If you want a cozy drink but don’t want extra sugar, then you should try this sugar free hot cocoa mix recipe with powdered milk, without worrying about the sugar.
This Cocoa Mix is easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for keeping in your pantry.
Besides this, it’s a great option if you want to cut sugar for health, weight loss, or just for any other dietary reason.
Though it’s sugar-free, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have flavors.
I made it first and tasted this recipe, and it was really good.
It was smooth, chocolatey, which I liked, and I’m sure you will like it too.
So in this post, I’ll give you my full recipe, and tell you how you can make it step-by-step, what type of cocoa and milk powder you should use, some sugar-free sweeteners, etc.
Plus, I’ll also teach you how you can make it creamy, light, share some storage tips, and snack serving ideas.
And they will also be sugar-free.
Why Make Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe with Powdered Milk at Home?
Now, an important thing. Why do you need to make it for yourself when sugar-free hot cocoa mix is already out there in stores?
Look…. most store-bought sugar-free hot cocoa mix comes with preservatives, stabilizers, fillers, and sometimes contains too many artificial ingredients, which are not good for our health.
I won’t say their name, but some don’t even taste good.
Besides this, some cocoa mixes still sneak in hidden carbs and sugar, alcohol, which gives a weird aftertaste.
But, when you make this sugar-free hot cocoa mix with powdered milk recipe at home, you:
- Know exactly what’s inside
- You can adjust the sweetness and flavor
- Can make it creamier, richer, or dairy-free if you want
- You’re saving money because this bulk mix lasts weeks
- And it still tastes better than most boxed stuff
Also read: Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Recipe with Cocoa Powder
Ingredients You’ll Need for the Dry Mix
This is going to be the base of your homemade hot cocoa mix. You will only scoop it out and mix with hot water (or hot milk) anytime you want a cozy chocolate drink.
All ingredients are pantry staples—and no sugar, no artificial junk.
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder:
You will have to use it to bring the actual chocolate flavor.
You can use natural or Dutch-processed cocoa. But you want to make sure it’s unsweetened.
For this sugar-free hot cocoa mix, I’d prefer Hershey’s Special Dark or Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa for a deeper flavor.
1½ cups powdered milk:
This will give your drink a creamy body. It’s shelf-stable and will dissolve easily.
You can use regular nonfat dry milk or whole milk powder if you want it richer.
There are even dairy-free powdered milks now if you’re making it vegan.
¾ cup powdered erythritol or monk fruit sweetener:
You can adjust based on your preference.
I prefer powdered versions because they dissolve better.
Stevia, Swerve, Lakanto, or Allulose are also great here. And you can mix two if you want smoother sweetness.
2 tablespoons powdered heavy cream (optional):
This is optional, but if you want an ultra-creamy kinda café-style hot cocoa vibe, then you should add a little powdered cream.
It will give your drink richness without needing to add fresh cream later.
¼ teaspoon salt:
You have to add just a pinch, and it will balance all the flavors.
But, you don’t wanna skip it, otherwise it will make the cocoa taste deeper and more chocolatey.
½ teaspoon vanilla powder or cinnamon (optional):
If you want a little warmth or twist in flavor, you can add any of these to the dry mix.
Not necessary, but it will make your drink more interesting.
That’s it. No weird stuff. All shelf-stable ingredients.
Once mixed, this will last for weeks in your pantry, and every time you crave a sugar-free hot cocoa, it will be ready in 1 minute.
Also read: Strawberry Banana Chocolate Protein Smoothie Recipe
How to Make the Dry Mix (Super Simple Steps)
Now here comes the most important thing. How will you make this sugar free hot cocoa with powdered milk recipe at home?
Step 1: Sift the Cocoa Powder:
Firstly, you want to shift your cocoa powder to break up any clumps.
Because cocoa tends to lump up over time, especially if you are using dark or Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
You can use a fine mesh strainer for that. They will help you mix the cocoa powder smoothly.
