This easy DIY hot cocoa mix has become our go-to winter treat, just add hot milk and you’re instantly in cozy mode.
- Made from pantry staples with no mystery ingredients
- Perfect for snow days, cozy weekends, or holiday gifting
- Rich and chocolatey without being overly sweet
- Easy for kids to help make and enjoy
- Delicious with whipped cream, marshmallows, or crushed candy canes
My favorite time to drink hot cocoa is after a day playing in the snow. Yes, I jumped a whole season, but just read me out. A cup of hot cocoa felt like the perfect reward after a long day in the bitter cold. I’ve been so anxious for cooler weather, and after today’s chilly day, a cup of pumpkin spice hot cocoa was the perfect ending.
After a big snowstorm, my dad would get up early to start shoveling. When my sister and I got older, that meant we had to pitch in. We had a long driveway. As a kid, that driveway felt like a mile long and having to shovel it sucked. While my dad shoveled it (or after we did), we’d go play in the snow. The first few hours of untouched snow is the best; it’s so peaceful. I’d explore our woods, my fort, and chase our dog around. After a few hours (or what seemed like a few hours), I’d head back into the house. My face would be raw from cold. The kind of raw that tingles when your face starts to heat up. Waiting for us in the kitchen would be cups of hot cocoa.
Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
After being teased with a few cool days, a 90-degree day a few days into October, and a few humid days after that, we finally have fall-ish weather. Today was beautiful and I hope we saw the last of the summer weather. I was so eager to enjoy this weather, we did everything we could think of to make it feel like fall. I carved the pumpkins (I know, I’ll need to get new ones in a few weeks), baked a pie, and enjoyed kettle corn, pumpkin spice hot cocoa, and apple crisp donuts during our movie night.
This pumpkin spice hot cocoa is c-o-z-y, cozy. One sip will get you in the fall mood.
Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups
- Category: Hot Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
Description
This homemade hot cocoa mix is rich, chocolatey, and easy to whip up with simple ingredients for a cozy cup any time.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp dark chocolate chips + 1–2 chips for shaving/grating
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- Dash of nutmeg
- Dash of ground cloves
- Whipped cream; in the can, extra creamy
Instructions
- Heat a medium pan over medium-high heat.
- Add milk, cream, dark chocolate, and cocoa powder to the pan.
- Stir until the chocolate melts and everything is combined. Let it start to simmer, turn up the heat it necessary.
- Add in the pumpkin, vanilla, and all the spices. Whisk until smooth.
- Continue to stir. Let the hot cocoa sit in the pan to heat up and simmer.
- Dive the hot cocoa into two glasses.
- Add whipped cream (or marshmallows), and top with shaved dark chocolate.