Best Hot Chocolate from Fast Food Restaurants

Thanks Global-Chica. You definitely have to go to Caribou Coffee! The locations near me all have a nice woodsy feel that just makes you want to sit back and kick your feet up - which you can easily do since they have chairs and a coffee table with newspapers strewn about, inviting you to stay. Not only was the hot chocolate one of the best, but the staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. I would love to hear back if you get the chance to give it a try. Thanks for your comment and compliment on the photos too.

That's too funny eHealer. I would love to do the same, but it's so cold and windy today where I am near Chicago that I don't even want to leave the house. If I do leave later though, I am definitely going to go to get a Starbucks hot chocolate. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I had fun taking them, and of course drinking the hot chocolate.

Thanks Denise. It's too bad you can't enjoy the creaminess of a milk-based hot chocolate, but good that you've found one you like. At home I like the Ghirardelli brand of hot chocolate which comes in a variety of flavors, but I'm not sure how it would be with water. Thanks for your comment, votes and sharing.

Rebecca - There can definitely be a big difference in calories between hot chocolate from different restaurants. What's nice is that many of their websites allow you to select your ingredients (i.e. non-fat, 2% or whole milk; whipped cream or no whipped cream) and then calculate the calories.

I know what you mean divacratus - I've been wanting hot chocolate all week after working on this Hub about it and seeing the pictures over and over. The melting whipped cream in the Starbucks cup gets to me the most.

twoseven - I often have a love/hate relationship with nutritional information. I want to see it, but I know it may spoil a good thing. I do like how a lot of the websites let you pick and choose the ingredients and calculate the nutritional value for exactly what you would order.

Jill - Thanks for your comment and votes and I'm certainly glad you enjoyed it.

Hi Gail. Thanks for the kind words about the review and photos. The first one was actually a lot of fun to create. I used to make the same Nestle low fat, low sugar hot chocolate at home and then I topped it with low fat whipped cream; and it was virtually low-taste, if not no-taste :) These days if I make it at home I use skim milk and Ghirardelli hot chocolate, but I have to say, I'm really looking forward to having another cup of the Starbucks and Caribou Coffee hot chocolate during the winter. And seeing that our winter seems to go clear through the end of March, I have plenty of time. Thanks for your comment, votes, and sharing. ~Kristin

Thanks vespawoolf. At the moment, Caribou Coffee has 500 locations, but seem to be rapidly expanding. They're in a few countries besides the U.S. (Turkey, Kuwait, UAE) but sadly, not Peru where you are.

leahlefler - Caribou Coffee is based out of MN and I see they have a few locations in the Pittsburgh area, but not yet New York. Global-Chica commented earlier that they are located in D.C. So be on the lookout for a CC as they do seem to be growing. What's nice about Caribou Coffee is that many of them have a fireplace so you can cozy up to the fire there with a good cup of hot chocolate, coffee or tea.

You know Glimmer Twin Fan, it was a tough "assignment" but someone had to do it. Thanks for the kind words.

Over four-hundred calories is a lot for a cup of hot chocolate, I think Caribou almost needs an extra small size. I'm going to give McDonald's a second chance because the hot chocolate itself was very good. I was so bummed that they left the whipped cream off.

healthwealthmusic - Doesn't that photo of the melting whipped cream in the Starbucks hot chocolate just make you want a cup? It is a bit of a treat though. Normally for a hot drink I have hot tea which is virtually calorie-less, so a Starbucks hot chocolate is a nice change every now and then. Thanks for your comment.

cclitgirl - Searching for a Starbucks is a bit of an oxymoron, at least where I live. Off the top of my head, I can come up with at least five Starbucks located within several miles of where I live. But that's not a bad thing. I'm glad you liked this Hub. Thanks for your comment.

Sarah - I have to say I'm not that big of a fan of white chocolate; it tastes a bit like sour milk to me, but how interesting that you don't like it either but find Dunkin' Donuts white hot chocolate amazing. I see they also have a mint hot chocolate too. Thanks for your comment.

Thanks Cyndi10. I had a lot of fun taking the hot chocolate photos and picking out which ones to use, but even more fun taste-testing. I'm glad you liked the comparison.

intenpete - Yes it is! I'm glad I inspired you to try Caribou's hot chocolate.

RTalloni - It is a tough life, I know :) but it had to be done. Thanks for your comment and kind words.

Junaid - I'm glad you enjoyed this hot chocolate Hub enough to make you want some. Thanks for your comment.

Thanks summerberrie. I hope anyone who enjoys a good cup of hot chocolate every now and then finds this information useful. There's nothing worse than ordering some and being served a cup of brown water. I'm glad you liked the pictures too. The snowy scene in the first one is from my backyard last winter and it reminds me that winter and all the good things that come with it, is on its way. Every time I see the photo of the Starbucks hot chocolate I want to get in my car and go get more!

