Learn how to make hot chocolate without milk with this simple tutorial. I’ll also be sharing my easy recipe for an organic, shelf-stable, make-ahead mix!

A white mug with a red stripe and elf sitting on a table covered with a red and white tablecloth. The mug has frothy hot chocolate inside. A glass jar of powdered cocoa mix sits behind the mug.

One of the things that my family enjoys drinking on cold days is hot chocolate. And this easy, organic hot chocolate won’t disappoint!

The hot cocoa mix packets that you get from the grocery store are often full of harmful chemicals and cheap ingredients. And in my neck of the woods, organic hot chocolate mix isn’t even an option, much less a dairy-free alternative.

Since necessity is the mother of invention, and since my kids love to drink hot chocolate, I made my own hot chocolate mix! I want to encourage you to make your own organic hot chocolate mix, too, and avoid the hot chocolate mixes that are full of harmful chemicals.

How To Make Hot Chocolate Without Milk

To make hot chocolate without milk on a stove, heat up two cups of water over medium heat, and whisk in one-fourth cup of sugar (or other sweetener), and two tablespoons of cocoa powder. For creaminess and flavor, consider adding a couple more things listed below.

I make a big batch of homemade hot chocolate mix and store it in half-gallon glass mason jars in my pantry. I also keep the cooking instructions with the jar so that my older kids can make their own hot chocolate whenever the mood strikes them.

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First, let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll need for my healthy hot chocolate recipe.

A clear glass bowl, stainless steel measuring cup, bag of organic cocoa powder, and bag of organic whole milk powder sitting on a table covered with a red and white table cloth.

Ingredients:

You need just a few simple ingredients for classic hot chocolate.

organic cane sugar – Organic cane sugar is not as processed as white sugar, and it has a glorious hint of molasses flavor. You can also use regular white sugar if that’s all you have.

organic cocoa powder – Use organic, unsweetened cocoa powder, because it’s the star ingredient for making homemade hot chocolate. I get a 5-pound bag of organic regular cocoa powder from Azure Standard, and it lasts a long time in the pantry.

organic milk powder – If you don’t have any dairy sensitivities, using whole milk powder will add a creamy texture to your homemade hot chocolate mix. If you do have dairy sensitivities, you can use dairy-free milk powder. I’ll add a list of other substitutions down below the recipe.

hot water – Use good, filtered water.

Tools you may need:

Medium pot

Large bowl

Whisk

Half-gallon glass mason jars

Lids

Measuring cups and spoons

Large fine mesh sieve

Funnel

Make-Ahead Hot Chocolate Mix

Two glass quart jars of homemade hot chocolate mix sitting on a red and white snowflake kitchen towel on a counter. Behind the jars are a bag of cocoa powder and a bag of milk powder.

This easy recipe will make a big batch of hot chocolate mix for storage in your pantry. I don’t add any sugar to my make-ahead mix because the larger grains of sugar don’t mix entirely with the fine milk powder and cocoa powder.

It also affords more options when I go to sweeten a cup of hot chocolate. However, I do make a sweetened mix to give away as gifts.

Unsweetened Hot Chocolate Mix

This unsweetened hot chocolate mix is so simple. You’ll need 5 cups of dry milk powder and 1 cup of cocoa powder.

Woman adding cocoa powder and whole milk powder to a glass bowl.

In a large bowl, whisk together the two dry ingredients.

Woman using a wire whisk to mix cocoa powder and milk powder in a glass bowl.

Next, pour your powder mixture through a large fine mesh sieve to get rid of any clumps. I like to use a whisk to whirl the mixture around and around because it seems to go through and break up the clumps faster.

A woman stirring hot chocolate mix in a fine mesh sieve with a wire whisk.

Most of the time I can get all the clumps out, but then sometimes there are really hard bits that just won’t break apart.

A fine mesh sieve with hard clumps of hot chocolate mix inside.

Set a funnel over a glass jar (or other container) and pour the mixture into it. Add a lid and store it in your pantry.

Woman pouring hot chocolate mix into a glass jar.

And that’s it! Don’t forget to label your jar!! I recommend printing the recipe and instructions out below and fixing it to your jar for easy reference later.

Sweetened Hot Chocolate Mix

Depending on your taste buds, you may prefer to limit the amount of sugar you add to your sweetened mix. The recipe I use for my family mix is 5 cups of dry milk powder, 1 cup of cocoa powder, and 3 cups of sugar.

For best results and to keep your mixture from separating, put your sugar into a high-speed blender to make it more powdered than granular. Although it’s not much of a problem to use your sugar as-is, the heavy sugar grains may eventually sink to the bottom of your jar. That means you’ll have to shake up your jar before using it.

For a fun Polar Express gift idea during the holiday season, make several smaller jars of sweetened hot chocolate mix. I like to add a cute tag that has the ingredients and instructions. That way there’s no guesswork when people go to make their hot chocolate.

