World's Best Hot Chocolate {'Cause Baby, It's Cold Outside!}

When I wanted a mug of hot chocolate, I used to rip open the ol' Swiss Miss packets. Because for my whole life, that's what hot chocolate was.

And, I have loved - I mean LOVED - hot chocolate for my whole life.

My brothers and sisters and I would come in from the snow, peel off our snowsuits, throw them on the floor by the back door, and Mom would have the little blue box of hot chocolate out on the counter along with our mismatched mug collection and the tea kettle would be buzzing until finally - it screached and hollered and made a big ol' fuss.

Then - WE GOT OUR HOT CHOCOLATE ON.

If we were lucky, there were dehydrated, pea-sized little marshmallows in the bottom of the packets. "You bought the marshmallow kind? YESSSSS!"

Right? You, too?

And, when we were finished, we'd play Pac-Man and Space Invaders and Pitfall on our Atari while we smacked our chocolate-y lips to have been given such goodness.

I still buy Swiss Miss for my littles from time to time. Because I'm nostalgic that way and it's just easy and LORD KNOWS we run out of milk around here.

But, for me - for our guests, for gifts, for most of the time - I make this recipe for hot chocolate. My sister got this recipe from a friend many years ago, and she and I will serve each other no other hot chocolate.

What I love about it:

It's a dry mix (keeps forever), but there is no powdered milk.
That unexpected hint of cinnamon.
It makes a big ol' pot. Or a mug. Or anywhere in between.
REAL chocolate.
I have the ingredients in my pantry - always.

And, it's the best. If you're gonna claim something is "World's Best", it better be.

This hot chocolate is THEEE best.

You will never want to drink Swiss Miss, again, because you will be so spoiled rotten by your homemade kind. And, you will save beaucoup bucks because you won't be hittin' up Starbucks for hot chocolate every mornin'.

A couple of tips:

1. I always make a double batch of the mix and keep it in a tupperware container in my pantry.

2. I usually use whole milk because there is a bit of water in the recipe. And, whole milk makes it richer and creamier and so delicious. {You can use any kind of milk (skim, lowfat) - just try it at least once with whole.}

3. This hot chocolate mix makes a GREAT gift. Mix up a batch, put it in a mason jar or tupperware container and attach the instructions. Your friends will love it!

As we head into the coldest time of year, make up a batch, a pot, or a mug of homemade, really good, really comforting WORLD'S BEST Hot Chocolate.

Y'all will love this recipe!

Enjoy!
____________________________________________________________

World's Best Hot Chocolate

Mix:

8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (I use mini-chocolate chips)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Store mix in an airtight container.

For 4 servings:

2/3 cup cocoa mix
1/4 cup water
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large pan on low heat, stir cocoa mix and water until melted. Add milk and beat with whisk until smooth. Heat on low until hot. Add vanilla. Serve.

*For a single serving, add 2 heaping tablespoons of mix in the bottom of a mug. Pour 1/8 cup boiling water (don't measure - just add enough to cover the chocolate) and stir until the chocolate melts. Add milk to the top of your mug and add a splash of vanilla. Microwave until heated.