Homemade Chocolate Syrup

I don't know about you but we go through chocolate syrup like CRAZY!  With all the chocolate milk, ice cream topping, hot chocolate and random walk by the fridge and fill your mouth with creamy goodness, we need to buy it by the gallon.
So in order to save a little moolah I started looking around for an easy homemade recipe that would serve as a good stand in for the brown bottle of deliciousness.

Here is what I came up with.  This is a combination of a few recipes I found online.  They all have the same general principal but some of the measurements are a little different.  Many people are certain that if you don't use Hershey's cocoa powder your right eye will fall out.  Of course I had the cheapo generic cocoa powder in my pantry so that is what I used.  I can tell you, the stuff is still fantabulous! 

Before you start this make sure you have a nice fresh gallon of milk available because you must make a large class of chocolate milk to taste test.

Cast of characters...

1 cup packed cocoa powder
2 cups water
4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 - 2/3 teaspoon vanilla
48oz empty chocolate syrup bottle

In a large pot, I use a 4 quart pot so I don't have to deal with boil over mess.  The first attempt at this left my entire house smelling like burned chocolate and a big mess to clean up!  Grab whatever you use to boil spaghetti in and you should be set.
Whisk the water and cocoa powder together over low heat.  Add the sugar and whisk to dissolve.

Increase the heat until you have a light boil and continue stirring.  Reduce heat to keep boil but you don't want to let it run away with you.
Boil and stir for 3-5 minutes.  Remove from heat as necessary to keep it from boiling over.  If you use a large pot this shouldn't be a problem.

After boiling for 3-5 minutes remove from heat and add salt and vanilla.  Mix it well and set it aside to cool.
When cool, skim the skin off of the top, and pour into your empty chocolate syrup container.  Store in the fridge. 
Make sure the kids are doing something else and make yourself a large glass of heavenly chocolate milk!

You can play with this to make it just right for you.  Maybe a little more vanilla?  Half dark cocoa powder?  Even add some peppermint extract around the holidays.  There are so many things you could do with this and it is yummy and cheap.

Enjoy!!!