Delicately spiced hot cocoa mix

There is something quite magical about a frosty winter evening, the kind where cold hands are warmed with mugs of steaming hot cocoa, and blankets are draped accordingly.

In this recipe, good quality cocoa or cacao powder is blended with golden coconut sugar, powdered coconut milk and a hint of spice to create a calming and enlivening hot cocoa mix. Simply spoon into a mug, and top with hot water – it couldn’t be any easier.

makes three cups

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ cups good-quality cocoa or cacao

• 1 cup coconut milk powder or whole milk powder

• ¾ cup coconut sugar

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ¼ teaspoon fine pink Himalayan sea salt

METHOD

Sift the cocoa or cacao and milk powder into a medium-sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine evenly. Transfer to a medium-sized jar or airtight container.

To serve, spoon two heaped tablespoons of the cocoa mix into a mug, then top up with boiling water.

Store the dry mix in the pantry for up to one year.

Extracted from Homemade, by Eleanor Ozich, published by Penguin.