Step 2: Mix All Dry Ingredients
You want to take a large mixing bowl and add the following ingredients:
- Add your sifted cocoa powder
- Powdered milk
- Sweetener
- Salt
- Optional ingredients like vanilla powder or cinnamon.
- If you’re using powdered heavy cream, add that too.
Step 3: Whisk it All Together
Use a dry whisk and blend everything well.
And, make sure there are no pockets of cocoa hiding anywhere. It should look smooth, like a light brown powder by the end.
Step 4: Store in a Jar
Finally, you can transfer this dry mix into a large airtight container.
You can also divide it into small jars for gifting or single-serve packets.
Besides this, you can label it with the date and usage instructions, especially when gifting.
That’s it, your pantry-friendly hot cocoa mix with powdered milk recipe is ready.
How to Use It (Mixing Instructions)
Now that your homemade sugar free cocoa mix is ready, here is how you will actually prepare a cup:
- Take 3 tablespoons of the mix
- Add it to a mug
- Pour in 8 oz hot water or hot almond milk, soy milk, or any milk you like
- Then, stir very well until completely dissolved
- You can also froth it for a creamy texture, or microwave it for 20 to 30 seconds more if needed
However, if you want it to be thicker, you should use less water or add some full-fat coconut milk or almond cream.
Want it creamier? Then consider using all milk instead of water.
Unsweetened vanilla almond milk will also be a great combo.
Ingredient Swaps and Customizations (Still Sugar Free)
If you want to tweak it based on your diet or taste preference, here are some things you can do:
Powdered Milk Substitutes
You should use coconut milk powder, soy milk powder, or oat milk powder if you’re avoiding dairy.
They will blend well and still keep things creamy. But sometimes they’re a little harder to find offline, but are available online.
Different Sweeteners
If erythritol doesn’t work for you, you should use monk fruit, stevia blends, or allulose.
But make sure it’s powdered, or you can also grind it first in a spice blender so it dissolves smoothly in hot water.
Add Chocolate Chips (Optional)
If you’re not following a low-carb diet, you can add some sugar-free dark chocolate chips into the mix.
They will easily melt into the drink and make it extra rich.
Add Collagen or Vegan Protein (Optional)
If you want extra nutrition, you can stir in a scoop of unflavored collagen or vegan protein right before serving.
And, make sure it’s not sweetened so it doesn’t mess with the balance.
Spice It Up
You can add a dash of cayenne pepper or pumpkin spice for a seasonal kick.
Or you can also add a drop of peppermint extract for a holiday version.
Also read: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Smoothie without Banana Recipe
How to Store Your Sugar-Free Cocoa Mix
Once your mix is made, you will want to store it the right way to keep it fresh and clump-free:
- Use a clean, dry glass jar or container with a tight lid.
- Keep it in a cool, dry place like your pantry.
- You want to avoid humidity or direct heat.
- Use within the next 2 to 3 months for best taste, though it can last even longer if sealed tightly, but I recommend you finish asap in the given time.
Tip: You can also portion it out in little gift jars; people will love these during the holidays.
What to Serve with It (Low Carb / Sugar-Free Pairings)
This cocoa is great on its own, but still, I am giving you some sugar-free and low-carb ideas to serve with it and make it a complete treat:
Almond flour cookies: You can bake a batch using almond flour, eggs, butter, and erythritol. They are crisp, nutty, and they also work well with cocoa.
Low-carb muffins: Muffins are usually made with coconut flour or flaxseed meal, sweetened with monk fruit. So they’re good, especially if you make chocolate chip or cinnamon spice flavors.
Keto marshmallows: Yes, they exist. You can buy or make them by yourself, and they’re made with gelatin and sweetener instead of sugar. So, they will melt well over hot cocoa.
Coconut whipped cream: This is a totally dairy-free and sugar-free option you can try. However, you just want to chill a can of coconut milk, scoop out the thick part, whip it, and sweeten it lightly.
Dark chocolate squares (sugar-free): If you’re someone who just likes little things on the side, you can break off a square of stevia-sweetened dark chocolate.
