Janice Freeland Photography

Best Homemade Cocoa

Nothing is better when the holidays begin to roll around than a cup of the perfect hot cocoa. Making cocoa can be a really fun activity to do with friends, especially when it’s the holiday season of your senior year. If you’re going to be heading off to college soon, you want to really create those special memories with the people you love before you go. There are lots of recipes online, but I’ve adapted a bunch to this one, which I love and use every year. You can even make it in a crock pot (it makes quite a lot), and serve it at a party. It is great to fill your house with the perfect smell.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

  • 8 cups whole milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (use real vanilla)
  • 1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Toppings: crushed peppermint, whip cream, chocolate syrup

Mix all dry ingredients together with a whisk to incorporate. Add milk, vanilla and simmer until sugar is fully mixed in and no longer granular. Simmer over low heat so the milk doesn’t burn, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If you want, you can put it all into a crock pot on low until it turns into a creamy mixture. Serve in mugs, and add toppings.

Consider having friends and family over to celebrate and serve your delicious cocoa! If you want, you can make the dry mix (leave out the milk) and divide it into individual baggies (makes 8) and give it away to friends or neighbors!

Stay tuned for more holiday tips and tricks for all our amazing clients!

Janice Freeland has been in business of photography for 15 years after graduating from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with honors. She first specialized in FINE ART photography and now she specializes in HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. Janice Freeland is available for sessions in South Carolina and Georgia. Janice Freeland Photography’s senior work has been NATIONALLY FEATURED and PUBLISHED in several printed magazines and on several blogs. Her Fine Art work has been PUBLISHED in several books and magazines and her work has been showed in several galleries around the country and abroad.