It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.
When we set out to look for the best hot chocolate in the city for kids, we decided on a few criteria for our top picks:
- quality ingredients (no corn syrup, preservatives, dyes)
- kid appeal (sorry, lavendar hot chocolate at Fika and espresso-infused Bicarín at Soma—you’re delicious, but no)
- adult appeal—we want to indulge, too!
So, after selflessly traipsing across the city in the search of that perfect cup of cocoa, here are our favourite finds.
Did we miss something? Let us know! E-mail info@helpwevegotkids, or talk to us on Twitter (@HelpWeveGotKids) or Facebook!
Soma Chocolatemaker
You might expect this Toronto-based small-batch chocolatemaker to craft a great cup of cocoa, and you’d be right. Kids will probably most enjoy the Classic hot chocolate, which is Soma’s Dark Side of the Mug cocoa powder (cocoa, organic cane sugar, Madagascar vanilla) combined with milk or water. You can also get it as an “intense shot” (think espresso, but pure chocolate). Or opt for an espresso-less affogato, with with a chocolate shot poured over house-made vanilla gelato.
For adults, the Spicy Mayan is a hit, but our fave for grown-up palates is the Bicerín, equal parts cream, espresso, and chocolate. Don’t leave without trying at least a few of their amazing truffles.
Two locations: 443 King St. W. (near Spadina Ave.), 416-599-7662; 32 Tank House Lane (Distillery District), 416-815-7662; www.somachocolate.com.
Aroma Espresso Bar
Looking for something over-the-top and delicious? Aroma’s seasonal s’mores hot chocolate is just the ticket. A rich hot chocolate with marshmallow syrup, topped with a toasted marshmallow and sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs. Adults may want to ask for slightly less syrup, but we’re betting kids won’t feel the same.
19 locations in the GTA, www.aroma.ca.
Whole Hearth Cafe & Bakery
Whole Foods makes a surprisingly great hot chocolate in its upstairs café/bakery (note: the hot chocolate made at the in-store café counter is not the same). They mix the chocolate ganache frosting for their cakes with steamed organic milk for a smooth, rich, flavourful cocoa, with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle by request. Nothing fancy, just great flavour.
87 Avenue Rd. (near Bloor St. W.), 416-944-0500, www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
Chocolateria
One of the city’s kid-friendliest streets (every shop is stroller-accessible) dishes up a kid-friendly—and adult-approved—hot chocolate from this dedicated chocolate shop known for covering everything from potato chips to licorice in chocolate. The cocoa is made with a house-made chocolate sauce mixture of German cocoa powder, Callebaut chocolate, and sugar, mixed with a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon. They’ll tell you that the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top are optional, but we say they’re a must!
361 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-588-0567, www.thechocolateria.ca.
Bobbette & Belle Artisanal Pastries
Much has been written about the hot chocolate here, and for good reason. A thick, rich European-style drinking chocolate with a blowtorched “toasted” marshmallow on top (see a video of how it’s done). The vanilla-bean marshmallows are made in-house and you can buy them separately to take home.
Two locations: 1121 Queen St. E. (near Pape Ave.), 416-466-8800; 3347 Yonge St. (near Lawrence Ave.), 416-466-8800; www.bobbetteandbelle.com.
Le Gourmand
Designed for true chocoholics as well as those with a serious sweet tooth, Le Gourmand’s hot chocolates come in several flavours (caramel, Nutella, Belgian white) and several chocolate grades, from thick milk chocolate to a dark 85% African Grand Cru. The Nutella hot chocolate might tempt kids and kids-at-heart, but we favour the caramel hot chocolate, which is deliciously (but not overly) sweet and milky.
152 Spadina Ave. (at Queen St. W.), 416-866-21217, legourmand.com.
Douce France
If you’ve got a little one obsessed with tea parties, Angelina’s hot chocolate at Douce France will take it to the next level. A thick European-style drinking chocolate imported from Paris that pours like fondue and comes with an entire ramekin of whipped cream on the side, it’s simply amazing. At nearly $10 you might find it pricey for the kiddos, but for a special occasion, we say go for it!
2471 Yonge St., 647-779-6965, www.doucefrance.ca.
Nadege
A French bakery that makes homemade macarons should have a good cup of chocolat chaud, too, and Nadège has that: one sweet and creamy—and almost fruity—option made from rare Peruvian Ilanka chocolate and another darker “gourmet” hot chocolate. But again, for us it’s all about the marshmallow. Nadège serves a homemade marshmallow alongside your cup, in a different flavour each day: lemon, raspberry, rose-and-lychee, and more. A perfect way to cap off an afternoon of tobogganing in Trinity Bellwoods Park.
780 Queen St. W., 416-368-2009, www.nadege-patisserie.com.
Balzac’s
A simple but delicious cuppa cocoa with homemade chocolate syrup mixed up using Balzac’s own fair-trade organic chocolate, combined with organic milk, and topped with whipped cream hits the spot. What we loved most was that it was not overly sweet—even the whipped cream tasted more of cream than sugar!
5 Toronto locations; www.balzacs.com.
Pain Perdu
First: it comes in a bowl. A bowl. That should be enough to get the kiddos squealing with excitement. Pain Perdu is one of the few places in Toronto to get a true European chocolat viennois, piled high with whipped cream. Full disclosure: we may have been swayed into loving the cocoa because we accompanied it with one of Pain Perdu’s simply amazing, light and flaky almond croissant (get ‘em early, they sell out!). But that doesn’t mean it’s not great in its own right.
736 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-656-7246.
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