Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
I’m definitely not the first food blogger to post a recipe for homemade hot cocoa mix. And I definitely won’t be the last. That’s because it makes such an easy and fun homemade gift, and I just couldn’t resist.
I used Ghirardelli chocolate and cocoa in mix. Of course, Hubby loved having an excuse to eat more homemade marshmallows and threw quite a few in his cup of hot cocoa!
One Year Ago: Green Bean Casserole
Two Years Ago: Snickerdoodles and Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Three Years Ago: Chocolate and Peanut Butter Biscotti
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Yield: 76-2 Tbsp servings
Ingredients:
2 vanilla beans
4 cups granulated sugar
24 oz high-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
9 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cups Dutch process cocoa
Directions:
Split and scrape vanilla beans and place in a large bowl or jar with the sugar. Work seeds into the sugar with your fingers. Bury the pods under the sugar. Cover tightly and let stand overnight (or up to months–vanilla sugar keeps forever) at room temperature.
In a food processor fitted with metal blade, process semisweet chocolate and dark chocolate until finely ground, using 4-second pulses. Process in batches, if necessary.
Remove pod from sugar. Add ground chocolate and cocoa powder to sugar and whisk to blend, making sure to combine well. Store mix airtight at room temperature for up to six months.
Assemble your gifts:
Scoop 1 1/2 cups of cocoa mix into a medium sized bag. Attach a tag with the following note: Heat 8 oz milk on med-high heat until scalded. Add 2 Tbsp cocoa mix and whisk until smooth. Top with a marshmallow. Makes 12 servings.
Recipe as seen on Confections of a Foodie Bride, originally from Gourmet
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I do the same thing on Friday nights. Totally acceptable. 🙂 The cake looks gorgeous!
beantownbaker — February 24th, 2013 @ 10:33 am
Glad I’m not the only one 😉
This looks amazing!!! Great choice of convenience item to make, and what better way to use it than in a layer cake!?!?
Beautiful cake, Jen! I’ve never heard of a filling made from dried fruit, either. Must try it soon!
beantownbaker — February 24th, 2013 @ 10:34 am
It was a lot better than I was expecting for sure!
Sounds like a great combinations of flavors. Layer cakes are the best!
beantownbaker — February 24th, 2013 @ 10:34 am
I agree, layer cakes are the best
Those are some delicious flavors going on. It looks great, too.
haha, “forced” your friends to eat this deliciousness? tough life! sounds amazing 🙂
beantownbaker — February 24th, 2013 @ 10:34 am
Ha no kidding. The life of being friends with a baker…
Looks delicious!!
Very nice, cake