Watermelon Cocoa Mix is one of those pantry recipes that sounds a little odd until you try it. The fruity watermelon note lands right on top of the chocolate and turns an everyday mug of cocoa into something playful, sweet, and a little summery.
If you like homemade drink mixes that are fast, affordable, and easy to stash in the cupboard, this one earns its keep. It uses simple dry ingredients, shakes together in minutes, and makes a fun change from classic cocoa, especially if you already love flavored versions like Chocolate Covered Strawberries Cocoa Mix or want to browse more Cocoa – Hot Chocolate Mix Recipes.
Because this is a dry mix, it stores best in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard. For the best flavor and texture, use it within about 2 months, which is a practical quality window consistent with cooperative extension guidance for homemade cocoa mixes stored at room temperature in airtight containers. If you’ve already mixed up a mug, treat it like leftovers and refrigerate it within 2 hours, then use it within 3 to 4 days. You can read the food-safety basics for leftovers from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Watermelon Cocoa Mix Recipe
You’ll Need:
- 1 cup non-fat powdered milk
- 1 cup powdered coffee creamer
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1 packet unsweetened watermelon drink mix
Combine the powdered milk, coffee creamer, sugar, cocoa, and watermelon drink mix in a large zip-top bag. Seal it well, then shake until the color looks even and the cocoa is fully blended with the other ingredients.
To Use:
Stir 2 heaping tablespoons of the mix into 1 mug of hot water until smooth. For a richer cup, use a slightly rounded 1/4 cup of mix, especially if your mug runs large.
This mix makes an estimated 13 servings at 2 heaping tablespoons each, or about 26 tablespoons total. The watermelon flavor is light but noticeable, so it works best when you want a cocoa that tastes bright and fruity instead of deep and dark.
Serve it hot in a regular mug, or top it with whipped cream or mini marshmallows if you want to lean into dessert territory. It also makes a fun homemade gift when packed into a jar with simple mixing directions attached.
Store the dry mix in an airtight jar, canister, or zip-top bag in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months for best quality. If your kitchen runs warm or humid, the refrigerator will help protect it from clumping. Prepared cocoa should be cooled promptly, refrigerated within 2 hours, and used within 3 to 4 days.
Estimated cost is about $6.08 per batch, or roughly $0.47 per serving if you make 13 mugs. Prices vary by store and package size, but this still lands firmly in the budget-friendly treat category.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Watermelon Cocoa Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-fat powdered milk |
$9.28 |
1 C. |
$0.87 |
|
Powdered coffee creamer |
$2.78 |
1 C. |
$0.42 |
|
Sugar |
$2.98 |
1 C. |
$0.33 |
|
Unsweetened baking cocoa |
$2.68 |
1/2 C. |
$0.50 |
|
Unsweetened watermelon Kool-Aid |
$4.98 |
1 packet |
$4.98 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$7.10 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.39 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
Frequently Asked Questions about Watermelon Cocoa Mix
You can, but the mug will taste less creamy and a little thinner. Swap it with the same amount of additional non-fat powdered milk for a lighter cocoa, or use a dry non-dairy milk powder if that’s what you keep on hand. Just expect a less velvety finish because the creamer adds body as well as sweetness.
Think chocolate first, then a light watermelon candy note at the end. It’s closer to a fruity flavored cocoa than a fresh melon drink, so if you like chocolate-covered fruit combinations, this one makes sense faster than the name suggests.
Absolutely, and it will taste richer. Since the dry mix already contains powdered milk and creamer, hot water works just fine, but using hot milk gives you a fuller, dessert-style cup and softens the fruity edge a bit.
Moisture is usually the culprit. Cocoa powder and sugar both grab humidity from the air, so use a tightly sealed container and a dry spoon every time. If it clumps anyway, shake the container hard or break it up with a fork before measuring.
Double, triple, or quadruple it without changing the proportions. The easiest method is to keep the 1:1:1 base of powdered milk, powdered creamer, and sugar, then add 1/2 cup cocoa and 1 packet watermelon drink mix for each full batch you add.
Yes, as long as it’s an unsweetened single packet, so the sweetness balance stays close. Strawberry, raspberry, or cherry are the easiest swaps if you want the same fruity-chocolate idea without changing the rest of the formula.
Start with 2 heaping tablespoons for a standard mug, then bump it up to about 1/4 cup for an oversized 12 to 16 ounce mug. Add the hot liquid gradually and stir well so the cocoa dissolves instead of floating in stubborn little islands.
It runs on the sweet side, which makes sense with cocoa mix and drink powder in the same jar. If you want a less sweet cup, use a little less mix per mug or reduce the sugar slightly when you make the batch, but keep in mind that lowering the sugar will make the cocoa and fruit flavors taste sharper.
Simple cookies, vanilla wafers, shortbread, and chocolate chip bars all work well because they don’t compete with the fruit flavor. If you want to stay on theme, serve it with a chocolate-and-berry dessert so the watermelon note doesn’t feel like it wandered into the wrong party.
Toss it if it smells stale, looks discolored, or has hard moisture clumps that don’t break apart easily. Dry mixes rarely fail dramatically, but flavor fades first, so if the watermelon note disappears and the cocoa tastes flat, it’s time to make a fresh batch.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Watermelon Cocoa Mix
Watermelon Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup non-fat powdered milk
- 1 cup powdered coffee creamer
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1 packet unsweetened watermelon Kool-Aid
Equipment
Instructions
- Add the non-fat powdered milk, powdered coffee creamer, sugar, unsweetened baking cocoa, and watermelon Kool-Aid to a large zip-top bag or airtight container.
- Seal and shake until the mixture is evenly blended.
- Store in an airtight container.
- To serve, stir 2 heaping tablespoons into a mug of hot water.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time is an estimate based on measuring and mixing the dry ingredients.
For best quality, store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place and use within 2 to 3 months after opening.
If prepared with milk instead of water, refrigerate leftovers and use within 3 to 5 days.
has anyone tried this? how does it taste?