Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Mix

I've been itching to publish this post for a while now, but these are my boys' Christmas gifts for their teachers this year, and, since a couple of the teachers are Facebook friends of mine and my blog publishes to my Facebook page, I had to wait.  Well, the class Christmas parties were Friday, so now I'm safe!  My grandmother made a version of this cocoa mix and sent it to my mom in college care packages.  And then my mom did the same for me.  She and her friends would also put together packages of cocoa mix for various Wives Club craft fairs during my dad's Marine Corps career.  It's the best hot cocoa you can imagine, and this recipe makes a ton, so you don't need to worry about running out!

1 25-ounce box non-fat dry milk (like Carnation)

1 18-ounce jar coffee creamer (Coffee Mate)

1 16-ounce box powdered chocolate drink mix (Nestles Quick)

1 heaping cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup ground cinnamon

1/3 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine all ingredients in a huge mixing bowl.  Ensure thoroughly combined and all ingredients equally distributed.  

To make a cup of hot cocoa, boil 1 cup of water and stir in 1/3 cup of dry mix.  Stir well.  Add a splash of vanilla and a dollop of whipped cream to make it extra special!

Giving your cocoa mix as a gift?  Here are some ideas for packaging:

-Zip-lock bag of cocoa mix placed inside a decorated brown paper lunch bag

-Mason jar with pretty ribbon

-Like I did it below:  I placed a single serving (1/3 cup) of the mix into a clear cello bag.  Place a few of the single serve bags into a larger gingham sack, along with instructions on how to make hot chocolate.  Tie up the sack with a Christmas tag or jingle bells, and place the sack into a mug!