clumpy drink.
Keep mixing:
Not mixing the cocoa mix with hot water long enough can also result in clumps or the cocoa mix settling at the bottom of the mug. You can also use a hand-held milk frother to do the job.
Using Dairy-Free Cocoa Mix
To enjoy a mug of hot cocoa, simply measure out ⅓ to ½ cup of the powdered mix into a mug and pour about a cup of hot water on top. With a spoon or a hand-held milk frother, mix to combine.
Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ½ cups dairy-free powdered milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- If mixing the ingredients by hand, place all ingredients into a sifter and sift into a bowl. If using a food processor, place all ingredients in the bowl and process until everything is smooth and well combined.
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