DIY Camping Hot Chocolate Mix
Coffee may get a lot of attention as a camping drink of choice, but (you may not believe this) not everyone needs a steady stream of caffeine to survive. And even if you're the biggest java junkie on the planet, you could stand to vary your liquid intake every now and then.
Store-bought cocoa is a cheap and simple choice for campfire sipping. Sure, you could grab a box and toss it into the back of your car just before you head out. Creating something of your own for your next trip puts more of your personal stamp on the journey, though, and allows you to know exactly what's going into your cocoa?and your body.
This DIY Camping Hot Chocolate Mix recipe is perfect for any member of your party, from picky kids to heat-loving gourmets. That's because it can be adjusted and tweaked to satisfy just about every palate?another advantage to this method over the kind that comes processed and pre-packaged.
The easiest way to create cocoa the whole campsite will love is to mix up a couple of batches ahead of time, basing them on the tastes of the people you'll be camping with. A safe bet is to bring one bag of plain powder, along with one or more of the variations listed below the basic recipe.
Ingredients
2 cups of powdered instant skim milk (approximately 2 packets)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cocoa powder (I used half light cocoa powder and half dark)
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate chips (your choice of milk, semi sweet or dark)
Method
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse several times until everything is combined and the chocolate chips are in pieces. Allow the mixture to settle for a few minutes before removing the lid. This keeps dust down in your kitchen. Scoop into a tight-sealing storage container. This recipe makes approximately 6 cups of hot cocoa powder mix.
When ready to drink, add 3 Tablespoons to a cup of hot water or milk. Stir until the chocolate chips are melted. Enjoy!
Variations
For a holiday treat, add 2 large or 4 small candy canes before pulsing the ingredients in the food processor. This gives the drink a peppermint kick.
For Mexican hot chocolate, add one teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of cayenne pepper to the mix. (This is my personal favorite, and I never say no if, somehow, there's a chance for whipped cream on top.)
For 'tipsy' cocoa, add a shot of your favorite liqueur. I recommend Irish cream, coffee liqueur, or whipped cream vodka.
Each type of cocoa can be stored in a separate jar, labeled to indicate what's inside and how many scoops to use for the perfect cup. We find that glass jars are ideal for these purposes. You have to be careful when packing glass to take camping, but a little extra attention is worth it to us for the ability to employ reusable containers that keep what's inside fresh for months.
Want to go full Martha Stewart? Make your own marshmallows to add to your homemade cocoa. Just be sure you're ready to live with a new nickname based on the infamous crafting diva, because your friends will?lovingly, I'm sure?decide to give you a hard time for your DIY prowess, even as they come back for seconds. Or thirds.
(And hey, if you really must have your caffeine, any of these cocoa mixes can be added to hot coffee instead of water or milk. But you probably knew that already.)