Easy Homemade Mocha

How to make an easy and delicious homemade mocha, no espresso machine or hot chocolate mix needed.

I’ve shared a bunch of easy coffee recipes on the site in the past, my Iced White Chocolate Mocha , Chai Tea Latte , Pumpkin Spice Latte , and Caramel Macchiato , but this homemade mocha might be the easiest of them all.

It’s sweet, chocolatey, and takes hardly more time to make than adding cream and sugar to your morning coffee so it can be the thrown-together treat that gets you through a crazy busy morning or something to sip slowly on a lazy Sunday morning.

Ingredient Notes

• Homemade chocolate syrup: Instead of using store-bought chocolate syrup or hot chocolate mix as many recipes do, you’ll make a quick syrup of cocoa powder, sugar, and water to flavor the mocha base.
• Coffee: True mocha lattes are made with espresso, but we’ll stick to regular coffee for this homemade version since that’s what most people have available. Use whatever coffee you have on hand, decaf works fine.
• Your choice of milk: By default, Starbucks uses 2% milk in their coffee drinks, but you can use any milk you’d like including non-dairy milks. The higher fat your milk, the richer and creamier your drink will be.
• Heavy cream: Cream is optional, but a little splash adds a really delicious richness to the coffee. You can also use half and half if that’s what you keep on hand. For leftover heavy cream, check out my post What to Do With Leftover Whipping Cream for storage tips and recipe ideas for the leftovers.

How to Make A Homemade Mocha

1. In a small pot or microwave-safe cup, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and water. Heat on the stove or in your microwave, and stir until sauce is completely smooth.
2. Add coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming . If making on the stove, you can whisk the mixture vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Mason Jar Method

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar. Screw on lid securely and wrap top with a towel (in case your jar leaks). Give a few very good shakes, until everything is well-mixed and milk is foamy. Pour into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds or until steaming.

Mocha Variations

• Peppermint Mocha : Crush a full-size candy cane in a plastic bag and add it to the sugar/cocoa powder/water mixture and stir until completely dissolved.
• Caramel Mocha : Add a heaping tablespoon of caramel or salted caramel when you add the coffee and milk. You can also use dulce de leche for a dulce de leche mocha.
• White Chocolate Mocha : Use chopped white chocolate instead of the homemade chocolate syrup. For full measurements, find the recipe here .

Can I make this an iced mocha?

It’s really easy to make an iced mocha at home, but for best results, the method you’ll want to use is slightly different than this recipe. Go check out my Iced Mocha Recipe if you’re craving your mocha cold today. (That recipe will also walk you through making your mocha a frappuccino if that’s more your jam.)

Is there caffeine in a mocha?

Yes. This particular recipe has about 95 mg of caffeine. But if you’d like to skip the caffeine, you can use decaf coffee.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely. This recipe scales up with no preparation changes needed. To change the recipe yield, hover over the serving size in the recipe card below or click if you’re on mobile, and slide the slider.

More Morning Favorites

• Pancakes for One
• Small-batch Cream Scones
• Small-batch Cinnamon Rolls
• The Best Waffles

More Coffeehouse Recipes

• Iced Chai Tea Latte
• White Hot Chocolate
• Caramel Latte
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte
• London Fog Latte

Equipment

• Mason jar with lid, optional
• Kitchen towel, optional

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 to 2 tablespoons ( 12g to 25g ) granulated sugar to taste
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 5g ) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon water omit if making using the mason jar method
• ▢ 1 cup hot coffee
• ▢ ¼ cup milk any percentage
• ▢ 1 tablespoon heavy cream optional
• ▢ Whipped cream for topping, optional

Instructions

Stovetop or Microwave

• In a small pot or microwave-safe cup, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and water. Heat on the stove (or in your microwave for about 15 seconds), and stir until sugar and cocoa powder dissolve and sauce is completely smooth.
• Stir in coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming (about 30 seconds in the microwave). If making on the stove, you can whisk the mixture vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Mason Jar Method

• Combine all ingredients except the water and optional whipped cream in a mason jar. Screw the lid on securely and wrap top with a towel (in case your jar leaks). Give a few very good shakes, until everything is well-mixed and mixture is foamy.
• Pour into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds or until steaming. Top with whipped cream if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

These are INCREDIBLY GOOD steak fajitas. Tender, tangy, and super flavorful beef paired with slightly charred veggies, warm tortillas, sour cream, and guacamole.

