Cocoa Mixes in Jars- Sorta

Our annual New Year's Eve seafood overeating-Tripoley playing bash was postponed this year because several of the usual crowd had other plans (Lorah was officiating at a New Year's Day wedding, and Diane had agreed to babysit a beloved great-nephew). It's just as well- we wouldn't have gotten out of our driveway on NYE anyway, what with the 35mph winds and 11" or so of new snow.

So we're getting together this weekend instead. One of our traditions is to give each couple small gifts. I decided this year to make neck coolers, and some mixes in jars. I'm giving everyone Cranberry Hootycreeks because the name still makes me laugh, and I've been experimenting with cocoas in jars. I found a few intrigueing recipes, and I've been tinkering with them- adding and subtracting ingredients and amounts, until the results suited me. These cocoas are thick and creamy, and very chocolaty. And yummy.

Here are the recipes (sorry, no pics). And also: no jars. These cocoas have to be blended thoroughly before use, which can't be done in a quart jar (unless you want to make a full batch all at once). I decided to forgo the presentation, and just package the powders in gallon-size zip-lock bags. Not as pretty, but a whole lot easier to dispense. Besides which, I thought the original recipes were too thick, so I added more powdered milk, so the mix probably won't fit in a quart jar now anyway.

Mexican Cocoa Mix

In a bowl, stir until thoroughly blended:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips (or chopped bittersweet chocolate)
1 tbsp cinnamon

Store in a gallon zip-lock bag.
To use: stir 1/3 cup of thoroughly blended mix into 1 1/3 cup of boiling water. Whisk until chocolate pieces have melted and ingredients are dissolved. Stir with a cinnamon stick, and top with marshmallows or whipped cream, as desired. Makes about 17 servings.
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Mocha Cocoa Mix

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup instant coffee granules

Store in a gallon zip-lock bag.

To use: stir 1/3 cup of thoroughly blended mix into 1 1/3 cup of boiling water. Whisk until chocolate pieces have melted and ingredients are dissolved. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream, as desired. Makes about 17 servings.

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Lower Carb Cocoa Mix

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 cups Granulated Splenda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

Store in a gallon zip-lock bag.

To use: stir 1/3 cup of thoroughly blended mix into 1 1/3 cup of boiling water. Whisk until chocolate pieces have melted and ingredients are dissolved. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream, as desired. Makes about 17 servings.

Note: this mix is not without calories or carbs, but a serving is less than 100 calories, and about 12 gr of carb.