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WINTER AND CHRISTMAS · A LITTLE HOMEMADE HAPPINESS

Cozy holiday hot cocoa

A small saucepan of cocoa for a Christmas story night or a paper-craft afternoon. Cinnamon is optional, and the recipe leaves time for safe sipping.

20 min total6 small servings, about 6 fl oz eachAges 6+ measuring with an adultEasy4 illustrated steps ↓

Prep 5 min · Cook 10 min · Cool / set 5 min

Allow 5 minutes of prep, about 10 at the stove and at least 5 to cool. Adults handle all heating and pouring. Cooling time depends on cup size and room temperature.

Smooth hot cocoa in six small ceramic cups without candy toppings.
A serving suggestion for the finished dish.

A LITTLE INSPIRATION

Something good.
Made together.

See the finished dish, gather the ingredients and follow the four illustrated stages below. Use the written quantities, timings and doneness cues as you cook.

Gather your ingredients ↓Follow the steps ↓

Food and step images are AI-generated illustrations, not test-kitchen photographs. About our images

Let’s cook something good.

  1. Cocoa powder and sugar mixed in a saucepan before heating.

    Step 1: Mix

    Away from the stove, whisk sugar, cocoa and salt together in the saucepan. An adult gradually adds the hot water, stirring to make a smooth mixture.

  2. Dark cocoa syrup gently bubbling while a whisk stirs it.

    Step 2: Bubble gently

    An adult brings the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring, then keeps stirring as it bubbles for 2 minutes.

  3. Milk being added to a saucepan of cocoa mixture.

    Step 3: Add milk

    Add milk and stir over low-to-medium heat until hot and steaming; do not boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and optional cinnamon.

  4. Six small cups of cocoa resting on a table to cool.

    Step 4: Cool and sip

    Pour into six heat-safe cups. Wait at least 5 minutes, then check the temperature before sipping; children's portions may need longer. Serve without hard candy or marshmallow toppings for young children.

A little help: Mixing the cocoa with sugar before adding liquid helps break up powder lumps.

KEEP THE GOOD TIME GOING

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