How can I make flavored hot chocolate mixes inexpensively?

[Skylark]

Although I'm pretty thrifty already, this year I'm scaling down my normal Christmas gift-giving and giving homemade dry mixes of bean soups, cornbread, and probably hot chocolate as well. I'd like to jazz up the hot chocolate mix a bit. The basic mix is very good and inexpensive, but it'd be nice to present a cousin or aunt with a homemade gourmet variety. Although I'm not vegan nor are any of my relatives, vegan flavorings are always preferred. I already have the decorative canning jars I intend to put the mixes in.

I don't want the flavorings to be anything expensive, either. Some of those powdered creamers can get pricey. Cinnamon is one idea I had, and I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled at the scratch-and-dent grocery for powdered flavorings. What's worked for you?

[*AHIMSA*]

If you don't care if they are vegan, it's fairly easy. Cocoa powder, powdered milk and creamer, powdered vanilla.

[Digger]

For something different, maybe you could make a Spicy Hot Cocoa Mix (http://www.recipezaar.com/Spicy-Hot-Cocoa-Mix-266413)

Could be used with either soy milk or regular milk.

[*AHIMSA*]

If you don't care if they are vegan, it's fairly easy. Cocoa powder, powdered milk and creamer, powdered vanilla.

AND sugar, obviously. :o

Cinnamon's nice too.

[Kiz]

And whole vanilla pods. Throw a few vanilla pods into the cocoa/sugar mix and let it sit... the vanilla flavour will seep through the mix.

[*AHIMSA*]

Nice, yes, but sooooooooo expensive!

[Skylark]

If you don't care if they are vegan, it's fairly easy. Cocoa powder, powdered milk and creamer, powdered vanilla.

Ah, sorry, I forgot to state I will be using the Tightwad Gazette recipe, which includes just dry milk, cocoa, sugar and salt. No creamer necessary, and I've been drinking that mix my entire life and can't tell it apart from the Carnation mixes or whathaveyou. No, the mix will not be vegan unless I find a fantastic deal on soy/rice/almond milk powder.


For something different, maybe you could make a Spicy Hot Cocoa Mix (http://www.recipezaar.com/Spicy-Hot-Cocoa-Mix-266413)

Could be used with either soy milk or regular milk.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks!


And whole vanilla pods. Throw a few vanilla pods into the cocoa/sugar mix and let it sit... the vanilla flavour will seep through the mix.


Nice, yes, but sooooooooo expensive!

Good idea.... need to find some cheap vanilla-flavored powder. I wonder if instant pudding mix, vanilla flavor, would taste good. I'll try it and report back. I hear you can also use jello mixes to flavor hot chocolate, but depending on the ingredients that would have gelatin in it and I'm not keen on that.

[jenna]

skylark, do you have a link to that hot chocolate recipe? i'm thinking dry mixes are the way to go this year for us, too, as we're having to scale back tremendously.

[PlaybackGuru]

what about orange zest?

[*AHIMSA*]

what about orange zest?

The moisture would be an issue unless it was dried (it would cause clumping and the mix would get stale).

[Gita]

Someone makes drops of flavoring for coffee. I have some and once bough hazelnut and rasberry. They are mainly made for coffee (like a shot of flavor at Starbucks). They last forever, so the money is well spent. I am sure if you went to a store that sells gourmet coffee things, they might have some there.

Another thing you might do if you like things like orange and chocolate is to use natural flavorings like orange peels, cloves, dry spices like pumpkin pie spice or grahm masala (which I love, and makes chi with assam tea and milk or soy milk). Or check the "flavorings" section near the spices in the grocery store. You can most likely get mint, hazelnut, vanilla, at least. These are usually concentrated and you need only a tiny drop to flavor something. A small bottle will last for years. These are edible and made for making cookies and candy.

This would make quite a few flavor selections for you, and you could flavor coffee, and probably other things.

[LadyFaile]

cinnamon and nutmeg are the obvious choices. i wanted to try this in the past and didn't find anything so i just paired mine up with peppermint teabags, but it didn't go over very well. i got soymilk powder in bulk, it was pretty cheap, but i didn't really care for the taste

[LadyFaile]

crushed up candy canes!!!

[rabid_child]

You only need one vanilla bean to flavor a whole bunch of sugar. You can even cook with the inside and just put the pod in the sugar. It make cost a few bucks for the bean, but you can definitely get a lot of sugar out of it.

[cstadt]

Ohh I agree with crushed up candy canes! You can get all kinds of candy sticks for cheap-- even at cracker barrel. There's lots of flavors.

but I love minty hot chocolate

[crazy4mango]

Costco is amazing, they have a hundred swiss miss packets for like 5 dollars :D I just add coffee creamer that's flavored, or cinnamon sticks, or mint leaves :) Have fun! :thumbsup:

[karenlovessnow]

crushed up candy canes!!!


Ohh I agree with crushed up candy canes! You can get all kinds of candy sticks for cheap-- even at cracker barrel. There's lots of flavors.

but I love minty hot chocolate

:yes:

[ripvanfish]

Ohh I agree with crushed up candy canes! You can get all kinds of candy sticks for cheap-- even at cracker barrel. There's lots of flavors.

but I love minty hot chocolate

+1!

You could also include several of the mini candy canes as "stir sticks"

[Koehnae]

Not quite what you asked for but similar. This mix is a huge hit for our gift recipients and if you buy the bulk or generic brands it can be very cheap to make. The Red Hots make this a tasty alternative to hot cocoa and a soothing drink for sore throats.

2 cups instant powdered lemon iced tea mix (about 3 oz.)
3 tablespoons powdered orange-pineapple drink mix (or just orange)
6 tablespoons Red Hots cinnamon candies

Combine ingredients and place mixture into a jar.

To make drink:
Measure one heaping tablespoonful of mix and place in drinking mug. Pour 1 cup of hot water over mix. Stir well until red hots melt. Sip!

[*AHIMSA*]

Not quite what you asked for but similar. This mix is a huge hit for our gift recipients and if you buy the bulk or generic brands it can be very cheap to make. The Red Hots make this a tasty alternative to hot cocoa and a soothing drink for sore throats.

2 cups instant powdered lemon tea mix (about 3 oz.)
3 tablespoons powdered orange-pineapple drink mix (or just orange)
6 tablespoons Red Hots cinnamon candies

Combine ingredients and place mixture into a jar.

To make drink:
Measure one heaping tablespoonful of mix and place in drinking mug. Pour 1 cup of hot water over mix. Stir well until red hots melt. Sip!
Wow. That sounds so nasty! :worried: Lemon iced tea mix with orange-pineapple fruit drink and melted cinnamon candies? :-/

Are you serious or joking? :confused:

[Koehnae]

Wow. That sounds so nasty! :worried: Lemon iced tea mix with orange-pineapple fruit drink and melted cinnamon candies? :-/

Are you serious or joking? :confused:

I thought so too when my fiance told me what was in it, but it was awesome. Sweet, warm, and cinnamonny... yum.

[LadyFaile]

i wasn't gonna say anything but i thought it sounded nasty too lol

[ripvanfish]

i wasn't gonna say anything but i thought it sounded nasty too lol

Clearly, I was the only person that read it and thought "YUM."

[ForestGlade34]

How can I make flavored hot chocolate mixes inexpensively?

have Chris Rock comedian put his brown finger in your soya milk and let him turn it!

[karenlovessnow]

Hmmm...not sure obtaining Chris Rock would be all that inexpensive....