Recipe: Hot Cocoa Over a Campfire

🔥 Campfire Hot Cocoa

Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

🧺 Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk (or milk of your choice)

• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• ¼ cup sugar (adjust to taste)

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

• Optional add-ins:

  • Mini marshmallows

  • Whipped cream

  • Peppermint sticks or crushed candy canes

  • Cinnamon or nutmeg for sprinkling

🪵 Equipment

• Campfire-safe pot, saucepan, or kettle

• Long-handled spoon or whisk

• Heat-safe mugs

🔥 Instructions

1. Build your fire:
   Get a good campfire going with a stable bed of coals and gentle flames — you want steady heat, not roaring fire.

2. Heat the milk:
   Place your pot over the fire (using a grate if possible). Pour in the milk and warm it slowly, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t scorch. Don’t let it boil.

3. Mix the cocoa and sugar:
   In a small bowl or cup, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Add a few tablespoons of the warm milk to this mixture and stir into a smooth paste — this prevents lumps.

4. Combine everything:
   Pour the cocoa paste into the pot of warm milk. Stir well until fully blended and steaming hot (but not boiling).

5. Add vanilla and serve:
   Stir in the vanilla extract, remove from heat, and ladle into mugs.

6. Top it off:
   Finish with marshmallows, whipped cream, or a peppermint stick for stirring.

☕ Campfire Tip

If you’re using a cast iron pot or enamel kettle, the cocoa will stay warm longer. For easy cleanup, rinse immediately before the cocoa dries on the pot.