We all love hot chocolate but, like most things in life, our favourite chocolate beverage can come with some considerations. For those concerned with how many calories they're taking in, getting the lowdown on hot chocolate calories can be a vital look-in into how a creamy mug of milk and cocoa powder is impacting them.

Even if you're just interested in the facts of hot chocolate calories, Cocoba is here with the information you're looking for!

HOT CHOCOLATE CALORIES - THE FACTS

Unfortunately, there's no set number of calories in a cup of hot chocolate. The calorie content depends on the serving size and ingredients.

On average, a typical serving (240ml) of hot chocolate made with whole milk and topped with whipped cream (our personal favourite!) will contain anywhere between 220 and 300 calories. A tablespoon of typical cocoa powder by itself holds around 55 calories.

For even more detailed information on the calories contained in your hot chocolate, keep reading!

HOW MANY CALORIES IN A HOT CHOCOLATE WITH MILK?

While many of the calories within a serving of hot chocolate come from the chocolate itself, those who use cow milk have a choice between the types of milk they use - and the total calorie count!

• 200ml of full fat milk: 130 calories.
• 200ml of semi-skimmed milk: 95 calories.
• 200ml of skimmed milk: 70 calories.

The difference in both calories and delicious taste between full fat and skimmed milk is definitely something to consider for fans of homemade hot chocolate!

HOW MANY CALORIES IN A HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WHIPPED CREAM?

A traditional serving of hot chocolate should come with whipped cream on top (plus some marshmallows, if you're feeling it). But how many calories are in whipped cream?

An average serving of whipped cream, typically 50g, will give you around 170 calories.

Therefore, a typical serving of hot chocolate with whipped cream will be 390 calories!

HOW MANY CALORIES IN A HOT CHOCOLATE WITH ALMOND MILK?

Almond milk is a popular alternative to dairy, offering both a vegan choice and a nutty flavour.

It also contains much less calories than most dairy milk, giving you an average of 40 calories per 200ml. This makes it a great milk for hot chocolate for those counting calories.

That means hot chocolate made with almond milk is just 95 calories. With whipped cream, that's a total of 265 calories.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN A HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WATER?

Water contains zero calories, so that adds nothing to the calorie count. Yay.

However, we at Cocoba Chocolate don't recommend using water in your hot chocolate. We tend to find that it makes both the taste and texture a lot less appealing, turning it into more of a bitter paste than a creamy treat.

Hot chocolate made with water is 55 calories, or 225 calories with whipped cream.

HOW MANY CALORIES IN COCOBA HOT CHOCOLATE?

Because we adore some hot chocolate, Cocoba has our own range of hot chocolate. With a range of unique flavours and types, we've chosen just a few to give a calorie breakdown!

• Signature Drinking Chocolate Flakes (50g): 271 calories approx. (Around 400 calories with full-fat milk).
• Hot Chocolate Bombe (filled with marshmallows!): 539 calories approx. (Around 669 calories with full-fat milk).
• Santa Milk Hot Chocolate Spoon (50g): 272 calories approx. (Around 400 calories with full-fat milk).

Hot chocolate should be a luxurious and delicious drink that should be enjoyed to the fullest, which is why our hot chocolate is bursting full of real chocolate. This means the calories are a bit higher, but so is the flavour, taste, mouth feel and awesomeness.

ADDITIONAL CALORIES

So, we know the basic calorie content of a standard hot chocolate serving. Everyone has their own favourite extras and toppings, though. To get a better understanding of how your hot chocolate cup breaks down, here you go!

• Whipped cream (50g): 170 calories approx.
• Chocolate sauce (2 tablespoons): 109 calories approx.
• Crushed nuts (15g): 85 calories approx.
• A crushed biscuit (14g): 71 calories approx.
• Marshmallows (15g): 48 calories approx.
• Candy cane: 45 calories approx.
• Granulated sugar (1 teaspoon): 16 calories approx.

But what about booze? For the adults who enjoy the warming taste and sensation of alcohol mixed with hot chocolate, the calorie breakdown looks like this:

• Baileys Irish Cream (1 shot): 125 calories approx.
• Amaretto (1 shot): 120 calories approx.
• Whisky (1 shot): 105 calories approx.
• Rum (1 shot): 97 calories approx.
• Brandy (1 shot): 70 calories approx.

WHAT NUTRIENTS ARE IN HOT CHOCOLATE?

Just like with calories, the other nutrients in hot chocolate will depend on the milk you use and the toppings you love. Typical hot chocolate mix or cocoa powder will probably contain the following:

• Fat: 1-4g approx.
• Carbohydrates: 20-25g approx.
• Fibre: 1-2g approx.
• Protein: 2-3g approx.

As you can see, there's other nutritional benefits to hot chocolate powder. However, if you're anything like us, you're just in it for the taste. If the amount of hot chocolate calories has you concerned, keep reading to find out our tips on a low-calorie hot chocolate.

CAN YOU MAKE A LOW-CALORIE HOT CHOCOLATE

While you could technically use water in your hot chocolate, we'll say again that the hot chocolate experience can be massively improved by using a low fat milk or milk substitute. If you’re concerned about making your hot chocolate that little bit healthier, you could try adding the following toppings to a hot chocolate made with our delicious chocolate flakes and low fat milk:

• Raisins (6g): 16 calories approx.
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): 12 calories approx.
• Nutmeg (1 teaspoon): 11 calories approx.
• Cinnamon (1 teaspoon): 6 calories approx.
• Sweetener (such as aspartame): 0 calories!

I don't think any of us went into this blog post thinking hot chocolate was the healthiest drink in the world, but it sure is one of the tastiest! If reading all of this has given you a craving (writing it has certainly given us one), head on over to our hot chocolate selection!