When it comes to chocolate, I go all out. I like only the best – usually imported, dark chocolate. But I just found out that I’ve totally been missing the boat on my hot chocolate choices! Consumer Reports (CR) just rated the best ones and I have not had any of them. I wonder if they are worth the calories…
Godiva Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa is CR’s top choice. “Like an indulgent piece of chocolate,” say taste testers. And boy, do you pay for that indulgence: 290 calories and 9 grams of fat per serving when it’s made with 2% milk. If you make it with skim milk, it comes down to 240 calories and 4 grams of fat.
The four runners-up:
Dagoba Organic Authentic: 190 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving made with 2% milk. With skim milk, it’s 140 calories and 2 fat grams.
Ghirardelli Double Chocolate: 260 calories and 6 grams of fat per serving made with 2% milk. With skim milk, it’s 210 calories and 1 fat gram.
Hershey’s Cocoa Natural Unsweetened: 155 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per serving made using the package recipe which calls for milk, water, sugar, salt, and vanilla.
Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Sensation: 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per serving made with water.
The top three products suggest making them with milk; Hershey’s with the mixings I mentioned above; Swiss Miss recommends water but says milk is an option to make it creamier.
So… what do you think? Would you indulge in one of these as a once-in-awhile cold winter night treat? I might. But it definitely would not be too often. I wonder if they are rich enough that just half a serving would be all I want? I might have to try that little mind trick and have the indulgent hot chocolate in an espresso cup or small mug.