dark hot chocolate with cinnamon mix

Good morning, friends, this the last remaining week before Christmas.  Our focus as a family has now turned 100% onto Christmasing and making now that the Nutcracker is officially over.

During the last few cold months we’ve been enjoying our own homemade hot chocolate mix that sits and lures us in (sometimes daily) on the counter.  One of my favorite flavors with our homemade cocoas has been cinnamon.  Don’t assume that it takes from the cocoa flavor because it actually enhances the chocolate. Trust me.  One of the best hot chocolate mixes you can make, and in a large container, you can keep it out as a reminder that winter is too short to not enjoy hot chocolate regularly.

I created this mix to 1) not have to make our favorite mix throughout the winter months at each sitting and 2) because you can control how sweet you want your cocoa.  Most mixes call for a higher sugar ration to cocoa.  My mix has the ration exactly equal which means I might spoon in an extra scoop for the kids and spoon in exactly the normal amount for me who likes to enjoy it daily with less sugar.

dark hot chocolate with cinnamon mix

3.5 cups cocoa (I like Hershey’s)

3.5 cups sugar (we use raw sugar but white sugar works just as well)

2 TBSP cinnamon

1 TBSP salt

pure vanilla extract to taste

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients well.  Let the kids help but remind them to stir slowly because of the cocoa.

Spoon into a large glass/tin container.

If you store your hot chocolate mixture in a glass jar, cut some festive fabric with pinking sheers for under the lid.  I used a Sharpie white paint pen and wrote “homemade” on our jar.  Store your jar somewhere on the counter top for the remainder of winter.  It will remind you to take a minute and relax often.

You could also make a hot chocolate station with your hot chocolate mix, mugs, and cinnamon sticks close by.

When you’re ready to make hot chocolate from the mix, simply scoop a TBSP or two into a mug of hot milk (roughly 1.25 cups) and stir.  Add a few drops of vanilla extract and it is ready to sip.

It is a heavenly mix.  I look forward to my moments with a mug of this hot chocolate while I tidy the kitchen or sit down after a long day on the couch.  ANd if the mix isn’t sweet enough for your family, just add bit more sugar.

On another note, the winner of the Oiseaux shop giveaway is Erica who wrote:

Oh I just love this shop. I found it some time ago on etsy and have wanted some of my own since!! Thanks for offering a giveaway! Can’t wait to see who wins.

Congratulations!

the sleepy time gal