This blog post will teach you all about Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa — and point you in the direction of some delicious recipes!
What Is Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate,also known as drinking chocolate, is a thick, hot drink made by melting solid chocolate (such as chocolate shavings or drops) in hot water or milk. Most Hot Chocolate recipes call for chunks or shavings of real chocolate, such as milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate, which are melted and blended with hotmilk. Many countries have their own unique renditions of hot chocolate,likeSpanish Hot Chocolate and Mexican Hot Chocolate.
What Is Hot Cocoa?
Hot Cocoa is a hot sweet drink made fromcocoa powder, sugar, and milk. It usually has a thin, light consistency.
Hot Chocolate vs Hot Cocoa: What’s the difference?
Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa are both sweet and creamy dessert drinks, but there are a few key differences between them.
Ingredients
The source of the chocolate flavour is different. Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk. Most commercial boxed hot chocolate mixes sold in grocery stores are technically hot cocoa rather than hot chocolate because they are made with cocoa powder, powdered milk, and sugar.
Consistency
Hot Chocolate usually has a thicker consistency because it’s made using solid chocolate which is already rich, dense, and fatty with cocoa butter even before cream or milk is added. Hot Cocoa, however, is thinner than hot chocolatebecause it contains cocoa powder and added water or milk.
Added sugar
Hot Chocolate is sweetened by the melted chocolate itself. Hot Cocoa, on the other hand, requires added sugar or sweeteners to it tomake it drinkable because cocoa powder itself is 100% cacao and is not sweetened. This means Hot Cocoa tends to be much sweeter than Hot Chocolate. On the plus side, If you are watching your sugar intake, homemade Hot Cocoa might be a better choice because you can control the type of sweeter and the amount according to your own taste and diet.
Taste
Depending on the style, a cup of Hot Chocolate can taste a lot like a cup of thick rich melted chocolate, while Hot Cocoa can taste more like milk and sugar than chocolate. Both can be satisfying and delicious!
Try our Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate recipes:
Hot Cocoa For One
Vegan Friendly Ginger Hot Cocoa For Two
Hot Chocolate the Cococo Way
Spanish Hot Chocolate
FAQs
Hot Chocolate is made using solid chocolate melted in warm milk or cream. Hot Cocoa, however, is made from a powdered base of cocoa with added sugar and dissolved in hot water or hot milk.
Is hot cocoa the same as hot chocolate? ›
What's the Difference Between Hot Chocolate and Hot Cocoa? Since hot chocolate is made with whole chocolate, it has a thicker and richer consistency than hot cocoa. Hot chocolate is often less sweet than hot cocoa since the drink typically has no added sugar.
Which is better, drinking chocolate or cocoa? ›
Drinking chocolate is made in both dark and milk chocolate varieties, making it easier to buy a healthy option. Drinking Chocolate is a richer drink than hot cocoa, but is more satisfying, fulfilling and is also better for you!
Is hot cocoa made with water or milk? ›
Hot chocolate can be made with dark, semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate grated or chopped into small pieces and stirred into milk with the addition of sugar. Cocoa usually refers to a drink made with cocoa powder, hot milk or water, and sweetened to taste with sugar (or not sweetened at all).
Why do Americans call hot chocolate hot cocoa? ›
Hot chocolate and hot cocoa are terms used reciprocally, but they are actually two separate types of drinks. Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, whereas hot chocolate is made from melted bars of chocolate containing cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter then mixed with milk, water, or cream.
Can you replace cocoa with hot chocolate? ›
In short, you can use hot chocolate powder as a cocoa powder substitute in a pinch, but you may not experience the depth of flavour you want. Because most brands of hot chocolate powder include sugar or sweetener, you may wish to reduce the amount of sugar you add to your baking recipe.
What's the difference between chocolate and cocoa? ›
Cocoa and chocolate are both made from the beans of the cocoa pod. They are difference in the step of extracting, and the components inside are not the same. Chocolate is the fermentation of cocoa beans to produce microorganisms and accelerate many nutrients in cocoa beans for maximum efficiency.
Is hot cocoa healthy? ›
Hot chocolate can be a comforting and delicious treat, but it is important to remember that, like other sugary foods, it is also high in calories, sugar, and fat. If consumed in moderation, hot chocolate can be part of a healthy diet as it provides some essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, and magnesium.
What is true hot chocolate? ›
True HOT CHOCOLATE is a nutritionally rich collagen drink with a simple, all-natural ingredient profile. Quick and easy to prepare, HOT CHOCOLATE boasts a 60% protein content of 10.3g in every serve. Premium Ingredients.
Which is better for you, coffee or hot chocolate? ›
Overall, while both chocolate and coffee can be enjoyed in moderation, hot chocolate may offer more satisfying and potentially heart-healthy benefits. However, if you need a quick caffeine fix, coffee may be the better option.
Marshmallows first came into the picture in 1917, when the company Angelus Marshmallows published a recipe for hot cocoa topped with their product. (In another genius marketing move, the company also hitched its wagon to sweet potatoes with a recipe for the side dish that has since become a Thanksgiving staple.)
What is coffee and hot chocolate called? ›
What exactly is mocha? A mocha is a blend of a cappuccino and a hot chocolate. Like a cappuccino it contains espresso, warm milk and a frothy top but it also contains a sweet chocolatey twist using either chocolate powder, chocolate syrup or melted chocolate.
What is better, hot cocoa or hot chocolate? ›
If you're looking for something thick, rich and packed with chocolatey flavor, hot chocolate is the way to go. For convenience and nostalgia, it doesn't get much better than a cup of hot cocoa with some marshmallows on top.
What do the Mexicans believe about hot chocolate? ›
Mexican chocolate has been around for centuries. Mexican cultures once used chocolate as currency. The Aztecs believed that chocolate was a gift from the gods and would only drink it on special occasions. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they began to add sugar and milk to the chocolate to make it more palatable.
Does hot chocolate help you sleep? ›
Drinking hot chocolate milk at night can potentially help improve sleep quality, thanks to the soothing psychological effects of consuming a warm drink and the tryptophan content in cocoa. Plus, milk contains calcium and vitamin D, nutrients important for overall health, including the regulation of sleep.
What was hot chocolate originally called? ›
"The Mayan word 'Xocol', that means 'hot', and the Aztec word 'atl' means 'water'," Spehr said. "So 'xocolatl', that's where 'chocolate' comes from. Originally, this means 'hot water'."
