How to Make Homemade Hot Cocoa

This article is for chocolate lovers. If you've only had the kind of cocoa from a powdered mix, you need to read on to learn how to make homemade hot cocoa!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp. water
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

1. Mix water, cocoa powder, and sugar in a small pot until smooth.

2. Heat carefully until just simmering.

3. Add milk and heat until hot.

4. Remove from heat and mix in vanilla extract, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Heating the cocoa with water before adding milk brings out the chocolate flavor.
• Dutch-process and natural cocoa powders are very different. Try both to see what you like.
• In Step 2, be careful not to burn the mixture. Chocolate burns easily.