I love making hot chocolate from scratch, it always reminds me of most of my childhood years, especially when mom heated the big pan of milk and stirred in the Hershey's syrup in a can.
Fun times, great memories and I will get to share them again in the future with my grandchildren.
This terrific homemade recipe is a dry mix for you!
So, you can make this anytime all year round.
The mix is in a powdered form, simple to prepare by just adding your milk, cream or even water if you like.
The ingredients are rich with powdered milk and unsweetened cocoa powder and ready to drink when you are.
I guess I should have waited for it to cool off before adding the whipped cream and marshmallows (smile) I think you can see the melted ones in some of my photos below.
Also, the striped candy stick is mint like mom served it up when I was a kid.
We always look forward to another season and making some precious family memories.
Christmas is a magical time of the year, especially when there are little ones around.
I love how excited they get over everything we do with them, there's that special twinkle in their eyes with all the newness and surprises that awaits them.
With this recipe for Adults and also made for kids in mind, you will get that cozy warm feeling like we always did.
There is always room for a cup of cheer to bring a little holiday spirit into our lives, this one is mine.
Hoping you all have a wonderful season making some festive memories with your loved ones.
A Holiday Cup of Cheer
What's better than a cup of holiday cocoa for the young and young at heart?
I always loved homemade cocoa with holiday cookies they seem to be the perfect combination to kick off the holiday season.
The fondest memories are made in childhood, this was one of them for me.
Easy to Make
This is a dry mix that I store in a mason jar or old-style coffee tin can.
The powdered style is all made and tucked aways for anytime you need it in a mason jar.
You just have to add the liquid you prefer in the cup.
Mom's Cocoa
Mom always used whole milk with cream on top back in the 1960s..
She was a mint fan, so this was always served with a candy cane to stir our cocoa and it was so festive.
Since then I have made chocolate spoons that are perfect for stirring the cocoa with and gift-giving.
Much later, other flavors came out and I just loved almond flavored candy canes or even the coffee-flavored.
You can use whatever you like, even cinnamon sticks are a nice touch with cocoa.
The kids love old fashioned hot chocolate and of course, this one will need to be made with almond flavored syrup for them, not Amaretto.
But it sure is a pleasant change of flavors instead of the mint hot cocoa which, for me isn't my favorite.
My son loves mint chocolate, so the mint-flavored syrup is his favorite and a candy cane!
You can make my original recipe here for hot cocoa with Nutella.
Tool You Will Need
- Funnel
- Mixing Bowl
- Storage Glass Jars IE Mason Jars for gift-giving
- Index Recipe Cards and Jar Labels
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Spoons
- Extra Large Storage Christmas Mugs for gift-giving
Traditions
I love starting new traditions around the Christmas holiday and we have several, this one was my favorite mom did every year.
When I make this recipe, it brings warm memories of my childhood and her that surrounds me with that love I remember she had for family traditions started.
We love taking Holiday family photos, it's a tradition every year that we update as the family grows.
Baking several favorite cookies, including Italian homemade Pandoro and Panettone are other favorite traditions along with Struffoli (fried Italian cookies) and Grandma's Wedding Cookie Recipe.
The cocoa will have to wait a few years for my 5-year old Grandson without the Amaretto of course, but it sure will be fun making cookies and drinking cocoa with him in a few years.
Check out this comforting hot cocoa with a little kick in it for the adults, and have a joyous Holiday season!
Ingredients You Will Need to Make Amaretto Hot Cocoa
- powdered sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- powdered milk
- salt
- cornstarch
- Garnishings are optional
- Amaretto version is for Adults:
- Amaretto
- Candy sticks use whatever flavor you like, almond, mint, or even a cinnamon stick
- Mini Marshmallows
- Whipped Cream
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Gift Giving Ideas
This is Amaretto Hot Cocoa mix can be your perfect gift all year round.
Huge cups that have a cover for holiday or pretty holiday bowls with covers make a great gift idea.
Mason jars are my favorite and you can layer the jars with marshmallows dry cocoa mix and decorate the jars with bows, and add labels with the recipe.
This is an easy inexpensive gift and very thoughtful.
Every time your recipient makes a cup of cocoa they will have some warm thoughts of the gift giver and heartwarming.
You can get really creative and add some chocolate covered spoons to the gift box, click here for instructions.
For the adults, including a box or even canned milk like coconut or almond milk, Amaretto liqueur or flavored syrups and you're all set with a complete gift all in one package.
Cocoa Mix Toppings Suggestions
- Whipped cream
- Marshmallows
- Cinnamon
- Candy flavored sticks, candy canes or cinnamon sticks for stirring
- Flavored Spoons
- Flavored Creamers
- Flavored Syrups for kids
- Amaretto or other shots of favorite Liqueurs for Adults only (Frangelico, Bailey, etc)
Other Favorite Drink Recipes to Try:
Apple Cider HomemadePumpkin Frappe
Pumpkin Latte in a Slow Cooker
Limoncello Homemade
Mimosa
Watermelon Cocktail
Yield: 8
Amaretto Hot Cocoa Mix
prep time: 5 Mcook time: 2 Mtotal time: 7 M
This is a mix of hot cocoa readily available anytime by just adding milk, cream or water. The mix is easy to make and stored in airtight containers on the shelf.
ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Garnishings are optional and Amaretto version is for Adults only:
- Amaretto Liqueur
- Candy sticks use whatever flavor you like, almond, mint, or even a cinnamon stick
- Mini Marshmallows
- Whipped Cream
instructions:
How to cook Amaretto Hot Cocoa Mix
- Combine all ingredients in a storage container blending all together.
- This will keep for several months on a shelf ( around 6 months).
- When ready fill your cup with half the cocoa mixture and the other half with hot whole milk or water, leave room for 1 shot of Amaretto.
- Adult Non-Alcohol Verison: Sub 1 shot of sugar-free almond syrup and top with whipped cream and marshmallows with toasted almonds. Use a candy almond flavored stick for stirring. Also, you can use a shot orange juice with orange zest or cinnamon.
- Children's Version: a few drops of any flavored syrups regular or sugar-free in the cocoa mix and milk or substitute the non-alcohol versions for adults using the apple or orange juice for the shot and some zest or cinnamon.
- Note:
- This version also makes a great gift mixed into a mason jar or any pretty gift can.
- Just add the recipe card attached and instructions.
Calories
141
141
Fat (grams)
2
2
Carbs (grams)
34
34
Sugar (grams)
25
25
Protein (grams)
1
1
Sodium (milligrams)
170
170
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More Amaretto Recipes to Try:
Amaretto Pumpkin Cheesecake
Amaretto Pistachio Fudge
Amaretto Panettone
Amaretto Sweet Potato
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2014. It was edited and re-published in 2019.