This is a quick and easy recipe to make either for your own pantry stash, or scoop it into a jar or bag to give as a gift, maybe for teachers or office staff. Individualize each gift of hot chocolate mix by using one of the variations listed below. Dress it up even more with some chocolate dipped spoons, or put together a gift basket that includes the mix, spoons, and a special mug to go along with it.

Just be sure, if you give it as a gift, that you write out the recipe and directions on a card.

Ingredients:
3 cups instant dry milk
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)

Directions:

• Put 1 1/2 cups dry milk and 1 cup chips in food processor or blender, whirl until finely ground. If using a blender, stop motor once to scrape mixture away from blades.
• Be careful to not continue mixing after finely ground or the chocolate will begin to melt and the mixture may clump.
• Pour into bag or jar, repeat with remaining half of milk and chips.
• Cover tightly. Use, or store airtight up to 6 months.
• For each serving of hot chocolate, place 3 heaping tbsp. mix into a mug. Add 3/4 cup boiling water and stir until well combined.

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

Variations:
Chocolate Mocha Mix: Add 1/2 instant coffee powder with the dry milk.
Orange-Cinnamon Mix: Thoroughly stir in with marshmallows 1 tbsp. grated orange
peel and 2 tsp. cinnamon.
Malted Milk Hot Chocolate: Instead of using all dry nonfat milk, substitute 1/2 of the dry milk with malted milk powder, or chocolate malted milk powder.
Mint Chocolate: substitute mint chocolate chips
Raspberry Chocolate: substitute raspberry chocolate chips
Milk Chocolate: substitute milk chocolate chips

Dress It Up:
Get some plastic spoons and dip the spoon end only in melted chocolate chips; sprinkle with non-pareils or colored sugar sprinkles if desired. Let the chocolate set up. Wrap a spoon or two (depending on who the gift is for) in a piece of cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon. Include this with your gift of homemade hot chocolate mix.