As the 100+ degree weather here in Los Angeles starts to cool down, I could not be more excited about breaking out the warm autumn spices and creating something sweet, to greet the new season with. This twist on classic hot cocoa brings everything wonderful about fall and stirs it right in to that mug of warm chocolatey goodness.
Something about a tall glass of chocolate milk, good ol' 2%, warm skim, or a hot cup of milk with cocoa mix stirred in, always brings back nostalgic feelings from my childhood. I could have gone through a gallon of milk every 2 weeks growing up. So when got milk? contacted me about sharing a post that represents the energy and strength milk provides for young and old, along with the protein and 9 essential nutrients that milk provides to fuel a brighter future, I was happy to join in on spreading the message in my own way, by sharing a milk based recipe that would spotlight the pure, simple and classic beverage, with a festive seasonal twist!
This warm pumpkin pie spiced chocolatey indulgence, is a great way to help get kids to drink their milk to become healthy, strong adults, while still inciting their taste buds. I love to top all of my hot cocoa off with some whipped cream, even add little mini marshmallows! Enjoy it with the family as a cozy weekend treat with a stack of pumpkin pancakes, a fun after school snack for the kids with a small batch of snickerdoodle cookies, even stir in 1 oz of a flavored liquor for a romantic "adult" beverage, snuggled up on the couch with my mini banana spice cakes for two, or sip in solitude while reading a good book or your favorite show with my single serving 5-minute apple spice cake.
You can use this mix as a gift and package it in individual little baggies, or store it in a mason jar and make up to 8 single serving cups! I even created a festive little FREE PRINTABLE tag to go along with the mix, with the directions.
Click the links below for the FREE printable tags with directions for making the cocoa.
- PRINTABLE SINGLE SERVING PACKET LABELS (8 individual labels)
- PRINTABLE BULK MIX MASON JAR LABEL
Just print, cut out and attach to your cocoa mix. These make great little gifts, or keep the mix in a mason jar to enjoy at home!
Autumn Spice Hot Cocoa Mix
Yield: 8 servings (recipe easily doubles as needed)*
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (may sub 1 1/2t. cinnamon, 1/4t. ginger, 1/4t. nutmeg and a pinch cloves or all spice)
- mini marshmallows, optional
Directions
Sift together all of the ingredients. Store the mix in a mason jar, or spoon 3 tablespoons of mix into individual single serving packets. Attach the free printable tag for prep directions.
*For an individual serving: combine 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Stir into 1 cup hot milk.