Homemade Candy Cane Hot Cocoa Mix

By sandiB2010

This scrumptious homemade candy cane hot cocoa mix makes the perfect gift for everyone on your “nice” list. Dark chocolate adds depth, crushed candy canes give it a minty twist and the white chocolate rounds it all out. It comes together incredibly quickly with the help of a food processor. Then just fill a few plain pint-size mason jars, dress ‘em up with a label, screw a circle of festive fabric onto the lid, and make friends and family happy and cozy.

Ingredients

• 5 cups Dutch process cocoa powder
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 (3.5-ounce) dark chocolate bars (I use Lindt 90% cacao midnight dark chocolate)
• 4 (3.5 ounce) white chocolate bars (I used Lindt white chocolate bars)
• 15-20 candy canes

Details

Servings 7
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 20mins
Adapted from kitchentreaty.com

Preparation

Step 1

Put the chocolate bars in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This will help you grind them in the food processor without the chocolate melting.

In a very large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, and kosher salt.

Break the dark chocolate and white chocolate bars into the food processor and pulse until the chocolate is ground into small crumb-size bits. Add to the cocoa powder mixture.

Break the candy canes into pieces and add to the food processor. Pulse until they are ground. Add to the cocoa powder mixture and chocolate.

Stir everything together, then add to the food processor in batches and grind until the mixture is a fine powder consistency.

Add to mason jars and gift away!

To make the cocoa, add two heaping tablespoons cocoa mix to one cup (8 ounces) warm milk and add a candy cane stir stick.