Hot Chocolate Recipe

This recipe will make two 8-ounce cups of hot chocolate.

First, add 2 cups of water in a small saucepan on your stove over low to medium heat. Then add 1/4 cup of sugar or other sweetener.

Woman adding sugar to a medium pot of water on the stove.

Add 1/2 cup of your make-ahead unsweetened hot chocolate mix (or 1/4 cup of milk powder plus 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder that has gone through a fine mesh sieve). Finally, stir the mixture using a whisk until it all heats up.

Woman stirring hot chocolate mixture in a medium pot on a stove, and using a wire whisk.

When it’s hot and steamy, but not too hot and boiling, turn off the heat. Move the pot to a cool spot on your stove.

Voila! Everything will be evenly dissolved. Your hot chocolate should be a little bit frothy on top if you stirred it with a whisk.

Do you want extra decadence? You can finish off your hot chocolate by adding a pinch of salt, mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and vanilla extract. Try experimenting and see what you like best.

Substitutions and Additional Ingredients

Substitutions

sugar substitutes – These dry ingredients can be used in your make-ahead mix: brown sugar, organic coconut sugar, or date sugar.

If you want a natural sweetener, you can also substitute a little honey or pure maple syrup. But decrease it by at least half since these have a stronger flavor.

dairy-free milk – Do you need non-dairy milk? If you want a milk alternative, use oat milk powder or coconut milk powder in your make-ahead mix.

Because it is so heavily processed and not healthy for your body, I would avoid using soy milk for your vegan hot chocolate mix. The choice of milk is ultimately up to you, though.

Another option is that you can also make your own healthy nut milk. There are a lot of tutorials for making your own unsweetened almond milk and cashew milk right at home!

Additional Ingredients

organic semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional) – Adding a few chocolate chips will add extra chocolate flavor.

organic cinnamon powder (optional) – Have more developed taste buds? A sprinkle of cinnamon is a nice touch if you want to change the flavor up a bit.

Alternatively, you can check out my blog post and add a tiny bit of homemade cinnamon extract.

peppermint extract (optional) – The sky’s the limit if you want to add a hint of mint flavor to your drink. Alternatively, stirring with a candy cane will do the trick.

vanilla extract (optional) – I add vanilla extra to just about everything, including my coffee and hot chocolate. For a cheap way to make it at home, check out my blog post on how to make your own vanilla extract!

dark chocolate shavings (optional) – This garnish makes a very pretty and fancy cup of hot chocolate.

Woman pouring hot chocolate from a stainless steel pot into a white mug with a red stripe and a black and white penguin on it. The mug is sitting on a red and white winter snowflake kitchen towel.

Recipe Card

I want to encourage you to make this delicious drink on your next chilly day!

Simple, Organic Hot Chocolate

Make your own organic hot chocolate! Organic hot chocolate is very expensive to buy. Save money and make your own delicious drink yourself right from home!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Serving Size 2 cups

Equipment

medium pot
whisk
measuring cups
measuring spoons
fine mesh sieve
large bowl
funnel

Ingredients

2 cups water
¼ cup organic milk powder
2 tbsp organic cocoa powder
¼ cup organic sugar (or other sweetener)

Instructions

Instructions to Make Your Own Hot Chocolate on a Stove

Set a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and add in the dry milk powder and dry cocoa powder. Stir the mixture around with a whisk until it all passes through the sieve. Discard hard clumps. Set the bowl aside.
In a medium pot over medium to low heat, add water and sugar. Stir the mixture using a whisk, and slowly add in the powdered milk and cocoa powder from your bowl. Whisk together until completely dissolved and continue stirring to prevent hot chocolate from sticking to your pot.
When the hot chocolate is hot but not boiling, turn off the stove and take it off the heat. Pour your drink into a mug and add whatever you like (marshmallows, chocolate chips, etc). ENJOY!

How to Make Unsweetened Shelf-Stable Hot Chocolate Mix

Set a large fine mesh sieve over a large bowl. Add in 5 cups of dry milk powder and 1 cup of cocoa powder.
Stir the powder around using a wire whisk until it all passes through the sieve. Discard hard clumps, and store your unsweetened hot chocolate mix in glass jars with a lid. Don't forget to add a label and cooking instructions!

How to Make Sweetened Shelf-Stable Hot Chocolate Mix

Set a large fine mesh sieve over a large bowl. Add in 5 cups of dry milk powder and 1 cup of cocoa powder.
Stir the powdered milk and cocoa powder around the sieve using a wire whisk until it all passes through the sieve. Discard hard clumps.
Add 3 cups of sugar to your bowl of powdered milk and cocoa powder. Stir until combined. (If using powdered sugar, put it through the sieve first.)
Once all dry ingredients are mixed together, pour into separate glass jars with a lid. Don't forget to add a label and cooking instructions!

How to Make Organic, Healthy Hot Chocolate Without Milk