Homemade Chai Hot Chocolate Mix

An Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix with Chai Tea

Hot chocolate was my nightly routine as a young teen. I used packet after packet of hot cocoa mixed with boiling water.

Now, I am a bit more aware of the ingredients going into my body. And corn-syrup-filled hot chocolate mix? No, thank you.

The obvious alternative? Homemade hot chocolate. (Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate is our family’s go-to option!)

But there are days when we want something a bit different. And other days when a quick and easy mix sounds appealing.

This recipe for Homemade Chai Hot Chocolate Mix checks both of those boxes: It is spiced and easy.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This homemade hot chocolate mix with chai spices takes your cup of hot chocolate up several notches. Here are other reasons to love it:

• It is super easy to mix up.
• It keeps well at room temperature.
• The warm flavors of chai spice make it perfect.
• It combines the best of chai and hot chocolate into one easy drink.
• It contains no corn syrup or artificial flavors, unlike store-bought hot chocolate mix.

What’s In This Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate Mix

Dark cacao powder.

For this recipe, I highly recommend using 100% dark cacao powder. Dutch-processed is best.

Powdered sugar.

To keep the mix smooth, we use powdered sugar, which mixes more readily without separation.

Granulated sugar.

I first tried this recipe with only powdered sugar, and it just wasn’t the same. It needed something more to make it on-par with traditional packets of hot chocolate mix. A bit of granulated sugar solved that problem.

Sea salt.

Adding salt sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but trust me: It brings out the flavors and sweetness.

Powdered milk.

Full-fat powdered milk results in the creaminess we all crave in hot chocolate mix. Don’t skimp here and go with skim milk or reduced-fat milk.

Ginger.

One of the signature flavors of chai is ginger. This recipe uses just enough to taste without being overpowering.

Cloves.

Ground cloves (not whole ones) are the ingredient we use in this recipe. If you don’t typically keep ground clove on hand, feel free to omit this ingredient. (Though I do think the recipe is that much better with its presence.)

Cinnamon.

Another chai spice? Cinnamon, obviously. You can’t make this recipe without it and have it taste the same.

One batch of this recipe makes 6 cups of mix.

How Much Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix to Use for One Cup of Hot Chocolate

I usually use 3 Tbsp. of the mix in one cup of warm milk. If you want to combine the mix with only hot water, then you may need to use more or less of the mix, depending on your flavor preference.

Ingredients for Homemade Chai Hot Chocolate Mix

• 2 1/2 cups full-fat powdered milk (whole milk)
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup dark cacao powder (100%, Dutch-processed)
• 3 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• pinch of ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• When used: add a dash of vanilla extract

Storage Instructions

Keep this homemade chai hot chocolate mix in an airtight glass container at room temperature. While I have personally not tested the longevity of the mix, I would guess that it will store well in cool, dry climates for up to three months.

If you want to store this homemade mix for longer, keep it in an airtight Ziplock food storage bag and store in the freezer.

Other Chocolate Recipes to Try

Some of our favorite recipes revolve around chocolate. (No surprise there for anyone who knows me!)

Here are some great recipes to try next:

• Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate Chips
• Easy Moist Chocolate Ganache Bundt Cake
• Decadent Chocolate Orange Brownies {with Orange Zest}
• The Creamiest Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate Recipe
• Stunning Chocolate Tiramisu {No Mascarpone, No Alcohol, No Eggs, No Bake}
• Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream (Gluten-Free, No Egg, No M&Ms or Food Dye)