What is the difference between cocoa powder and drinking chocolate?

Cocoa powder is pure ground cocoa beans with no added sugar — you add your own sugar and milk. Drinking chocolate (like Options or Cadbury) already contains sugar and sometimes milk powder, so you just add hot milk or water. Cocoa powder gives you more control over sweetness.

How much cocoa powder per mug?

For a standard 250ml mug, use about 25g (roughly 2 heaped tablespoons) of cocoa powder with 25g of sugar and 250ml of milk. Adjust the sugar to your taste — some prefer less, especially with a quality cocoa.

Can I use water instead of milk?

You can, but milk gives hot chocolate its creamy richness. For a lighter version, use half milk and half water. Drinking chocolate powder works better with water than pure cocoa powder does.

What makes the richest hot chocolate?

Use real chocolate (50g per mug), chopped and melted into hot whole milk. Use 70% dark chocolate for intensity or milk chocolate for sweetness. A pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla extract enhance the flavour further.

How do I make hot chocolate for a crowd?

Heat the milk in a large saucepan. Whisk in the cocoa or chocolate until smooth. Keep warm on a low heat or in a slow cooker. Do not let it boil or the milk will scald. This calculator scales the quantities for you.

BakeCalcs

Hot Chocolate Calculator

Calculate chocolate, milk, and sugar quantities for hot chocolate by number of servings and method.

Method

Number of Servings

Mug Size

Standard mug is 250ml

How We Calculate This

The calculator scales standard per-mug quantities by the number of servings and adjusts for mug size. There are three methods, each with different ingredient ratios.

Per 250ml Mug

Cocoa powder: 25g cocoa + 25g sugar + 250ml milk
Drinking chocolate: 40g drinking chocolate + 250ml milk
Real chocolate: 50g chocolate (chopped) + 10g sugar + 250ml milk

Tips

Heat milk gently — do not boil
Whisk well to prevent lumps
A pinch of salt enhances chocolate flavour
Top with whipped cream or marshmallows

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.