HOT CHOCOLATE MIXES — CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated April 2024

Homemade Hot Chocolate is simply Milk + Cocoa + Sugar and possibly Salt and some Spices:

Manufactured Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa Mixes range from Closest To Homemade — made with the type of ingredients we would use at home — to Far From Homemade™ — made with multiple ingredients we would never use at home to make Hot Chocolate.

NESQUIK: Seen below, Nesquik by Nestlé Chocolate Flavor Powder is not Closest To Homemade since it contains an added Thickening Agent — Soluble Corn Fiber — and commercial Natural Flavor.

Shown below, Nesquik Chocolate Syrup is Far From Homemade with multiple commercial ingredients including two U.S. FDA-recognized Preservatives, Artificial Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Caramel Color and three Artificial Colors. This product contains five ingredients banned at Whole Foods. (Sources: U.S. FDA 2024; Nestlé goodNes Web site 4/24; Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 4/24)

Nestlé’s namesake Hot Chocolate is also Far From Homemade; the majority of ingredients are ones we would never use at home to make Hot Chocolate.

Seen below, none of the Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Packets are Closest To Homemade. ‘Natural Flavor’ is considered a Not In Kitchen ingredient because it is a commercial flavoring we don’t use at home.

The following “premium” Hot Chocolate/Cocoa Mixes contain ingredients Not In Kitchen:

Shown below, these Hot Chocolate/Cocoa Mixes contain ingredients Not In Kitchen. Why pay for ingredients which don’t need to be there?

The following Hot Cocoa Mixes contain added Commercial Flavor:

Now for the delicious news! There are a few Hot Chocolate Mixes which are Closest To Homemade including Dark Chocolate options and Traditional options with one which has Whole Milk Powder so it only requires added Water. These Mixes have no added Corn Syrups, Flavors, Colors, Chemical Preservatives, Thickening Agents or Hydrogenated Oils.

DARK HOT CHOCOLATE MIXES: These include Organic and Fair Trade certified Lake Champlain Chocolates Dark Hot Chocolate Mix; NUMI Organic and Fair Trade Certified Drinking Chocolate with 65% Dark Chocolate and Organic Coconut Sugar, and Equal Exchange Organic Dark Hot Chocolate Mix with Organic Fair Trade Cocoa + Dark Chocolate with Organic Fair Trade Cane Sugar. (Sources: Brand Web sites 4/24)

TRADITIONAL HOT CHOCOLATE MIXES: These include Organic and Fair Trade certified Lake Champlain Chocolates Traditional Hot Chocolate Mix; Public Goods Hot Cocoa Mix and Mike & Jen’s Cocoa Mix with Kosher certified Whole Milk Powder so you can just add Water >> the other ingredients are Cocoa Powder, Pure Cane Sugar, Confectioner’s Sugar and Sea Salt. (Sources: Brand Web sites 4/24)

Discover some Marshmallows which are Closest To Homemade:

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

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