What serving size goes on hot chocolate mix?

The amount of mix that makes one 240 mL (8 fl oz) drink, in teaspoons or tablespoons with the grams, like 3 tbsp (26g). If your directions call for more or less powder per cup, the serving follows your directions.

Do the Nutrition Facts show the mix or the finished drink?

The mix, as packaged. A second "as prepared" column for a cup made with milk is optional and needs the directions on the label. Our tool makes the as-packaged label.

How do I label hot cocoa bombs?

The chocolate shell goes in the ingredient list under its standard name with its own ingredients, like "milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, soy lecithin, vanilla)", so milk and soy go in the Contains line. If one bomb makes one 8 fl oz cup, the serving is 1 bomb.

Can you print my canister labels?

We make the files: a vector PDF at actual size for your label printer, an SVG for your designer, or print sheets for Avery 5126, 5168, 5164 and 5163 on US Letter.

Hot Chocolate Label

Hot chocolate label rules start with the serving: for a mix, it is the amount of powder that makes one 8 fl oz (240 mL) drink, often about 3 tbsp. The jar or packet also needs its name, the net weight, an ingredient list, a Contains line for milk if there is dairy in it, your name and address and, in most cases, Nutrition Facts for the mix as packaged. Enter your mix and get a print-ready panel.

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Hot chocolate label on a 12 oz canister of hot cocoa mix with a Nutrition Facts panel showing 100 calories per 3 tbsp serving

Checklist

What has to be on your hot chocolate label

Name and weight on the front of the canister or packet, the rest on the back. The numbers match the canister on the left.

Front label

JUST ADD HOT WATERClassicHot Cocoa Mix

NET WT 12 OZ (340g)

Back label

Nutrition Facts

about 13 servings per container

Serving size3 tbsp (26g)

Calories100

Total Fat 0.5g1%

Saturated Fat 0g0%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg0%

Sodium 100mg4%

Total Carb. 20g7%

Dietary Fiber 1g4%

Total Sugars 18g

Incl. Added Sugars 12g24%

Protein 4g

Vitamin D 0mcg0%

Calcium 130mg10%

Iron 0.6mg4%

Potassium 270mg6%

INGREDIENTS: Sugar, nonfat dry milk, cocoa processed with alkali, salt.

Allergens: Contains milk.

Made by Snowline ProvisionsBend, OR 97701

1
Name of the mix21 CFR 101.3
"Hot cocoa mix", "Peppermint hot chocolate mix", "Mexican-style hot cocoa mix": a name that tells buyers what is in the jar, flavor included.
2
Net weight21 CFR 101.7(a)
By weight, even though it ends up as a drink: NET WT 12 OZ (340g), in the bottom 30% of the front. A single packet carries its own weight too.
3
Nutrition Facts21 CFR 101.9(b)(9)
For the dry mix as packaged, per serving that makes one 8 fl oz drink. Small sellers may be exempt while the label makes no nutrition claims.
4
Ingredient list21 CFR 101.4, 163.112, 163.113
Heaviest first, and in most mixes sugar leads. Name the cocoa the way its standard does: "cocoa", or "cocoa processed with alkali" for Dutch cocoa.
5
Allergen statementFALCPA
Milk powder means Contains milk. Chocolate chips or shavings stirred in often add soy through soy lecithin, so check each bought-in ingredient.
6
Name and address21 CFR 101.5
Who made or packed the mix, with city, state and ZIP. Filled by a co-packer? "Distributed by" with your details works.Co-Packer →

Hot chocolate rules

Things that are different for hot chocolate

240 mLServing: enough mix for one cupFDA groups sweetened cocoa powder with drink mixes: the reference amount is the mix that makes one 240 mL drink, declared in teaspoons or tablespoons with the grams. Weigh 3 level tablespoons of your own mix once; ours works out to about 26 g.21 CFR 101.12(b), 101.12(c)

12 of 18 gMilk sugar is not added sugarNonfat dry milk brings lactose. It counts in Total Sugars but not in Added Sugars, so our mix shows 18 g total and 12 g added. FDA asks you to keep records of the added amount when both kinds are present; our calculation report shows the recipe behind every number.21 CFR 101.9(c)(6)(iii), 101.9(g)(10)(iv)

As packagedThe mix, not the mugThe required column describes the dry mix. You may add an "as prepared" column for a cup made with milk if the label gives the directions. Our tool makes the as-packaged panel, the one every mix needs.21 CFR 101.9(b)(9), 101.9(h)(4)

1 packetSingle-serve packetsA packet that makes one cup holds less than 200% of the reference amount, so the whole packet is one serving and the label reads per packet. Fill the packet weight as the package in the tool.21 CFR 101.9(b)(6)

8 fl ozReady-to-drink hot chocolateBottled or canned hot chocolate is a milk-based drink with a 240 mL reference amount: 1 cup or 8 fl oz with the mL. Tick the Liquid box in the tool and the serving shows in mL.21 CFR 101.12(b), 101.9(b)(7)

No standardThe mix itself has no standardFDA's cacao standards cover the cocoa and chocolate you put in, from breakfast cocoa to milk chocolate, not the finished mix. Use their names for those ingredients and describe the mix in plain words.21 CFR Part 163Cocoa Label →

Sizes

Hot chocolate packaging and the label that fits

Packets are tiny, canisters are round. Measure the flat area you can print on, then switch formats in the tool.

Hot chocolate packaging and the label that fits
Package	Typical label area	Style that usually fits
1 oz single packet	2 × 2.5 in	Small package (linear)
8 oz jar	2.5 × 3 in	Standard (vertical)
12 oz canister	3 × 4 in	Standard (vertical)Most common
16 oz stand-up pouch	3.5 × 4 in	Standard (vertical)

Sample recipe included

Start from a hot cocoa mix that's already filled in

Four ingredients, whisked together, 3 tbsp per 8 fl oz cup of hot water. Milk powder is fluffy and sugar is dense, so weigh 3 level tablespoons of your own mix and enter that as the serving. Swap the Dutch cocoa for natural cocoa or stir in cinnamon and the label follows.

Start with this recipe

Start from a hot cocoa mix that's already filled in
Ingredient	Amount	Unit
Granulated sugar✓ USDA match	1 1/2	cups
Nonfat dry milk✓ USDA match	8.5	oz
Dutch-process cocoa✓ USDA match	1	cup
Salt✓ USDA match	1/2	tsp

Makes about 22.2 oz, 24 cups of hot cocoaServing 3 tbsp (26 g)

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