Nutrition Value (Per Serving)
Not exactly, but here is an estimated amount of nutrition per serving. I am assuming about 3 tablespoons of dry mix prepared with water.
- Calories: 80–100
- Protein: 4–6 grams
- Fat: 2–4 grams
- Carbohydrates: 8–10 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams (depends on sweetener used)
- Fiber: 2–3 grams
If you mix this sugar-free hot cocoa mix recipe with almond milk or add coconut cream, remember the fat will go up.
If you use oat milk, it will increase carbs.
But either way, it is still sugar-free and very easy to track.
You can also add some extra sources of protein, like collagen, cocoa nibs, etc., if you are customizing the macros.
Conclusion
This was my sugar-free hot cocoa mix recipe with powdered milk, which is very simple and quick.
And moreover, it is completely customizable and pantry-free.
You won’t need any fancy tools or expensive ingredients. Just unsweetened cocoa, powdered milk, sugar-free sweeteners that you like, and some more ingredients that I have mentioned.
And the best thing that I like about it is that it actually tastes like real hot chocolate, even without sugar, even without fresh cream.
So now you can make it and use it to make a drink.
Also, you can pair that drink with something like the almond flour cookies, coconut cream, keto muffins, etc.
This homemade sugar-free cocoa mix will fit into your cozy, guilt-free routine.
FAQs
Here’s an important question regarding the Sugar-Free Hot Coke Mix with Powdered Milk recipe.
Can I make this cocoa mix dairy-free or vegan?
Absolutely, it is 100% possible. If you want to make it dairy-free or vegan, you have to swap the regular powdered milk with coconut milk powder, soy milk powder, or any other plant-based milk powder.
These are easily available online. You can buy them from Amazon. Or you can even check out at the neighboring Walmart or any other store.
But make sure that your cocoa and sweetener are vegan-friendly. Plus, you can skip powdered cream if you are avoiding dairy products.
What’s the best sweetener for this sugar-free cocoa mix?
Well, it depends on your taste. Everybody has a different one. But if you ask me personally, then I recommend powdered monk fruit, erythritol, and stevia plants.
The powder works and will dissolve better than granules.
Besides this, you can also mix monk fruit plus erythritol for a smooth flavor.
However, if you are sensitive to cooling after the test, you can try allulose or lakanto.
How do I make it thicker and creamier without adding sugar?
If you want to make it thicker and creamy textured, then you should use less water and add coconut cream, almond cream, or full-fat almond milk instead of just water.
Besides this, you should add a spoonful of sugar-free dark chocolate chips while heating it to give it a café-style richness without adding extra sugar.
Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe with Powdered Milk
Ingredients
Dry Mix Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder natural or Dutch-processed
- 1½ cups powdered milk nonfat or whole milk powder
- ¾ cup powdered erythritol or monk fruit sweetener
- 2 tbsp powdered heavy cream optional, for creamy texture
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vanilla powder or cinnamon optional
Optional Mix-ins (Optional but good for variation):
- Sugar-free dark chocolate chips
- Collagen powder or vegan protein
- Dash of cayenne peppermint extract, or pumpkin spice
Instructions
Step 1: Sift Cocoa Powder
- Use a fine mesh strainer or sifter to sift 1 cup cocoa powder to remove clumps.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a large bowl, add the sifted cocoa powder, 1½ cups powdered milk, ¾ cup sweetener, ¼ tsp salt, and optional ingredients like vanilla powder or powdered cream.
Step 3: Whisk Until Smooth
- Use a dry whisk to mix until well combined and smooth light brown in color.
Step 4: Store the Mix
- Transfer to a large airtight jar or small gift containers.
- Label with instructions if gifting.
- Store in pantry for 2–3 months.
Notes
As a passionate home cook and food enthusiast, I’m specialize in recreating popular café and restaurant-style chocolate recipes at home. I have experience in testing and customizing various chocolate-based dishes, I focus on using fresh, high-quality ingredients to make preservative-free, delicious treats. My goal is to help chocolate lovers enjoy their favorite recipes with a homemade touch and personalized twists.