A while back, I shared my favorite Carne Asada marinade with you, and today, I’m sharing my very favorite way to use that marinade: to make steak fajitas.

Friend, these steak fajitas are SO GOOD. Plus, since this is a recipe that does best with a nice long marinade, if you start marinating your fajita steak the night before, your meat can go from marinade to plate in less than 20 minutes when dinner time comes around.

The Best Steak for Fajitas

The best steak for fajitas is skirt steak, flank steak, or flap meat. All three cuts of meat have a good, beefy flavor, take a marinade well, and cook up relatively tender under quick, high heat.

Given the choice, my personal favorite is flap meat, but all three are great options, and depending on their popularity in your area, you might not always be able to find all of these cuts at your local butcher. So just use whichever cut is available and most reasonably priced.

Fajita Marinade Recipe

The fajita marinade we’ll be using on the steak is citrus-based, so it not only produces tangy and delicious meat, but the acidity of the orange, lemon, and lime juice helps break down the steak for a more tender finished product.

If you’re short on time, you can marinate your steak for as little as four hours, but you’re going to get the best results with a 24-hour marinade.

How to Make Steak Fajitas

1. Start with a nice long marinade to tenderize the meat and make sure it really soaks up as much flavor as possible.

2. Prep your fajita veggies by slicing two bell peppers of any color and half of an onion into thin slices. This can be done the night before (store the veggies in an airtight container) when you start marinating your steak if you know you’re going to be short on time the following day.

3. Cook the steak under a very hot broiler for about 4-6 minutes per side (less if your steak is very thin). Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then slice across the grain .

4. While your steak cooks, you’ll prepare the vegetables on the stove. The fajita veggies also get cooked quickly over high heat, so you get some charred edges while retaining the peppers’ color and texture.

5. And that’s it. Serve over warm tortillas with guacamole, sour cream, maybe a little pico de gallo , and enjoy!

What goes with steak fajitas?

Classic fajita restaurant sides are rice and beans , but if you want something a little quicker for weeknights, you might also try:

• Oven-roasted Broccoli
• Tortilla Chips with Nacho Cheese
• Oven-baked Green Beans

Can the steak be cooked on a grill?

Absolutely! To cook on the grill, cook the meat over medium-high heat, 3-8 minutes per side, less if you’re working with really thin cuts of meat.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes. Fajitas are a great make-ahead dinner. Simply cook the beef and veggies up to 2 days in advance. When you’re ready to eat them, reheat everything, and serve with warmed tortillas.

Meal Prep Steak Fajita Rice Bowls

And last thing before we go, this recipe makes about four servings. If you’re a household of one or two, I highly recommend turning the leftovers into meal prep steak fajita bowls.

Just layer cilantro rice (or cauliflower rice) in your meal prep containers and top with the steak and veggies. It turns your fajitas into super easy and portable lunches.

More Meaty Main Dishes

• Carnitas
• Country-style Pork Ribs
• Tri-tip
• Salsa Chicken
• Beef Short Ribs
• Quick and Easy Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients

Fajita Steak Marinade

• ▢ ½ cup orange juice bottled is fine
• ▢ ½ cup soy sauce low-sodium is fine
• ▢ ¼ cup lemon juice bottled is fine
• ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
• ▢ 2 tablespoons lime juice bottled is fine
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic pressed or diced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili pepper OR 1 teaspoon finely chopped, canned chipotle pepper optional
• ▢ ½ bunch fresh cilantro chopped about ¾ to 1 cup very loosely packed
• ▢ 1 ½ to 2 pounds skirt, flank, or flap steak

Vegetables

• ▢ 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ▢ ½ large onion sliced
• ▢ 2 bell peppers any color, sliced ¼-inch
• ▢ Salt and pepper
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon chili powder

Fajita Toppings

• ▢ 8 tortillas warmed
• ▢ Sour cream optional
• ▢ Guacamole optional
• ▢ Pico de gallo optional

Instructions

Steak Fajita Marinade

• In a medium bowl, stir together all marinade ingredients. Place meat in a gallon-size plastic bag or glass container and pour marinade over the top. Marinate for at least 4 hours, preferably closer to 24, flipping the meat once halfway through.