Thanks Nora. I see you prefer DD coffee to Starbucks in one of your Hubs. I'm not a coffee drinker, but to me there's nothing like a cup of hot tea to begin each day and a cup of hot chocolate occasionally in the winter.

Thanks Denise. I appreciate you stopping back by to offer congratulations.

moonlake - That's what I wanted to know when I took the lid off my McDonald's hot chocolate, "What's the deal?" I have to have whipped cream. I like the sweetness it adds and the cool mixed with the hot. Thanks for your comment and vote.

Gail that's really nice of you to say all that and to stop by and tell me so. You can't miss with Ghirardelli and they have a variety of flavors too (but plain chocolate is all I need). Thanks again.

Pinkchic18 - I did a little checking for you and a tall hot chocolate from Starbucks has 22mg of caffeine whereas a tall brewed coffee has about 260mg of caffeine. So all you have to do is just order about 12 hot chocolates for the same caffeine fix :)

Caribou Coffee's headquarters are in MN so I bet it was easy to stumble across one of their shops. I'm starting to see more and more of them opening in the Chicago area. They do have 500 locations; maybe they'll open one in Dallas.

johndnathan - Oh I'm sure you will. I visit the McKinney/Frisco area. I will have to look for "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf" next time I'm there.

Thanks ComfortB. After looking at these pics on and off throughout the day I would have gone and gotten a cup if it wasn't relatively warm and sunny today.

Thanks savingkathy - Very fun actually! I checked, no Caribou Coffee in Canada, but they're in a lot of the great lakes states near the border :) Minnesota (their headquarters) has the most, over two-hundred. They're only in a few other countries (South Korea, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, UAE, and a few more).

Thanks Vicki. I know a lot of people could learn from you and save a lot of money by eliminating routinely buying expensive coffees on a regular basis. You're so smart to be frugal where you can.

Nora411 - I always have to laugh when I drive by DD on my way to work - the drive-through line is long and there is always a police car in it. ( I hope no cops get mad at me.) On a different note, since you live in Chicago like me, do you recall years ago when they had cop cars on the side of the tollway with a dummy dressed as a cop in the front seat. I guess it was supposed to get people to slow down without having to pay an actual cop. The funny thing is, as if that's not weird enough, is that people started leaving boxes of Dunkin Donuts on the hood of the police car. Only in Chicago. Thanks for stopping by again.

Thanks Deb. I have not ever heard of Tim Horton's before. If I ever get the McDonald's hot chocolate again I will be sure and ask for the whipped cream, even though it is supposed to include it and chocolate drizzle. It's part of the McCafe line of drinks. The problem is that I didn't realize that it was wrong until I drove away. Oh well.

Cathy - A candy cane in hot chocolate sounds wonderful. I have never heard of doing that before. During the holidays I like to make sugar cookies with a little frosting and finely crushed candy on top. They are excellent with hot chocolate.

Glad to help kitkat1141 and thanks.

Mike - Thanks for the run down on each of the hot chocolates you've had. Hopefully Caribou makes it up to you in Calgary one day and you can try that one too. I didn't know you could get Starbucks extra hot. Thanks for the tip.

ElleBee - I don't know exactly where you are, but Caribou Coffee does have some shops near the east coast in D.C., Virginaia, Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia. Maybe relocation won't be necessary :)

Thanks Bill. I like the way restaurants steam the milk with the chocolate or chocolate syrup--much better than what I can make at home.

ElleBee - I grew up in New Fairfield, CT which was about a 6 hour drive to D.C. I'm not a coffee drinker, but every time I walk into Caribou Coffee or Starbucks the coffee aroma makes me wish I loved the taste as much.

I'm glad you enjoyed it Louise. You're right, Caribou is not in London, but who knows, maybe one day. Thanks for your comment.

Thanks Robert. If it got as cold yesterday where you currently live (across Lake Michigan from me) as it did for me then I would say hot chocolate and other hot drinks are no longer enough to warm you up. You're going to need that heater!

petenali - I believe you're the second person that has mentioned Tim Horton's. I have never heard of that before (maybe it's just a Canada thing) but I will have to check it out.

Thanks torrilyn. Glad you liked having the calorie information too.

petenali - Thanks for the added information. I'm going to check out their website.

Relationshipc - Apparently there is a lot of good hot chocolate in Canada (based on your comment and previous ones) that I'm missing out on.

lindacee - Submarino sounds like it melts in your mouth. I think the hot chocolate from Caribou Coffee probably most closely resembles submarino, but that coffee shop isn't everywhere. Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.