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The best hot chocolate mixes

By Chocolate Drink Recipes editors · Updated · How we test

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Packets are convenient, but quality ranges from melted-chocolate rich to sugary-thin. Here are the mixes worth buying, ranked on flavor, richness, ease and value per cup.

The full list

1

Best overall

Godiva Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 · Best for the richest dark-chocolate cup from a tin

Velvety, rich dark chocolate: the closest to scratch.

Type
Hot cocoa mix
Size
14.5 oz tin
Cost
about $1.30 per oz
Make with
With milk
From $18.50Check price Full review
2

Best milk chocolate

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for a balanced, crowd-pleasing milk-chocolate cup

Like a melted chocolate bar, balanced sweetness.

Type
Hot cocoa mix
Size
10 packets (also sold in canisters)
Cost
about $1.50 per packet
Make with
With milk
From $15Check price Full review
3

Best value premium

Starbucks Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 · Best for a semisweet, mocha-leaning cup for coffee lovers

Semisweet and smooth for about $1 a cup.

Type
Hot cocoa mix
Size
6 packets
Cost
about $1 per packet
Make with
With milk
From $6Check price Full review
5

Best budget

Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for a short, simple ingredient list at a budget price

Simple ingredients, about 50¢ a packet.

Type
Hot cocoa mix
Size
8 packets
Cost
about 50¢ per packet
Make with
With milk
From $4Check price Full review

Compared at a glance

CocoaOur ratingAboutTypeSizeStyle
Godiva Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa 4.4/5$18.50Hot cocoa mix14.5 oz tinDark
Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa 4.3/5$15Hot cocoa mix10 packets (also sold in canisters)Milk chocolate
Starbucks Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa 4.4/5$6Hot cocoa mix6 packetsSemisweet
Jacques Torres Classic Hot Chocolate 4.3/5$24.50Drinking chocolate14 oz tinDark
Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa 4.3/5$4Hot cocoa mix8 packetsMilk chocolate
Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate (with Marshmallows) 4.1/5$3Hot cocoa mix6-8 packetsMilk chocolate
Serendipity3 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Mix 4.2/5$15Frozen hot chocolate mix1 canisterDark

Checked Oct 10, 2026. Details change: confirm on the provider’s site.

How to make any mix taste better

  • Use milk, not water. Even half milk makes a big difference.
  • Add a square of dark chocolate and whisk until melted.
  • Add a pinch of salt and a drop of vanilla.
  • Too sweet? Whisk in a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa.

Or skip the packet: homemade hot chocolate takes five minutes, and our homemade hot cocoa mix works just like a packet.

How we rated

We compared ingredients, price per serving and published taste tests (including Food Network Kitchen and PureWow’s blind tastings), and considered how each mix performs with milk. Prices checked October 2026. See how we test.

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