We tested 7 hot chocolate mixes, and this supermarket classic won us over

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Creamy, milky, chocolatey — the best hot cocoa is like a hug in a mug, and the perfect thing to sip on a chilly fall or winter day. You could melt down chocolate into milk, but there's no denying the appeal of instant hot chocolate, which delivers that same comforting sweetness with a lot less fuss.

I grew up on Swiss Miss with mini marshmallows, and while it remains my go-to, I've noticed that the hot chocolate aisle in the grocery store is bursting with options nowadays. Starbucks sells a mix, as does Trader Joe's and Target's house brand, Good & Gather. With so much variety out there, we were curious: Do the classics still hold up? It turns out they do — but they've got some steep competition!

For our test, we bought seven of the most popular supermarket hot chocolate mixes. Then, we gathered a group of Yahoo editors that included a professionally trained chef, a former food magazine editor (me) and a ton of hot chocolate aficionados. We kept the tasting blind to prevent any brand loyalty from coming into play. And I have to be honest with you: The results of our totally scientific study (okay, it wasn't that strict, but we did take our job seriously!) surprised us.

Read on to discover why our top pick won out, and keep scrolling for our favorite mugs and other hot-cocoa must-haves.

Walmart

This tried-and-true option scored highest across the board, with testers commenting, "creamy and milky, but not too decadent" and "the platonic ideal of hot chocolate." A couple noted that the drink tastes a tiny bit salty, which helps offset the extreme sweetness (the ingredients include several sweeteners like sugar, corn syrup and sucralose).

At less than $7 for a can that makes 39 servings, this hot chocolate was also one of the most affordable of the bunch.

We gathered a group of self-professed hot cocoa lovers that included a professionally trained chef and a former food-magazine editor (me). We made each mix following the instructions on the box and poured the resulting drink into cups labeled only with a letter to keep the tasting blind.

Then came the fun part! Each tester sipped to their heart's content and filled out a rubric rating each drink from a scale of one to five on flavor (sweet or bitter?), richness (creamy or watery?), texture (gritty or silky?), aroma and overall enjoyment. We also asked the testers to jot down any thoughts they had about the samples.

Swiss Miss Classics Milk Chocolate: We generally liked this classic mix, which is on the sweeter side and has a silky texture. It didn't score quite as well as Nestle when it came to richness, though. Several testers said it was watery. Interestingly, one of our testers identified this as Swiss Miss without ever seeing the box!

Starbucks Classic Hot Cocoa Mix: Multiple testers noted how bitter this hot chocolate was, and one called the aftertaste "oily and tart." If you reach for this mix, we suggest using whole milk to help balance the flavor — and don't skimp on the marshmallows!

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix: Surprisingly, this option from the chocolate-making behemoth didn't do much for us. "Like bad water," commented one tester, and others agreed, noting the lack of flavor.

Nestle Abuelita: This Mexican-style hot chocolate with notes of cinnamon was our second-favorite pick, earning high marks for its silky texture and slightly spicy aroma. "Tastes like you're chewing cinnamon gum and drinking hot chocolate," noted one tester. (We didn't think that was a bad thing!)

Good & Gather Double Hot Chocolate Mix: Target's house brand disappointed us with its bitterness. Don't ignore the directions to make this mix with milk (not water), as it definitely needs dairy!

Trader Joe's Organic Hot Cocoa Mix: "Definitely tastes elevated/decadent," wrote one tester; another said this mix was "rich." Though the group thought it was just the right amount of sweet, some testers found the texture a bit gritty and thin.

Layer in additional flavors! Pile on marshmallows or whipped cream for added sweetness, stir in a candy cane for a minty note, add a pump of salted caramel syrup for a salty-sweet hit or sprinkle in some cinnamon or cayenne for a kick. If your instant hot chocolate tastes too thin, stir in some milk or cream for richness.

Technically, no, though most people use the terms interchangeably (as we do in this story). Hot cocoa is usually made from cocoa powder, sugar and milk — all the mixes we tried are hot cocoa. Hot chocolate is actual solid chocolate that's been melted in water, cream or milk.

Amazon

Need a little color in your life? These handmade-looking 16-ounce mugs come in two lovely watercolor designs, so you always know which drink is yours.

Mud Pie

Proclaim your love for hot chocolate loud and proud. That spiky black thing at the top of this generously sized 21-ounce mug is actually a skewer attached to a wooden spoon for marshmallows — genius!

Amazon

If you're someone who sips rather than slurps, you may want an insulated mug. This stainless steel 12-ounce beauty, from the makers of everyone's favorite tumbler, looks old-school in the coolest way.

Amazon

Lean into the cozy vibes with a buffalo check design. You may not live in a cabin, but you can pretend you do with these 12-ounce mugs.

Amazon

When it comes to gifting, the name of the game is personalization. The cute gold monogram on this 15-ounce mug makes it feel that much more special.

Amazon

Lots of people have a coffee bar at home — why not a hot chocolate bar? Set aside a bit of counter space for some mugs and this handy organizer. Dump cocoa powder in one bin and marshmallows, cinnamon sticks and another topper of your choice in the others.

Amazon

This fun 32-ounce frother takes your hot cocoa up a notch. Just add your favorite mix plus milk, and let the machine do its thing. More than 1,300 Amazon shoppers gave it a five-star review.

Amazon

These peppermint stirrers do double duty — as they melt, they flavor your drink. It's hard to find a set that gets good reviews, but this is one of the best, thanks to the large size and fairly sturdy design.

Amazon

Cocoa for a crowd? There's nothing handier than an insulated carafe. This one gets an impressive 5,000-plus five-star reviews.