Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate: What You Need to Know

Gluten-free hot chocolates may seem like an impossible treat to find, but it’s actually easier than ever with the numerous brands out there that offer gluten-free options.

Gluten is not good for health. It is a type of protein that can cause gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and celiac disease.

you can also make the gluten-free hot chocolate mix at your home with some easy steps. In this article, we will try to discuss almost everything related to the gluten-free chocolate mix.

What is gluten?

Gluten is most commonly used to refer to gluten proteins that occur in wheat and related grains, including barley and rye. Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape, and often gives the final product a chewy texture. 

When flour is mixed with water, gluten proteins from gluten strands, cross-link with glutenin strands of adjacent gluten molecules, forming an interlacing network that can stretch as the dough rises but then spring back during baking. 

This “elasticity” or “springiness” allows dough made with gluten-added gold medal-winning recipe ingredients to expand properly without breaking as it cooks.

Is Gluten harmful?

For people without celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is not necessary. However, some people find that they feel better when they avoid gluten. This may be because gluten can cause inflammation in some people.

People with celiac disease have an autoimmune reaction to gluten that damages the small intestine. This can lead to problems absorbing nutrients from food. Symptoms can include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, fatigue, and weight loss.

Some people who don’t have celiac disease may also have gluten sensitivity, which can cause similar symptoms. There is no specific test for gluten sensitivity, so it’s diagnosed by ruling out other conditions.

What does gluten-free mean?

According to the FDA gluten-free means, no gluten ingredients are used on equipment or during the processing of any gluten-free labeled food item. Gluten ingredients free diet must be medically supervised because it can lead to serious health problems if not done properly.

Why is gluten added to chocolate?

There are a few reasons. One reason is that gluten helps to give the chocolate a smooth texture. It also helps to bind ingredients together and gives the chocolate a “chewy” texture. 

Gluten can also help to create a richer flavor in chocolate. Finally, it helps to stabilize the chocolate so that it doesn’t melt too quickly. All of these qualities make gluten an important ingredient in chocolate. However, for people who have gluten sensitivities, it can be a problem. That’s why there are now many gluten-free chocolates on the market. These chocolates use different ingredients to provide the same qualities as regular chocolate.

What’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?

Both are delicious hot beverages, but there are some differences. First, chocolate is made from cocoa beans that have been roasted and then ground into a paste or powder. 

Chocolate can be eaten by itself or added to many recipes for both sweet and savory dishes. Cocoa, on the other hand, is not made with cocoa beans; it’s actually just chocolate in its most basic form after all of the ingredients for things like milk, sugar, and vanilla have been removed.

Metaphorically speaking, calling something “chocolate” means that it can act as an umbrella term for anything that involves chocolate (ie- hot chocolate). On the other hand, calling something “cocoa” usually means that it is a more pure form of chocolate.

Most hot cocoa mixes are pre-made and only require hot water or milk to be added, while hot chocolate mixes generally require melted butter or margarine, in addition to the hot water or hot milk. This is because hot chocolate mixes usually contain things like flour, sugar, and cocoa powders which help thicken and stabilize the drink.

Hot cocoa powders are often enjoyed with marshmallows, while hot chocolate can have a variety of toppings such as whipped cream, nuts, chocolate shavings, or sprinkles.

So what’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolates? In short, hot cocoa is made with ground cocoa beans while hot chocolate contains other ingredients like flour and sugar.

Brands that make hot chocolate

There are many best-known hot chocolate brands currently in the world. Some hot chocolate brands are making gluten-free hot chocolate and some are not. Let’s see which brand makes gluten-free hot chocolate and which one is not.

Is swiss miss hot chocolate gluten-free?

Swiss Miss knows that a delicious cup of hot cocoa is the perfect way to end a long day. That’s why they use only the finest ingredients, like real cocoa and nonfat milk, in their marshmallow hot cocoa mix. 

With no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavors, or colors, Swiss Miss hot chocolate is gluten-free and 99.9% caffeine-free. 

So prepare yourself for a smile-inducing sip of perfection with Swiss Miss Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix.

Is Starbucks hot chocolate gluten-free?

The hot chocolate drinks at Starbucks are all gluten-free, except for the caramel flavor and any with toppings other than whipped cream. So we can say Starbucks hot chocolate is gluten-free. 

It’s always good to let them know about any allergies you have so they can prepare a drink without dairy or soy ingredients!

Are Dunkin donuts hot chocolate gluten-free?

All of the delicious hot drinks at Dunkin’ including Dunkin donuts hot chocolate are gluten-free! This includes coffees, Americanos, and lattes as well macchiatos teas. 

You can order them in a variety of flavors like vanilla chais cappuccinos or even get an espresso shot with your favorite drink for some extra spice.

Is Nestle hot chocolate gluten-free?

Nestlé’s hot cocoas come in three varieties: Classic, with Mini Marshmallows and Fat-Free. Sadly Nestle does not label any of their products gluten-free because they may be processed on equipment that also processes wheat-containing ingredients.

So We can say Nestle’s hot chocolate is not gluten-free.

Is McDonald’s hot chocolate gluten-free?

McDonald’s hot chocolate is served without any gluten-containing ingredients in their U.K restaurants, and they do not promote any of Their US menu items as gluten-free or wheat-containing ingredients on account that it isn’t available there. 

So if you are living in the USA then you are not 100% secure whether the McDonald’s hot chocolate contains gluten or not, but if you live United kingdom then you can be relaxed because they are gluten-free.

Is land o lakes hot chocolate gluten-free?

LAND O LAKES® Cocoa Classics Hot Cocoa Mix is a delicious blend of cocoa powder, sugar, and milk that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s gluten-free so it will not make your allergies symptoms flair up!

Landed Olakes Cappuccino Classic hot cappuccinos contain natural flavorings with no artificial colors or preservatives for those looking to indulge in something sweet but still want some nutritional value too.

Is Ghirardelli hot chocolate gluten-free?

60-80% of their dark chocolate and dark chocolate bars are made of gluten-free ingredients. But as they did not mention anything about hot chocolate. So we can’t assure you whether it’s gluten-free or not. 

As they did not mention anything officially we can assume their hot chocolate contains gluten.

How to make Gluten Free hot chocolate

If you are craving the hot chocolate mix but it’s not available to you right now then you can make a gluten-free hot chocolate mix at your home with a few ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Cup Sugar OR 1 Cup of Sweetener such as Stevia if you want to make it sugar free.  
• Be sure to check that the brand is gluten free since some contain maltodextrin which is derived from barley and thus contains gluten.
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 4 Cups non dairy powdered milk of choice. If you can’t find a non dairy option just omit this step and up the amount of cocoa powder.
• 1 Tbsp instant coffee
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, and non-dairy milk until there are no clumps.   Add in the coffee and vanilla and stir well. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

To use add 1/3 cup mix to 10oz hot water or milk of choice. You can use chocolate chunks Dark chocolate bars or candy canes to make the hot chocolate mix drink tastier.