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close up of a cup of In-N-Out hot cocoa – In-N-Out\/Facebook<\/p>\n
In-N-Out might not exactly be a dessert destination, but the West Coast burger chain does have a few treats on offer, and they’re actually pretty high quality. The main sweet item is the signature milkshake, which we named one of the best fast food ice cream treats<\/a> in the country. But when you’re feeling the cold, there’s also a delicious hot cocoa on the menu, and it’s made using a top-notch California chocolate brand: Ghirardelli.<\/p>\n In-N-Out doesn’t actually specify that it uses premium Ghirardelli hot chocolate mix in store, but the chain has boasted about it in social media posts. Some eagle eyed customers have also spotted the bags behind the counter,\u00a0and there are even Reddit posts about the topic online. People have been pretty impressed to learn this fun fact, but not exactly surprised. The partnership makes sense, as one Reddit user<\/a> put it:\u00a0“Two iconic California brands. Perfect match.”<\/p>\n The partnership began in 2018, when In-N-Out reintroduced hot cocoa to the menu for the first time since the 1950s. The drink is made using hot water and freeze-dried marshmallows,\u00a0which are optional, so it’s more akin to a nostalgic, ski-lodge cocoa than a thick, European-style hot chocolate.<\/a> If you’ve had Ghirardelli hot chocolate before though, you’ll recognize the signature taste, which draws out its own nostalgic memories for many northern Californians.<\/p>\n Read more: We Tried And Ranked Every McDonald’s Burger<\/a><\/p>\n In-N-Out serves premium Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, located near the city’s only In-N-Out – Eudaimonic Traveler\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Ghirardelli traces its roots all the way back to 1849, when Italian immigrant Domenico Ghirardelli opened his first confectionery store in Stockton. A couple of years later, the candy apprentice founded the\u00a0Ghirardelli Chocolate Company<\/a> in San Francisco. The brand would go on to become an important part of the city’s culture and heritage, and the old manufacturing plant, the historic Ghirardelli Square<\/a> on the waterfront, continues to attract\u00a0millions of visitors every year.<\/p>\n Ghirardelli chocolate has been manufactured in San Leandro since the 1960s,\u00a0and the company was acquired by Lindt & Sprungli in 1998,\u00a0but the treats still taste just as good \u2013- and its gourmet hot cocoa is a fan-favorite. The one used by In-N-Out is made using high-quality Dutch cocoa and real milk powder, giving it a robust, full-bodied flavor for just $1.65.<\/p>\n One Reddit user<\/a> wrote, “It hit the spot. Not only was it perfectly hot but … it was rich creamy and refreshing. ” In a Youtube video<\/a>, Ian Keiner called the cocoa “very rich” but “not too sweet.” He said, “It doesn’t really taste like an instant type of cocoa that you think most fast food places would serve. It’s got a lot of volume to it … it’s a nice balance.” Plus,\u00a0kids under 12 years old enjoy it for free on rainy days.\u00a0Those don’t come too often in California -\u2013 but it’s a nice touch.<\/p>\n Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter<\/a> where we’re helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source<\/a> on Google.<\/p>\n![\"Ghirardelli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/e3161fb69270a00197f92e3e6863651c.jpeg\"\/)
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