How to Make Homemade Hot Chocolate

A simple, step-by-step guide for kids to make delicious, creamy hot chocolate from scratch in their own kitchen. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Mix your dry ingredients. In your small saucepan, add the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Use your whisk to stir them together until there are no big lumps.
2. Add the milk. Pour in about 1/4 cup of the milk. Whisk this into the dry ingredients until it turns into a smooth, dark paste. This helps prevent lumps later!
3. Heat it up. Ask a grown-up to place the pan on the stove over medium heat. Slowly pour in the rest of the milk while whisking constantly. Keep stirring until the milk is steaming, but not boiling.
4. Finish and serve. Remove the pan from the heat with a grown-up's help. Stir in the vanilla extract, carefully pour the mixture into your favorite mug, and let it cool for a minute before taking a sip.