This recipe for Chocolate Milk for One makes one cup of amazing, delicious, really good chocolate milk with just four ingredients.
Hey, did you know that (under very specific circumstances) chocolate milk can be considered a “health food”?
A couple summers ago, I was putting on some serious running mileage and struggling with crashing after my long runs. I did a little research and discovered that the most easily accessible recommended recovery drink for distance runners is actually chocolate milk!
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! <–That was my reaction.
I added 8 to 12 ounces of chocolate milk to the end of anything over 12 miles and I never crashed again. It was *amazing*. Plus, my local dairy sells some absolutely killer chocolate milk, so it was fun to have an excuse to indulge.
Two years and an injury later, and my long runs are not all that long anymore, so I don’t have a good excuse to buy a gallon of the stuff. But I still get a craving for some really good chocolate milk every once in a while.
So now I make just one cup.
This recipe makes 8 ounces of really good chocolate milk. And you can make it in your microwave.
There are only four ingredients, milk (the higher fat the tastier), cocoa powder, sugar, and a tiny bit of water. You heat 1/4 of the milk with the rest of the ingredients to make a chocolate syrup and then mix it with the remaining milk which cools everything down so it’s ready within about two minutes.
It’s great if you need a long-run recovery drink–just throw it together while you are shoveling down breakfast, and have it waiting in the fridge for when you can back.
And it’s perfect if you are just craving a glass of chocolate milk, because maybe your long run wasn’t all that long today, but darn it, you still deserve something delicious. 😉
Chocolate Milk for One
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (5g) cocoa powder*
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup milk , divided (any percentage*)
- 1 tablespoon (12g) sugar
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe cup or mug, combine cocoa powder and water. Microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, until steaming, and stir until very smooth. Add 1/4 cup of the milk and the sugar, and microwave for an additional 15 to 30 seconds, until steaming. Stir until completely mixed. Stir in remaining milk and enjoy.
Notes
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.
Leo says
Chocolate milk is chocolate milk, right? WRONG. This recipe is so much better than storebought. I’m often really picky about the taste or texture of things with preservatives or smoothers, or some of the other things that storebought chocolate milk or chocolate syrup have in them, but I’ve been craving choccy milk because of the heat here, so I decided to try this out and it’s really good! Some slight clarification, for anyone out there who’s an overthinker like I am: use baking cocoa, not hot chocolate mix! Although hot chocolate mix makes a pretty good cold drink too…
Tracy says
Lol I’m so glad this hit the spot!
Mark says
What would the measurements be for multiple servings and how would you go about storing it?
Tracy says
Click on the number of servings in the recipe card, and it will automatically adjust the ingredient amounts. For storage, just store in an airtight container (like a mason jar) in the fridge. Give it a good shake before serving because it will separate a little while sitting.
Kate says
So rarely do I try a random recipe online and immediately think, “Oh, HECK yeah!” And yet, that was my reaction to this recipe 🙂
So great and simple!
Tracy says
Lol! So happy to hear it, Kate!
Liz says
When I had first made it it was a bit bitter so this time I made it with 3 tablespoons of sugar and it tasted so much better
Tracy says
So glad you figured out how to make it work for you, Liz!
Kay says
I don’t own a microwave, so can I use a saucepan instead? So excited to try this recipe!
Tracy says
Yup, you can make it in a saucepan no problem. Hope you enjoy it!
Linda Muse says
I googled “How to make chocolate milk with cocoa powder” and yours was one of tree recipes I decided to try. I tried yours first and still have yet to try the others! I was thrilled to have a recipe for just one glass and this was just what I was wanting. It’s just the hubs and me now, and I’m excited find recipes that are on a smaller scale. I look forward to browsing through your recipes!
daaniya says
Best chocolate milk ever!! Not complicated at all and tastes so good.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Abigail says
My chocolate milk wasn’t as good Mostly because I used the Hershey’s cocoa powder and I gave it a like a weird tasting but if I would’ve use regular cocoa powder it would’ve made it taste a lot more like chocolate milk so I’m still gonna give it a good rating and I hope that I can see more of your recipes in the future future.
Frances Hale says
This is delicious, but I preferred mine over some ice.
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Christy says
Yum! I like the short ingredient list. Much healthier better than store mixes.
Raena says
Hi Tracy,
I stumbled across your recipe last night while looking for a gluten free chocolate milk mix. My daughter and I both have issues with wheat and gluten. We have not had chocolate milk in years do to this becasue so many store bought chocolate milk mixes either contain wheat or could possibly.
We tried your recipe this mornng… I have to say it is the best choclate milk I have ever had!! We made it using hershey’s dark cocoa powder. I hope you don’t mind… have printed your recipe and labeled it Tracy’s Delicous Choclate Milk and it is going in the family cookbook!
Thank you again for this most wonder recipe!!! : )
Raena
Tracy says
This comment genuinely made my day! Thank you so much, and I’m so thrilled that you and your daughter enjoyed the recipe!!
Aria says
It was so delicious!! Can’t wait to make it again!!
Tracy says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Jessica says
Delicious! Now I don’t need to buy chocolate milk separately! Thank you!
Julie says
Thanks for the smile that I needed right about now
Tracy says
Happy to help! 🙂
Amber says
Craving chocolate milk and forgot to pick up mix, this was surprisingly good!
Tracy says
Glad you enjoyed it, Amber!
Daisy Frey says
Makes it way better if you add a sprinkle of salt, trust me, you’ll be happy you did it. It balances out the flavors and brings it all together. If it makes you feel any better, just think about salted caramel when you do it. Most people don’t realize that you need salt in your sweets, they won’t be right without it. But this is definitely better than Hershey’s; they need to step up their game. Their syrup is nasty…