Homemade Chocolate Milk

Written by
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Anita Schecter
Tested by
Victoria Heydt Reviewed on 04/30/20 by
Victoria Heydt is a food photographer, stylist, and editor. An Institute of Culinary Education grad, she also develops and tests recipes.
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Victoria Heydt
Updated 08/06/20
Chocolate milk recipe

The Spruce / Cara Cormack
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Serving: 1 serving
  • Yield: 1 drink
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
149 Calories
5g Fat
17g Carbs
9g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 149
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 127mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 314mg 24%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 397mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chocolate milk is easy to make at home from scratch, and you don't need a bottle of chocolate syrup. This recipe is made with real cocoa powder and just a little sugar for sweetness. Both kids and adults are going to love its taste.

Unlike powdered chocolate milk mixes that are filled with preservatives and hard-to-pronounce ingredients, you only need three simple ingredients for this chocolate milk recipe. You have total control over what goes into your milk and can feel better about what your family is drinking.

Every aspect of this recipe can be customized. For instance, use your favorite type of milk, whether it's dairy or alternatives like almond or soy milk. By using unsweetened cocoa powder, you can adjust the sweetness to taste with more or less sugar. It's also easy to scale it up for a big batch that is ready to drink in the fridge. You can even warm it up for hot cocoa or add a little extra flavor.

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 ounces of milk (any type)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for chocolate milk
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. Pour the milk into a glass and slowly add cocoa powder while blending with an immersion blender, spoon, or a small whisk. An immersion blender or a small whisk works best because it reduces the clumping of the cocoa powder.

    Pour milk in glass
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Add powdered sugar until well blended.

    Blend chocolate
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  4. Serve immediately or cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to drink. Enjoy.

    Serve chocolate milk
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Tips

  • If you do refrigerate it, make sure to give the milk a good stir or shake before drinking. The cocoa powder and sugar may gravitate to the bottom, creating a "sludge." 
  • Make the chocolate milk by the half-gallon or even gallon: Blend the milk with the other ingredients using a regular blender instead of an immersion blender, and transfer it into a leakproof plastic pitcher. Be sure to shake the pitcher before pouring a glass.

Recipe Variation

  • Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg for a hint of spice.
  • For a sugar-free version, substitute stevia for the powdered sugar. Start small and blend it in, adding more if needed to suit your taste.
  • You can make hot chocolate with the same ingredients. Simply heat milk on low and add the cocoa powder and sugar. Stir until well blended and to the desired temperature. Serve immediately. Top it with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Is Homemade Chocolate Milk Healthier?

The main ingredient in many powdered chocolate milk mixes is sugar, not cocoa. The ingredient lists on chocolate milk—including sugar-free and bottled versions—are often long and confusing. Some labels also indicate that it may include milk, soy, or wheat, which some people are allergic to. When making your own chocolate milk, you can tailor it to your family's nutritional needs. This recipe includes very little sugar, and you can reduce calories by choosing skim or fat-free milk. If someone is allergic to dairy, switch to almond, oat, rice, or soy milk. Kids prefer flavored milk and studies have shown that it can help them meet their daily calcium needs with few negative effects. And yet, chocolate milk is indulgent and not as healthy as white milk, so it is best to enjoy it in moderation.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Fayet-moore F. Effect of flavored milk vs plain milk on total milk intake and nutrient provision in children. Nutr Rev. 2016;74(1):1-17.

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