How To Make All Bakery: How to Make Hot Chocolate Mix from Pure Cocoa

Hot chocolate with marshmallows Mmm... hot chocolate. It's a great winter drink, and it's even better when it doesn't come from a mix.

Steps

Get a mug. It is traditional that cocoa is drunk from a mug but a cup will do if that's all you have. You need to know the capacity of the mug. Most are 10 oz. but some are 8 and some more than 10.
Put one teaspoon of sugar in the mug.
Measure out one rounded teaspoon of cocoa powder and put it in the mug. You may want to use more but for the first time, start with one.
Add two teaspoons of water. The next step is what paint chemists call "wetting out the pigment." Stir the sugar, water and cocoa until the cocoa is completely wetted out. You can tell this by the appearance of the surface. If it is reflective, you have wetted out the cocoa. If it is not, you need to stir more and possibly add a few more drops of water.
Add about one inch of milk and stir to completely mix your cocoa paste and milk. Fill the rest of the mug with milk, up to about 1/2 an inch off the top. The mix will expand about 5% on heating, so don't over-fill.
Put the mug in the microwave. For an 8 oz cup, heat (on highest setting) for one minute, 45 seconds. For a 10 oz cup, heat 2 minutes, 10 seconds.
Watch the cup for the last 20 seconds. For some reason, the cocoa tends to foam up. Usually this does not happen but, just in case, watch. If it does, open the door and stir. Take out the spoon, close the door and finish heating.
Enjoy!

If your taste runs to more cocoa, use more.
Sprinkle with cinnamon or extra cocoa powder over the top if desired.
A dollop of whipped cream can also be added if desired - but this is getting into the unhealthy side of things!
Add marshmallows if you like them. If you are a vegetarian, purchase vegetarian marshmallows from your health food store.
If you make the hot chocolate using a kettle rather than a microwave, some people prefer the hot water to be poured straight onto the cocoa powder and then add the milk; this is to avoid a "scalded" taste to the milk. This is a personal choice, you may or may not detect the difference. Mix well, whichever way you choose to pour your milk (and/or water).
Leave out the sugar if you like the strong, bitter taste of cocoa. It's an acquired taste but it is really, really good if you get used to it.
Cocoa still carries the anti-oxidants found in chocolate, so enjoy without guilt.
Vegetarians and vegans can substitute soy milk, rice milk, oat milk etc. for dairy milk. Vanilla soy milk adds quite a delicious touch if you purchase a good quality brand.

Don't attempt to overheat. Also note item about last 20 seconds of heating (above).
TAKE THE SPOON OUT BEFORE YOU PUT THE CUP IN THE MICROWAVE!