Hot Cocoa Vs Hot Chocolate: Is There A Difference?

There is nothing in the world like a mug of hot cocoa to warm you up on a cold day. Or is it hot chocolate? While they are often used interchangeably, hot cocoa and hot chocolate are actually two distinct beverages. They may look and taste similar, but the two contain different ingredients.

Hot chocolate is made with actual chocolate, which gets melted and mixed into hot milk, cream, water, or a combination of these liquids. Hot cocoa, on the other hand, is made by mixing unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, and powdered milk into hot milk or water. The premixed packets that you empty into a cup and add hot water to are technically considered hot cocoa.

Hot chocolate is generally richer and thicker than hot cocoa because the former contains cocoa butter plus lecithin (which emulsifies the chocolate), and sometimes milk, all of which are in solid chocolate itself. That's why you can make hot chocolate so rich it coats your spoon. Added sweetener isn't necessary because the chocolate is already sweet. Different countries have their own versions, from luxurious French hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream to Colombian hot chocolate, which incorporates cubes of cheese.

For the most part, hot cocoa can be made more quickly since you're not waiting for the chocolate to melt; the cocoa powder and sugar dissolve rapidly in warm liquid, so hot cocoa is the way to go if you need your chocolate fix fast. It's also easier to control the sweetness level of hot cocoa, because you can vary how much sugar you add. With hot chocolate, you're at the mercy of how much sugar is already in the solid chocolate.

As to whether hot chocolate or hot cocoa is better, the answer is highly subjective. Some gravitate towards thick, rich, decadent hot chocolate — also called drinking chocolate – while others enjoy sweetened cocoa with a thinner consistency that's excellent for melting marshmallows in. 

While it's arguably easier to mix up some cocoa using a package of store-bought mix, whipping up your own is a cinch. It will also probably contain fewer artificial and processed ingredients. Just combine unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch cocoa powder, sugar, and dry milk powder. Voilà – you've got hot cocoa mix. You can even add in flavorings like cinnamon, mini marshmallows, or a little ground ginger. Or use sugar elevated with orange zest or vanilla instead of the regular kind. 

For homemade hot chocolate, chop up your favorite bar (milk or dark) into small pieces, and whisk it into hot milk until it has melted cohesively throughout. You could also use white chocolate, even though it can be divisive. Give the beverage extra flavor with fragrant vanilla extract, a little booze, or some espresso, and don't forget a big dollop of freshly whipped cream on top. You can always step up your hot chocolate game by adding condensed milk for an even richer result.