Eats - Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

Hello! Unfortunately, cool weather seems to be here to stay (no surprise, I guess, since after all it is almost December!). One way I like to keep warm is by sipping hot chocolate. I'm not crazy about those canisters or packets of instant hot chocolate mix; I don't think they taste all that great and come with lists of weird ingredients as well. 

Homemade recipes for instant hot chocolate mix abound, and I've tried several. One of the more common recipes calls for non-dairy creamer and chocolate drink mix. More weird ingredients - no thanks. Others are much the same but call for baking cocoa - better, but it doesn't dissolve as well. Same with those recipes that call for adding chocolate chips to the basic dry ingredients - adds a richer chocolate flavor, to be sure, but the chips also need more stirring to dissolve. 

Then, a few years ago, I found the following recipe on the Internet; the person who posted it said it had come from Sunset magazine. But  when I just completed an Internet search for more info about the recipe, different Sunset recipes for hot chocolate came up instead. But here's the recipe I use (there will be variations listed at the end):

Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

3 cups powdered milk
2 cups chocolate baking chips  
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (optional)

Put half of the powdered milk in a blender or food processor, add half of the chips and whirl until finely ground. If using a blender, stop motor once to scrape mixture away from blades; do not continue mixing after finely ground or the mixture may clump. 

Pour mixture into a bowl and repeat to grind remaining milk and chips. Stir in marshmallows if using. Spoon into jar (or jars) and cover tightly. Can be stored for up to six months. 

To use: place 1/3 cup of mix into a mug and add 3/4 cup boiling water; stir until well combined. 

Makes 4-5 cups mix, enough for 12-15 servings. 

Variations: 
- use other flavors of baking chips
- used 1 1/2 cups malted milk powder in place of same amount of the
  powdered milk
- add 1/2 cup instant coffee powder with the powdered milk
- add a teaspoon of your favorite spice, such as cinnamon, nutmeg or
  cardamon. 
- add a tablespoon of grated orange peel
- come up with your own variations

Enjoy!