Fajita Steak

• Arrange your top oven rack to about 4 inches below the broiler and heat broiler on high.
• Line a heavy-duty baking sheet or roasting pan with foil and broil steak for 4-6 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 135°F for medium-rare, 145°F for medium. Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing across the grain into strips.

Fajita Vegetables

• While your meat cooks, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add onion and bell pepper slices. Sprinkle spices over the top and generously salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 8 minutes, until edges are lightly charred and vegetables are tender crisp. For softer vegetables , turn heat down to medium once the vegetables get a nice char so they don’t burn, and continue to cook until vegetables reach your desired level of doneness.
• Serve with the sliced steak over warmed tortillas with sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Your cheat sheet of 30+ milkshake recipes. Make almost any milkshake with vanilla ice cream and a few simple ingredients.

I’ve posted quite a few milkshake recipes over the last couple of years, and it was about time to compile all of these recipes in one place for easy reference.

So I present to you my milkshake cheatsheet. If you’re craving a specific milkshake (or maybe don’t even know what milkshake you want) chances are you can find the recipe here.

How to Make The Best Milkshakes

If you’ve read my How to Make a Milkshake post , you’ll know that to make the best milkshake you need to start with the right ratio of milk to ice cream. The sweet spot for this is 1½ cups ice cream to ½-¾ cup milk.

This will give you a shake with a thick, creamy consistency but one that you can still drink it with a straw. Use more milk for a thinner shake, less milk for a thicker one.

All the recipes below start with this ratio + mix-ins. Put all those ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth and pourable, and you’re going to have a great shake on your hands.

More Milkshake Tips & Troubleshooting

• No blender? No problem: While fruit milkshakes can’t really be made without a blender because you need the blender to puree the fruit, milkshakes that include ingredients that don’t need to be crushed with a blender to mix, like shakes made with syrups and powders, are pretty easy to make without a blender. Go check out my post How to Make a Milkshake Without a Blender for full instructions.
• Using an older or under-powered blender: If your blender struggles to blend milkshakes without adding a ton of milk, start with slightly softened ice cream. Scoop the ice cream into the blender and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before blending. Softened ice cream is much easier for blenders to process than ice cream straight out of the freezer.
• Add a little sweetness: Using underripe fruit? Add a couple teaspoons of sugar to your shake. While it might seem like overkill to add sugar to ice cream, if you’re making a shake with out-of-season fruit that’s not at peak sweetness, a little sugar can really make all the difference between a mediocre shake and a great one.

Toppings

It’s not necessary to add toppings to shakes, but it sure is fun. And for an extra pretty shake, take any of the sauces below and swirl them around the inside of the glass before adding the blended shake.

• Whipped cream
• Fudge sauce
• Peanut butter sauce
• Nutella sauce
• Strawberry sauce
• Strawberry syrup
• Dulce de leche
• Shortcut Caramel Sauce

The Milkshake Recipes

Vanilla Milkshakes

• Vanilla Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + Scraped seeds from ½ vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
• Bourbon Vanilla Bean Shake: Vanilla milkshake ingredients + replace 2 tablespoons of the milk with 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of bourbon

Chocolate Milkshakes

• Chocolate Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 3 tablespoons fudge or chocolate sauce
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake: Chocolate milkshake ingredients + 1 slightly heaping tablespoon of peanut butter
• Chocolate Oreo Shake: Chocolate milkshake ingredients + 3 Oreos (break an additional Oreo into pieces and drop crumbs over the top of the finished shake)
• Chocolate Banana Shake: Chocolate milkshake ingredients + ½ to 1 whole banana
• Chocolate Cheesecake Milkshake: Chocolate milkshake ingredients + 2 ounces cream cheese

Banana Milkshakes

• Banana Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 1 large banana (frozen for a thicker shake) + ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake: Banana milkshake ingredients + 1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter
• Chocolate Banana Milkshake: Banana milkshake ingredients + 2 tablespoons chocolate fudge sauce or syrup
• Salted Caramel Banana Milkshake: Banana milkshake ingredients + 2 tablespoons salted caramel
• Banana Split Milkshake: Banana milkshake ingredients + swirl glass with fudge sauce before adding milkshake + top with whipped cream, more fudge sauce, sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry

Strawberry Milkshakes

• Strawberry Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + ¾ chopped strawberries + 1 tablespoon sugar
• Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake: Strawberry milkshake ingredients + 2 ounces cream cheese
• Chocolate-covered Strawberry Milkshake: Strawberry milkshake ingredients + swirl 1 tablespoon of chocolate fudge sauce or syrup around the glass before pouring in the shake + add 1 tablespoon sauce over the top (do not stir or your shake will turn brown)
• Strawberry Banana Milkshake : Strawberry milkshake ingredients + 1 ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
• Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Milkshake: Strawberry milkshake ingredients + 1 ripe banana + 2 ounces cream cheese

Oreo Milkshakes

• Oreo Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 4 Oreos (break an additional Oreo into pieces and drop crumbs over the top of the finished shake)
• Bailey’s Cookies and Cream Milkshake: Oreo milkshake ingredients + replace ¼ cup of the milk with 2 ounces (¼ cup) of Irish cream liqueur
• Chocolate Oreo Milkshake: Oreo milkshake ingredients + 2 tablespoons of fudge sauce
• Peanut Butter Oreo Milkshake: Oreo milkshake ingredients + 1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter

Coffee Milkshakes

• Coffee Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 1 tablespoon cocoa powder + 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
• Caramel Coffee Milkshake: Coffee milkshake ingredients + 1 heaping tablespoon of caramel Boozy Coffee Milkshake: Coffee milkshake ingredients + replace 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup of the milk with Kahlua, Irish cream, or your choice of alcohol

Caramel Milkshake Recipes

• Caramel Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 2 tablespoons caramel sauce
• Banana Caramel Milkshake: Caramel Milkshake ingredients + ½ to 1 whole ripe banana
• Vanilla Bean Caramel Milkshake: Caramel Milkshake ingredients + the seeds scraped from ½ of a vanilla bean

Dulce de Leche Milkshakes

• Dulce de Leche Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 2 tablespoons dulce de leche
• Banoffee Pie Shake: Dulce de Leche Milkshake ingredients + 1 whole ripe banana + 1 (full-sheet) graham cracker + top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings
• Boozy Dulce de Leche Shake: Dulce de Leche Milkshake ingredients + 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of whiskey

Peanut Butter Milkshakes

• Peanut Butter Milkshake: 1½ cups vanilla ice cream + ½ to ¾ cup milk + 2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter + ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Nut Butter Milkshake: Peanut Butter Milkshake ingredients but replace peanut butter with nut butter of your choice

Ingredients

Milkshake Base

• ▢ 1½ cups ice cream about 3 large scoops, slightly softened
• ▢ ½ to ¾ cup milk any percentage

Vanilla Milkshake

• ▢ Seeds scraped from ½ vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Chocolate Milkshake

• ▢ 3 tablespoons chocolate sauce

Banana Milkshake

• ▢ 1 large banana
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberry Milkshake

• ▢ ¾ cup chopped strawberries
• ▢ 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Oreo Milkshake

• ▢ 4 Oreos
• ▢ 1 additional Oreo broken into pieces for topping

Coffee Milkshake

• ▢ 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder

Caramel Milkshake

• ▢ 2 tablespoons caramel sauce

Dulce de Leche Milkshake

• ▢ 2 tablespoons dulce de leche

Instructions

• In a blender, combine ice cream, milk, and any mix-ins, and blend until pourable.
• Pour into a glass, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Notes

How to make an easy and delicious homemade mocha, no espresso machine or hot chocolate mix needed.

I’ve shared a bunch of easy coffee recipes on the site in the past, my Iced White Chocolate Mocha , Chai Tea Latte , Pumpkin Spice Latte , and Caramel Macchiato , but this homemade mocha might be the easiest of them all.

It’s sweet, chocolatey, and takes hardly more time to make than adding cream and sugar to your morning coffee so it can be the thrown-together treat that gets you through a crazy busy morning or something to sip slowly on a lazy Sunday morning.

Ingredient Notes

• Homemade chocolate syrup: Instead of using store-bought chocolate syrup or hot chocolate mix as many recipes do, you’ll make a quick syrup of cocoa powder, sugar, and water to flavor the mocha base.
• Coffee: True mocha lattes are made with espresso, but we’ll stick to regular coffee for this homemade version since that’s what most people have available. Use whatever coffee you have on hand, decaf works fine.
• Your choice of milk: By default, Starbucks uses 2% milk in their coffee drinks, but you can use any milk you’d like including non-dairy milks. The higher fat your milk, the richer and creamier your drink will be.
• Heavy cream: Cream is optional, but a little splash adds a really delicious richness to the coffee. You can also use half and half if that’s what you keep on hand. For leftover heavy cream, check out my post What to Do With Leftover Whipping Cream for storage tips and recipe ideas for the leftovers.

