MyTastr

Best hot cocoa mix, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Kristina Lavallee, Lisa Steele, Elise Russ, Chris Morocco and 3 more. Recommendations come from thekitchn.com, epicurious.com, bonappetit.com and consumerreports.org and 1 other sources.

Drinks · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    The packet every chef The Kitchn asked kept naming. Lavallee: “The chocolate flavor does not taste artificial and feels luxurious without any extra work… it has that nice deep quality cocoa taste that few store-bought mixes have.” Steele calls it “not too sweet, very creamy,” and makes it with milk; Russ, a pastry chef, tops hers with whipped cream and marshmallows. Epicurious’s tasting also ranked it first for “rich chocolate flavor” and “the perfect amount of sweetness.” In supermarkets nationwide.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: thekitchn.com ↗
  2. 2

    Guittard Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    A drinking chocolate from the San Francisco chocolate maker, a modern take on the one it introduced in 1900 and served at the city’s Cliff House. Bon Appétit’s 2026 blind test of 15 mixes named it the upgrade pick for “deep chocolate flavor and flawlessly smooth texture”; food director Morocco found an ideal bittersweet balance, with “just enough sweetness to get away with it.” Consumer Reports made it Editor’s Choice, as long as you use about 3 tablespoons per cup: “rich, bodacious, and just sweet enough” (Joanne Chen). Whisk it into milk on the stove.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  3. 3

    Dandelion Chocolate House Hot Chocolate Mix

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Just single-origin chocolate and sugar from the San Francisco bean-to-bar maker, closer to drinking chocolate than cocoa. Bon Appétit’s splurge pick: Youngman said it tasted like a “melted bar of dark chocolate,” and Szewczyk picked out red-berry notes. Food & Wine also named it best splurge. Pricey (more than $2 an ounce), and Consumer Reports found it hard to dissolve and too acidic. Ships nationwide from Dandelion.
    Where to buy · dandelionchocolate.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best hot cocoa mix, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, chosen by Elise Russ (pastry chef, Clementine, San Antonio); Lisa Steele (cookbook author & TV host, The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook); Kristina Lavallee (chef, The Cake Girl). The packet every chef The Kitchn asked kept naming. Lavallee: “The chocolate flavor does not taste artificial and feels luxurious without any extra work… it has that nice deep quality cocoa taste that few store-bought mixes have.” Steele calls it “not too sweet, very creamy,” and makes it with milk; Russ, a pastry chef, tops hers with whipped cream and marshmallows. Epicurious’s tasting also ranked it first for “rich chocolate flavor” and “the perfect amount of sweetness.” In supermarkets nationwide. Source: thekitchn.com ↗
What are the other top picks for hot cocoa mix?
No. 2 is Guittard Grand Cacao Drinking Chocolate, chosen by Chris Morocco (Bon Appétit). No. 3 is Dandelion Chocolate House Hot Chocolate Mix, chosen by Kelsey Jane Youngman (Bon Appétit); Jesse Szewczyk (Bon Appétit). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

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