How to Make A Homemade Mocha

1. In a small pot or microwave-safe cup, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and water. Heat on the stove or in your microwave, and stir until sauce is completely smooth.
2. Add coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming . If making on the stove, you can whisk the mixture vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Mason Jar Method

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar. Screw on lid securely and wrap top with a towel (in case your jar leaks). Give a few very good shakes, until everything is well-mixed and milk is foamy. Pour into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds or until steaming.

Mocha Variations

• Peppermint Mocha : Crush a full-size candy cane in a plastic bag and add it to the sugar/cocoa powder/water mixture and stir until completely dissolved.
• Caramel Mocha : Add a heaping tablespoon of caramel or salted caramel when you add the coffee and milk. You can also use dulce de leche for a dulce de leche mocha.
• White Chocolate Mocha : Use chopped white chocolate instead of the homemade chocolate syrup. For full measurements, find the recipe here .

Can I make this an iced mocha?

It’s really easy to make an iced mocha at home, but for best results, the method you’ll want to use is slightly different than this recipe. Go check out my Iced Mocha Recipe if you’re craving your mocha cold today. (That recipe will also walk you through making your mocha a frappuccino if that’s more your jam.)

Is there caffeine in a mocha?

Yes. This particular recipe has about 95 mg of caffeine. But if you’d like to skip the caffeine, you can use decaf coffee.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely. This recipe scales up with no preparation changes needed. To change the recipe yield, hover over the serving size in the recipe card below or click if you’re on mobile, and slide the slider.

More Morning Favorites

• Pancakes for One
• Small-batch Cream Scones
• Small-batch Cinnamon Rolls
• The Best Waffles

More Coffeehouse Recipes

• Iced Chai Tea Latte
• White Hot Chocolate
• Caramel Latte
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte
• London Fog Latte

Equipment

• Mason jar with lid, optional
• Kitchen towel, optional

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 to 2 tablespoons ( 12g to 25g ) granulated sugar to taste
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ( 5g ) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon water omit if making using the mason jar method
• ▢ 1 cup hot coffee
• ▢ ¼ cup milk any percentage
• ▢ 1 tablespoon heavy cream optional
• ▢ Whipped cream for topping, optional

Instructions

Stovetop or Microwave

• In a small pot or microwave-safe cup, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and water. Heat on the stove (or in your microwave for about 15 seconds), and stir until sugar and cocoa powder dissolve and sauce is completely smooth.
• Stir in coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming (about 30 seconds in the microwave). If making on the stove, you can whisk the mixture vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Mason Jar Method

• Combine all ingredients except the water and optional whipped cream in a mason jar. Screw the lid on securely and wrap top with a towel (in case your jar leaks). Give a few very good shakes, until everything is well-mixed and mixture is foamy.
• Pour into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds or until steaming. Top with whipped cream if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Easy Homemade Mocha

Equipment

• Mason jar with lid, optional
• Kitchen towel, optional

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 tablespoons ( 12g to 25g ) granulated sugar to taste
• 1 tablespoon ( 5g ) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon water omit if making using the mason jar method
• 1 cup hot coffee
• ¼ cup milk any percentage
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream optional
• Whipped cream for topping, optional

Instructions

Stovetop or Microwave

• In a small pot or microwave-safe cup, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and water. Heat on the stove (or in your microwave for about 15 seconds), and stir until sugar and cocoa powder dissolve and sauce is completely smooth.
• Stir in coffee and milk and continue to heat until steaming (about 30 seconds in the microwave). If making on the stove, you can whisk the mixture vigorously until foamy. Pour into a cup, top with whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Mason Jar Method

• Combine all ingredients except the water and optional whipped cream in a mason jar. Screw the lid on securely and wrap top with a towel (in case your jar leaks). Give a few very good shakes, until everything is well-mixed and mixture is foamy.
• Pour into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds or until steaming. Top with whipped cream if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition