Best Donuts in Utah

Best Donuts in Utah
rev. 30 Sep 2018, two shops added 20 Je 19
Note: Our favorites are the first three categories below (Raised, Fritters, and Maple bars/donuts) and were tested at all bakeries we found in Utah and Salt Lake Counties, as well as two shops in Layton. 

We were unable to test some fritters and maple bars because they were sold out. We did test raised donuts at all the shops however.

All the categories below those three (cinnemon buns, cake and buttermilk donuts, fruit filled, coated donuts, and fried crousants) were only tested at some of the shops, as they are not our favorites. 

1. Raised Donuts 
Krispy Kreme, national chain A
Dunford Bakery, West Jordan (sold at their bakery and at all or most northern Utah 7-11s; keep in mind they are delivered to 7-11s late the night before each selling day; even so, they grade high if bought in the morning, but the earlier the better; it's best to get them right after delivery late at night!) grade A-
Mad Brook, Layton A-
Lehi Bakery (Country Bakery of Lehi) B+/A-
Donut Star, Draper, oily flavor B+/A-

Jack's, AF B+
Daylight Donuts, Sandy location only (other Daylights are lower, typically a B) B+

Darla's B/B+
Fresh Deli, SLC B/B+
Avenue Bakery, American Fork B
Daylight Donuts, all non-Sandy locations B
BYU Creamery B
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork B 
Duncan Donuts B-/B
Banbury Cross, SLC B-
Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton B-
Provo  Bakery C+/B-
Baked Bear, American Fork (not their own donuts), raised with a blue glaze C+/B-
Baked Bear, American Fork (not their own donuts), raised with no sugar glaze coating C+
Beyond Glazed C/C+

2. Fritters
Daylight Donuts, Pleasant Grove and Sandy locations - best 2 locations for fritters of the 6 locations we've tried:  raspberry fritter B+
Lehi Bakery (Country Bakery of Lehi), raspberry B+
Lehi Bakery, apple B+

Jack's apple B+
Donut Star, Draper, raspberry, huge (but that does't affect the grade) B+

Darla's apple B/B+
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, apple fritter (stronger spices than the 5 other Daylights we tested) B/B+
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, raspberry fritter B+ (B at PG, C+ at Provo)
Donut Star, Draper, apple, huge B/B+
Daylight Donuts, Pleasant Grove, blueberry B/B+
Provo Bakery, apple B/B+
Avenue Bakery, apple fritter (soft) B/B+ (this could be the best of the B/B+ batch, as it was not tested with the others)

Jack's, strawberry B
Banbury Cross, SLC, apple B
Target - national chian, B (Note: this is the only grocery store donut that is any good, that we've tested; all the others on this list are from dedicated donut shops and bakeries; two other donuts tested at Target were glazed: C-/C, and glazed cinamon rolls: C

Darla's, peach B-/B
Duncan Donuts (very soft) B-/B
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, apple (apples only C+) B-
Daylight Donuts, Pleasant Grove, apple B-
Dunford Bakery (sold at 7-11 and their shop): apple (too spicy) B-
Madbrook Donut, raspberry C++
Madbrook Donut, apple C+
Dunford Bakery, cherry C+
Banbury Cross, SLC, raspberry C+
Fresh Deli, SLC, apple C+
BYU Creamery, blueberry C

3. Maple Bars and Donuts, mostly glazed

Beyond Glaze, Riverton, without bacon C, with sugar applewood smoked bacon A+
Daylight, Pleasant Grove (note: each Daylight location has different grades, as some items if not most are prepared differently; so don't expect consistency throughout this chain. However, with maple, all the locations are likely high, such as B+ to A-); at P.G.: grade A-
Mad Brook, Layton, maple covered glazed donut A-
BYU Creamery, Provo, large maple bar A-
Avenue Bakery, American Fork, f. raised maple bar B+/A-
Lehi Bakery (Country Bakery of Lehi) raised bar B+
Krispy Kreme, maple glazed donut B+
Donut Star, Draper, maple BUTTERMILK B/B+
Banbury Cross, SLC,  maple bar B/B+
Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, maple covered CAKE donut B-
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, maple bar (maple only C-) B-
Provo Bakery C-

Cinnemon Buns and Twists, mostly fried
Dunford Bakery A-
Donut Star, Draper, big, round A-

Jack's, fried bun,B/B+
Avenue Bakery, cinnemon bun B/B+
Lehi Bakery, cinnemon raised roll B
Banbury Cross, cinnemon twist B
Banbury Cross, cinemon roll (inner part B/B+, outer part C), total: B
Donut Star, Draper, chocolate cinnamon twist B
Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, B-/B

Darla's, cinnamon twist B-
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, fried cinnemon bun B-
Daylight Donuts, cinnemon roll C
Krispy Kreme C-/C
Provo Bakery C-


VARIOUS ASSORTED DONUTS:
(not favorites of the editor, so not every donut shop was tested for these)
Chocolate Bismark's 
BYU Creamery B-
Provo Bakery C
Chocolate frosting on chocolate cake donuts
Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, chocolate frosted, chocolate cake donut B+
Banbury Cross, SLC, chocolate frosting on chocolate cake donut B+
Lehi Bakery, German choc cake donut B/B+
Dunford Bakery (widely distributed to Utah grocery stores) B
Mad Brook, Layton chocolate frosted chocolate cake donut B-/B
Chocolate frosting on white cake donuts
Banbury Cross, SLC, chocolate frosting on white cake donut (too sweet) B-/B
Chocolate frosting on raised donut
Mad Brook, chocolate frosted glazed donut B/B+
Lehi Bakery, chocolate covered raised donut C+
chocolate ganache coated raised C+/B-
Filled Donuts 
Donut Star, Draper, apple bear claw, oily flavor B++
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, sour cream donut B/B+
Vosen, SLC, raspberry filled donut B
Johnny O's raspberry filled caked donut B
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, lemon raised B-/B
Mad Brook, Layton, raspberry filled donut holes B-
Vosen, SLC, apple strudel? C+
Dunford Bakery, West Jordan, peanut butter and jelly C+
Fresh Deli, SLC, cream cheese pastry C
Lehi Bakery, raspberry round (possibly a filled donut) C-
Coated Donuts
Mad Brook, Layton: cinnemon/sugar/donut crumb covered glazed donut B++
Beyond Glazed, Riverton: 
a. German chocolate coated raised B
b. blueberry and cream (too sweet) coated raised B/B+
c. coconut cream coated raised B
d peach crumble coated raised B-
e. Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, chocolate and pecans coated cake donut B-
f. Lehi Bakery, coconut coated raised C+
g. Lehi Bakery, sugar coated raised C
Cake and Buttermilk Donuts and Pastries
Lehi Bakery, buttermilk bar donut B+
Lehi Bakery, half buttermilk/half regular donut B+/A-
Lehi Bakery, apple danish B+

Darl's, buttermilk B/B+
Lehi Bakery, danish alone B/B+
Donut Star, Draper, maple buttermilk B/B+
Lehi Bakery, honey boy graham B
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, buttermilk B/B+
Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, buttermilk cake donut B
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, lemon cake donut B-/B
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, vanilla cake donut C+/B-
Daylight Donuts, Lehi, blueberry cake donut C
Croissant donuts and fried croissants
Provo Bakery A
Vossen, SLC, cream-filled croissant-like donut B/B+
Donut Star, Draper, croissant donut B
Avenue Bakery, American Fork, chocolate croissant D
Avenue Bakery, American Fork, coconut croissant B+
Madbrook Donut, Clearfield, B-

Sour cream

Jack's, sour cram B

BEST SHOPS OVERALL 
4 favorites, with the first 3 tied for first:
EXCELLENT OVERALL
1. Country Bakery of Lehi
2. Mad Brook, Layton
3. Dunford Bakery, West Jordan (at most or all 7-11's in northern Utah)
GOOD OVERALL
4. Daylight

ONE GREAT ITEM ONLY ARE SOLD 
AT THESE SHOPS 
- but that's enough!
Krispy Kreme, chain, for the #1 glazed donut in the state (but their assorted donuts are mostly pretty awful); glazed: A
Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, Logan, chocolate frosted, chocolate cake donut: B+
Provo Bakery, Fried croissant A


DONUT SHOPS, ALL ITEMS TESTED
(with graded items)
At all shops we tested our two favorite donuts - glazed and fritters (except two in Layton that were sold out of fritters).

Mad Brook, Layton
June 2018
a. fried croissant B-
b. cinnemon/sugar/donut crumb covered glazed donut B++
c. chocolate frosted chocolate cake donut B-/B
d. maple covered glazed donut A-
e. chocolate frosted glazed donut B/B+
f.  glazed donut A-
g. raspberry filled donut holes B-
h. raspberry fritter C++
i. apple fritter C+

Dunford Bakery, West Jordan
9 Sep 2017
a. fried cinnemon roll A-
b. glazed A-
c. chocolate frosting on chocolate cake donut B
d. cherry fritter C/C+
e. apple fritter B-
f. peanut butter and jelly donut C+

Banbery Cross, SLC
a. glazed B-
b.apple fritter B
c. raspberry fritter C+
d. maple bar B/B+
e. cinnemon twist B
f. cinemon roll (inner part B/B+, outer part C), total: B
g. chocolate frosting on chocolate cake donut B+
h. chocolate frosting on white cake donut (too sweet) B-/B

Fresh Deli, SLC
a. Glazed B/B+
b. apple fritter C+
c. cream cheese pastry C

Vosen Bakery, SLC
Note: This is a specialty German pastry shop - not a donut shop; but it does have a couple donut-like pastries; a place worth checking out!
9 Sep 2017
SWEET PASTRIES:
a. cream-filled croissant-like donut B/B+
b. raspberry filled donut B
c. strudel?, apple C+
NON-SWEET, BAKERY ITEMS:
a. pretsel roll B/B+
b. wheat roll, C+, with butter B
c. dinner roll C
d. multi-grain roll C+
e. baci roll, chewy C+, with butter B
Beyond Glazed
11 Sep 2017
a. glazed C/C+
b. maple raised C (with sugar, applewood smoked bacon A+)
c. German chocolate coated raised B
d. blueberry and cream (too sweet) coated raised B/B+
e. coconut cream coated raised B
f. peach crumble coated raised B-
g. chocolate ganache coated raised C+/B-

Baked Bear, American Fork (not their own)
a. raised, with a blue glaze C+/B-
b. raised, with no sugar glaze coating C+

Daylight Donuts, Pleasant Grove
(We've tested fritters and glazed at Pleasant Grove, Provo, Lehi, Sandy, and Midvale; at Midvale is the best fritter, at B+, Sandy is the best glazed, at B+)
a. glazed B
b. maple bar A-
c. blueberry fritter B/B+
d. apple fritter B-
e. raspberry fritter B+
f. buttermilk C+/B-

Lehi Bakery (Country Bakery of Lehi)
August 2017 test:
a. German choc cake donut B/B+
b. chocolate covered raised donut C+
c. maple raised bar B+
d. raised, square donut B+
e. apple fritter B+
f. cinnemon raised roll B
g. apple danish B+
h. buttermilk bar donut B+
i. half buttermilk/half regular donut B+/A-
j. sugar coated raised C
danish alone B/B+
5 Sep 2017 test:
a. raspberry fritter B+
b. coconut coated raised C+
c. honey boy graham B
d. raspberry round C-
e. POCKET PIE (southern fried): apple A-
f. Boston cream pie B+
g. Boston Cream pie with whipped cream but no filling C/C+
1 Dec 2017 test:
POCKET PIES (southern fried pies)
a. lemon C+/B-
b. strawberry C
c. strawberry cream B-
d. raspberry C
e. cherry B+
f. blueberry B+
PIES
a. banana cream A
b. coconut cream B
c. chocolate cream C
d. apple C+/B-

Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork
4 Nov 2017
a. glazed B
b. maple bar (maple only C-) B-
c. apple fritter (apples only C+) B-
d. fried cinnemon bun B-
e. buttermilk B/B+
f,. buttermilk cake donut B
NON-DONUTS:
a. large jalapeno and cheese and sausage kolache (too much meat in the ratio) B/B+
b. ditto: small: B+
c. sausage and cheese kolache, small only B+/A-

Donut Star, Draper
30 May 2018
a. fried cinnemon roll (big, round) A-
b. glazed donut, oily flavor. B+/A-
c. croissant donut B
d. maple buttermilk B/B+
e. chocolate cinnamon twist B
f. fried cinnemon roll, big, round A-
g. raspberry fritter, huge (but that does't affect the grade) B+
h. apple fritter, huge (B/B+
i. apple bear claw, oily flavor b++

Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton
15 June 2018
(What a history this place has - fascinating - going back to 1940, with only these two locations left after 200 franchises thrived in the 1960's! First tried in 1968 in Provo.)
a. chocolate frosted, chocolate cake donut B+
b. chocolate covered cake donut B
c. maple covered cake donut B-
d. glazed donut B-
e. fried cinnemon bun B-/B
f. raspberry filled caked donut B
g. chocolate and pecans coated cake donut B-

Avenue Bakery, American Fork
5 Sep 2017
a. chocolate croissant D
b. coconut croissant B+
c. cinnemon bun B/B+
d. apple fritter (soft) B/B+
e. raised donut B
f. raised maple bar B+/A-

Daylight Donuts, Lehi
a. cinnemon roll C
b. apple fritter (stronger spices than the 5 other Daylights we tested) B/B+
c. raspberry fritter B+ (B at PG, C+ at Provo)
d. lemon raised B-/B
e. lemon cake donut B-/B
f. blueberry cake donut C
g. vanilla cake donut C+/B-
h. sour cream donut B/B+

Darla's 6/20/19

a. glazed B/B+

b. apple fritter B-/B (canola flavor)

c. peach fritter B-/B

d. buttermilk B/B+

e. cinnamon twist B-

Jack's, American Fork 6/20/19

a. glazed B+

b. apple fritter B+

c. strawberry fritter B

d. sour cream B

e. cinnamon fried bun B/B+







OUT OF BUSINESS:
Allen's grocery store bakery, Provo
a. glazed D+
b. cherry turnover D+/C-
b. apple turnover D+/C-

Best Guacamole in Utah Stores

Best Guacamole in Utah Stores

6 July 2018
Tests were for mild guac
1. Harmons own brand: Mild Guacamole A
2. Walmart, own brand: Mild Guacamole A-/A
3. Walmart, Wholly Guacamole: Spicy (hot) B/B+
4. Walmart: Wholly Guacamole, national brand B
(and their Guac/Pico side-by-side container rates both B)
5. Walmart: Wholly Guacamole, "Avocado Verde" B-/B
6. At Sprouts: Hatch's Chile Guacamole B
7. At Days Markets: Heber and Provo B-
8. At Good Earth: Hope's Guacamole Green Chile C+
9. At Walmart: Yucatan Guacamole 95% avocado, individual containers C
10. At Good Earth: guac and salsa combo C/C+
11. At Costco: Tableside Chunky Guacamole C-
12. At Walmart: Yucatan Guacamole Mild Authentic C-
13. At Walmart: Yucatan Guadamole Authentic C- - 

Best Chicken Stock and Broth / Best Beef Stock and Broth

Best Chicken Stock and Broth / Best Beef Stock and Broth
2016, February test
2018 June report, rev. June 2020

Best Chicken Stock and Broth
1. Pacific Chicken Bone Broth (sold at Costco) 

2. Kirtland Chicken Stock (at Costco)

3. Kitchen Basics
4. Wyler's (cubes) 
5. Better than Bouillan (base)
6. Swanson's stock
7. Orrington Farms (base)


Best Beef Stock and Broth
2016, February test
2018 June report
1. Pacific Beef Broth
2. Swanson Cooking Stock
3. Western Family Broth (can)
4. Emerill's Organic Stock
5. Wyler's cubes
6. Kitchen Basic Stock
7. Western Family boullian granules

Best Cream, Butter, Sour Cream,Cream Cheese, and Cottage Cheese in the U.S. (with national distribution)

Best Butter, UNSALTED

23 Feb 2022, rev 8 Mar 2022

2022 TEST 

This is a re-test of the 2019 fairly comprehensive one just below it. In this test, however, all the A's and most of the B grade butters were re-tested -- but none below A's and B's. Three new brands were added to the test.

IN ORDER, tested side by side (in both the 2022 and 2019 tests):

A

Isigny Ste Mere – Beurre D'Signy (at Whole Foods Markets and Tony Caputos, Salt Lake City)

Plugra, gold wrapper: "Real Milk from American Dairy Cows" (replaces "Plugra European, per below)

Land O Lakes (up from B/B+)

A - -

Challenge (at most grocery stores)

B++

Kerrygold, Irish butter (up from B)

B

Delitia, Butter of Parma

Tillamook, "Extra Creamy"

Lewis Road (goes about here -- tested only with several above)

DROPPING OUT OF THE A & B GRADES:

B- 

Organic Valley, Cultured Pasture Butter (at Sprouts and Whole Foods markets) (previously graded at A-/A)

NEW BUTTERS NOT REACHING THE A and B Grades STANDARD:

B-

Nellies Free Range, Slow Churned

B- -

Beure de Baratte Churned Butter (salted, but flavor of the butter was graded)

C-

Deitia - Buffalo Milk Butter (gamey taste)

D-

Majestic Organic 

NOT RE-TESTED:

Trader Joes Organic (yellow) (previously tested as B+)

Trader Joes, regular (white) (previously B/B+)

Vermont Creamery Cultured (low sea salt, not unsalted) (previously B/B+)

Danish Creamery (low salt, not unsalted, sold at Walmart) (previously B/B+)

365 from Whole Foods Markets (not “365 Organics” below) (previously B)

NO LONGER AVAILABLE or REPLACED WITH NEWER VARIETY:

Plugra European, gold wrapper (replaced, per above, as "Real Milk from American Dairy Cows" (previously graded A, the grade remains A with new American version) 

Plugra Premium European, red wrapper (previously B/B+) (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

29 Oct 2019 TEST

A/A+

Organic Valley, Cultured Butter (at Sprouts and Whole Foods Markets)

A

Isigny Ste Nere – Beurre D'Signy (at Whole Foods Markets and Tony Caputos, Salt Lake City)

Plugra European, in gold wrapper (different than red wrapper one below; at Whole Foods Markets)

A-/A

Organic Valley, Cultured Pasture Butter (at Sprouts and Whole Foods markets)

A - -

Challenge (at most grocery stores)

B+

Trader Joes Organic (yellow)

B/B+

Trader Joes, regular (white)

Plugra Premium European, red wrapper

Land O' Lakes

Vermont Creamery Cultured (low sea salt, not unsalted)

Danish Creamery (low salt, not unsalted, sold at Walmart)

B

Delitia, Butter of Parma

Kerrygold, Irish butter

Tillamook

365 from Whole Foods Markets (not “365 Organics” below)

B-

Kalona Organics

C+

Horizon Organics

C/C+

Vital Pasture Raised

C

Darigold

Sprouts

Clover Sonoma

Kirtland, from Costco (in our previous test, in 2011, it was rated in top 5, but has changed)

Delitia Buffalo Milk Butter

C-/C

365 Organics

Straus Organics, lightly salted, thus not unsalted

C - -

Straus Organics European Style

D

White Truffle Butter from Tony Caputos deli (grades this low eaten alone, but with cooking and     combining ingredients it could be very good)

BEST COTTAGE CHEESE – all are full fat, 4%! (Much better tasting than low fat.)

27 Oct 2019

A

365 Whole Foods Markets

Darigold

B

Clover Sonoma Organic

B-/B

Great Value (Walmart)

Organic Valley

B-

Meadow Gold (not good texture, nice flavor)

Horizon Organic Cultured

C-

Kalona Super Natural Organic, pasture grazed

BEST SOUR CREAM

26-27 Oct, 22 Nov 19

A-

Nancy's Probiotic
Daisy

B+

Trader Joe's Organic

B

Meadow Gold

Great Value (Walmart)

Straus (first day: D, but it got better after air had gotten to it for a day)

Horizon Organic

D

365 Whole Foods Markets

D-

Kalona Super Natural

Best-tasting Cream with national or large regional distribution
2018, June, rev. Sep 2019, Aug 2020
1. Land O Lakes (sold at Walmart) A
2. Darigold A-/A
3. Organic Valley B/B+
4. Kroger (sold at Smiths) B
5. Great Value (Walmart's) B
6. BYU Dairy, sold at their creamery locations B-
7. Straus C
8. Horizon C-/C
9. Winder Dairy C-
10. Meadow Gold Dairy Pure C - -

SEPARATE TEST, from 3 sold at Trader Joes

Aug 2020

1. Rock View B+

2. Trader Joes regular B/B+

3. Trader Joes organic B

Best Cream Cheese
12 Nov 2019

A
365 Whole Foods Market

B
Clover
365 Organic Whole Foods Market
Philadelphia brand (better texture than Trader Joes)
Trader Joes (but better flavor than Philadelphia)

C-/C
Sprouts

C-
Organic Valley

D+
Sprouts Organic

Best Party Dips, ready-made / Best Chip Dips

Best Party Dips, ready-made
Best Chip Dips
10 June 2018

IN ORDER
1. Mission - Salsa con Queso GOOD
2. Fritos - Jalapeno Cheddar KINDA GOOD
3. Mission - Medium Cheddar FAIR
4. Fritos - Mild Cheddar BAD

More dips are to be tested.

Best crackers - tested with and without cheese

Best crackers - tested with and without cheese 

Finished testing 6 May 2017
Uploaded 10 June 2018

The tests resulted in the same outcome whether cheddar cheese was used or not. Most of these are sold at Walmart.

B - IN ORDER
1. Pepperidge Farm - Harvest wheat
2. Pepperidge Farm - Cracker trio: the yellow cracker
3. Back to Nature - crispy wheat crackers
4. Pepperide Farm Cracker Trip: the brown cracker
5. Van's - multigrain
6. Stoned Wheat Thins

C - NOT IN ORDER
Miltons - Original Multigrain
Back to Nature Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers (it's like Shredded Wheat)
Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers with sea salt
Back to Nature Multi-Grain Flax Seeded Flatbread Crackers
Toasteds Party Pack - toasted seseme, harvedst wehat, and buter crisp
Blue Diamon Almond Nut Thins
Sociables
Dane - grans first whole wheat crackers

D - NOT IN ORDER
Blue Diamond Almond Nut Thins - nut and rice
Churnchmaster - Multi Grain Crisps
Sprouts - Flathead Whole Grain Crackers
Great Value  Reduce Fat Thin Wheat
Nabisco - Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Flavor Whole Grain Wheat Thins
Sprouts - Organic Stoneground What Square Crackers

Smoothie Recipes: Non-dairy, high anti-oxident

Smoothie Recipes: Non-dairy, high anti-oxident
tested: 19 March 2017

We tested a dozen dried berry powders for stamina and found Amrap brand (available on Amazon) the best. We also tested dozens of raw cocoa powders (see our site, "Best Chocolate Milk"), using different amounts of each product.

We also tested many combinations of nut-milks (non-dairy).

Finally we used stevia (Better Now, pure stevia) to sweeten it.

Use 1 T of raw cocoa powder (we liked the taste of Pure Naturals best) and 1 T of berry powder (preferably Amrp). The berry powder brings down the taste but increases the health benefits.

All below had raw cocoa powder, berry powder, and stevia (except one, as noted)

In order of taste:
B's
1. coconut milk/ cashew milk (50-50, using So Delicious non-sweetened coconut milk and Silk brand non-sweetened cashew milk), with cocoa powder, berry powder, and stevia

2. vanilla coconut milk / cashew milk (same brands for these)

3. coconut milk / rice milk (using Rice Dream brand, no stevia necessary since rice milk comes sweetened)

4. coconut milk / macadamia vanilla milk (So Delicous coconut milk and Royal Hawaiian macadamia vanilla milk)

C+
5. coconut milk / almond milk (So Delicious coconut milk and Califea almond milk or Silk almond milk; both tested)

C
6. coconut milk / flax milk

C-/C
7. coconut milk
8. vanilla coconut milk

C-
9. coconut milk / pea milk (So Delicious coconut milk and Ripple pea milk)

D
10. coconut milk / Hemp milk

Best non-dairy chocolate milk drinks
Use 1 T raw cocoa and stevia at the equivalent of 2 tsp sugar

1. Rice Dream (comes sweetened), so don't add stevia
2. coconut / Rice Dream + the equivalent of 1 tsp sugar (a scoop of one 1/32 tsp of pure stevia. These tiny 1/32 teaspoons come inside the containers of Better Now pure stevia, available on Amazon)
3. coconut / cashew + 3 scoops stevia
4. coconut / almond + 3 scoops stevia
5. cashew + 3 scoops stevia
Note: vanilla coconut milk is not as good as regular coconut milk.

Best Natural Sweeteners for Taste / Best Yacon for Taste

Best Natural Sweeteners for Taste
tested 15 Feb 2018
uploaded 9 June 2018
revised 4 Je 2020

This test is based on what tastes the best, based on sugar being the very best and the one most of us are most used to. The test was for making cold chocolate milk with raw cocoa powder, which has no sweetener of its own:

1. Sugar. 2 tsp

1A. Dibetic Kitchen sweetener (allulose)

2. Lakanto (Moneyfruit and erythritol). Expensive. 1 T

3. Monk Fruit Juice. 1/2 tsp

4. Xylitol. 1.5 tsp

5. Stevia. Now brand's pure stevia (hard to find in stores, as stevia is usually mixed with other sweeteners like erythritol, etc.) If it's pure, use four, 1/32 tsp scoops that come with the container.
This is our "go to" sweetener if we don't want to use sugar. It's proven to have slight health benefits as well and registers 0 on the glycemic index.

6. Truvia. Packets of stevia and another. 1.5 packets

7. Yacon.2 tsp. Tastes similar to molasses, so it has a great flavor on its own, but does not have the same effect as sugar, which has a neutral flavor, for sweetening most items.

8. Erythritol, birch sourced. 1 T + 1 tsp.This is a sugar alcohol, not as damaging as sugar on the glycemic system, but is still not healthy for you

Applying the test: making chocolate milk 
The best quantity of each sweetener is reported below also, after experimenting with different amounts. Test included a high quality raw cocoa powder (Health Works) and 8 oz (or possibly 4 oz) of whole milk. 
tested 18 Feb 2017 
1. sugar. 2 tsp
2. monkfruit/erithrotol combo, Lakento 1 T
3. Monkfruit juice, Whole Earth 1/2 tsp
4. xylitol, Health Garden 1.5 tsp
5. stevia, Better Now 4 scoops of provided 1/32 tsp
6. Truvia (packet of erithrotol and stevia) 1.5 packet
7. erithritol, birch sourced, Anthony's 1 T + 1/2 tsp
8. yacon, Gold 2 tsp

Best Natural Sweeteners for Health
(for strength and endurance)
A
Yacon syrup, "Gold" brand
monkfruit/erithrotol combo, Lakanto
Stevia, Bulk Supplements (pure stevia, one of the few sold)
Monk Fruit Juice, Whole Earth
Stevia, Better Stevia Now, with Now emphasizes on packaging
Monk Fruit, Nu Naturals
Stevia, Stevia Select
B or C
Xylotol, Health Garden
D
Erythrotol, birch sourced, Anthony's (probably most or all erythritol)
Truvia (Erithritol and stevia combo), Truvia brand
F
Sugar, C&H (or any brand)

Taste test of Yacon as a sweetener
tested 20 Feb 2017

BRAND NAME / DESCRIPTION / GRADE FOR TASTE
1. Gold, molasses-like, B-
2. Nature Botanics, molasses-like, C+
3. Ojio, tastes just like dates, C/C+
4. Genesis Today, tastes like prunes but a little bitter, C-

Test of Yacon for health and for weight loss
1. Joio
2. Pure Gold
3. GenesisTody
4. Nature's Botanicals

Best Hot Chocolate

BEST HOT CHOCOLATE 
- Make it yourself with the following 78+ brands!
- 2 years of testing all these brands, side by side 

main test finished 22 April 2018
revised 26 October, 17 November, 15 Dec 2019, March 2022

INTRODUCTION
Most of these brands are on Amazon (chosen in fact because they were the best sellers when we ordered them in 2017) or can be ordered elsewhere on the internet. Many are sold in grocery and health food stores with national distribution.

THE RECIPE - UPDATED 18 OCTOBER 2020, March 2022!
All taste best with 2 T (tablespoons) cocoa powder plus 1.5 T sugar (or the sugar-equivalent of allulose (try 2 - 2 1/3 T), especially the one sold by Diabetic Kitchen (not connected with us), or use 100% PURE stevia (allulose is better), with 4.5 micro-spoons of 1/32 tsp each).

ADDING SUGAR
All cocoas on this list come without sugar except where indicated as SUGAR.

Table sugar was added to all those that do not come sweetened.

RAW VS. ALCALIZED
The vast majority of the best-tasting cocoas are raw cocoa! A few, very good-tasting cocoas below are processed with alcali or potassium carbonate, but they are exceptions. Processing seems to ruin the flavor (and also destroy most of the amazing health benefits of cocoa by destroying the polyphenols). So raw cocoa is king.

If the cocoa is processed, you will see the the term ALCALIZED or POTASSIUM CARBONATE next to it. Only in the U.S. does the law require notification on the package if the cocoa powder is Dutch processed (alcalized). However, even if the cocoa comes from another country, in which there is no such label, it is rather easy to determine: raw cocoa is lighter tan in color. (However, a French one below, Les Confitures 'a l' Ancienne, falls in the middle of the color/shade spectrum but is likely alcalized.)

For sugar-free, a top brand that comes already sweetened (with allulose and monk fruit and stevia), is from Diabetics Kitchen, which uses Bensdorp dutch cocoa. (Bensdorp is one of the great non-raw cocoas, and is what Ben & Jerry's used to make their ice cream with till the early 2000s perhaps,  switching to something much lower in flavor.)

For LOW-CARB, sugar-free, don't use milk. Instead use 1 cup water with cocoa powders below and blend 60 seconds. Then add 1 tablespoon cream and blend 6 seconds. Using milk tastes better, but for low carb this is MUCH better than using nut milks. As editor of this site, I've experimented with all the nut milks and nut milk combinations. My fave is half coconut milk and half almond milk; but this cream-with-water combo is much better, in my opinon. 

A

1. Imlakesh Organics, available at Sprouts in a glass jar

2. Provisions Marou (Vietnam), sold at Tony Caputos 

A-/A (earthy:)

3. Volupta (sold at Costco as of Dec 2019) (not tested with Hotel Chocolat, but with the others) 

4.  Better Body Liv Fit (imported to Lindon, Utah, sold at BetterBody.com) 

A- 

 
5. Super Vital (from Guatamala, imported by Super Vital in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and sold from time to time on Amazon and always at Redmond Farms stores in the state of Utah). Their old batch that sold out and their current batch come in at the same spot on this list. Kudos to them for having the most consistency, as well as a top 2 ranking for hot cocoa!

6. Hotel (not tested in 2022 with above, but in 2020 when order was different:) Hotel Chocolat raw cocoa, from the UK and their chocolate shops 

7. Healthworks. This batch that expires 31 March 2020 improved in flavor from the previous batch that expired October 2018, which was 4 spots further down, but was still an A-.

8. Javier's (with sugar, alcalized) 

9. Cadbury Bourne (from UK, higher than regular Cadbury below on list)

10. Saco Conscious Kitchen 

B-

11. Viva (batch expiring 5 June 2019 ranks here, while their batch expiring 28 Feb 2018 ranked higher, just below Super Vital, above)

12. Sunfood

13. Freedom

14. Pure Natural Miracles 

15. Trader Joes (raw cocoa version)

16. Sprouts (their own brand). This batch that expires 19 August 2019 ranks here, while their batch that expired April 2018 was even better. 

2020 TEST, Continued with other flavors

The grades below (tested in 2020) start at B+++++, but really should be B-, per where the above 2022 test leaves off! Thus, all below should be B- and lower.

B+++++

Navitas, the "new batch," we call it, with expiration date of January 2019. A previous batch of theirs we tested in 2017 was #2 in taste of all hot cocoa!

Nuts.com. (The batch we tried was from about 2014 and tested in 2017 - 2019.  If they sell from the same source still, it's excellent cocoa.)

B++++
Cocoa Metro Belgian Cocoa Powder (raw cocoa, different than their drinking chocolate below)

B+++
Ojio

B++
THE NEXT TWO ARE THE HIGHEST RATED COCOA POWDERS THAT ARE NOT RAW:

Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate Classic, made by Guittard Co. especially for them. Use 5 T, not the the standard 2 T we recommend, which works best for most other cocoa powders on this list. (Includes butter oil, soy lecithin) SUGAR. POTASSIUM CARBONATE

Starbucks Double Chocolate (NOT their cocoa mix that has stuff in it like hydrogenated oil, milk powder, and other ingredients. This one, btw, is sold in boxes at Walmart and elsewhere.) Use 3 T (a whole packet), not the standard 2 T we recommend, per cup of milk. SUGAR. ALCALIZED

TCHO raw cocoa powder (pronounced "cho" for the first syllable of "chocolate." This is their raw cocoa; they also have a cocoa mix below)

KIVA

Tera Soul

TCHO Drinking Chocolate Crumbles. (Different than their raw cocoa above), Use 4 T per cup of milk, not the standard 2 T we recommend for most. (Contains soy lecithin) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

B+
Damori Apurimac

Pralis raw cocoa (not to be confused with their "Pralis Show," further below)

Bellagio Unsweetened,  2014. ALCALIZED

Trader Joes Sipping Chocolate. (Use 3 T of cocoa powder.) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Coco Metro: Belgian Drinking Chocolate (Separate from their raw version below that comes without sugar). (Includes soy lecitin and chocolate chunks. This is the only company that provides a cocoa  mix - with sugar - that is better than their raw cocoa powder.) SUGAR

Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate Double Dark, made by Guittard, is not as good as their "Classic" version above. (Contains butter, emulsifier, etc.) SUGAR. POTASSIUM CARBONATE

True Vibe

Natierra

Rapunzal

Askinoski

B/B+
Cacao di Pernigotti. ALCALIZED

Ghiradelli 100% Raw Cocoa

Bellagio Sipping Beverage Mix, Expires August 2015, so although it was past expiration, it held up well in tests with likely little difference between it and new batches. SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Cadbury

Nestles

Hershey's 100% cocoa powder "Dark" B

Joy Fuel

Big Tree

Western Family

B-/B
Trader Joes cocoa powder (pure cocoa)

Scharfenberger Sweetened. (Note that their older batch from May 2015 fits right underneath this one, which proves consistency and longevity.) SUGAR

Allegro Coffee Company Drinking Chocolate, Costa Rican 64. SUGAR

Pralis Cacao Show (different than their raw chocolate higher on the list). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Great Value (Walmart's brand)

Blanxart: "Traditional Spanish Hot Chocolate Blanxart Powder." SUGAR

Cafe D' Amore Chocolate Truffle. (Includes non-dairy creamer, soy lecithin, coffee, salt, stabalizer, anti-caking agent, hydrolyzed soy protein, etc.) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Chatfield;s

Guittard Grand Cacao. (Includes vanilla beans) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Scharfenberger Unsweetened, expiration 2019 (For cold cocoa it ranks one spot higher than their batch dated for expiration in 2015, which was not tested here for hot.)

C+

Ghiradelli Double Chocolate. (Includes cocoa and unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin and vanilla) SUGAR. ALCALIZED


EARLIER TEST, IN 2013:
TESTED ALONE IN SEPARATE TEST ARE THE FOLLOWING 12, the highest graded of which, at a B++, would now garner a C+, since it tied with Ghiradelli Double Chocolate, which now rates a C+, but in 2013 was given a B++.

Ghiradelli Sweet Ground Chocolate (B++)

Allegro Dominican Republic 54, grade at that time: B

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Co., grade at that time: B 

Ghiradelli Premium Hot Cocoa mix, grade at that time: B+

E. Guittard 61% Sunrise #3610 (couverture chocolate pieces - 20 per cup of milk), grade at that time: B - -

E. Guittard 72% Sunset #3720 (couvertteure chocolate pieces - 20 per cup of milk), grade at that time: B - -

Kroger, grade at that time: C++

Hershey's Cacao Reserve (with junky hydrogenatred oil ) in packets, grade at that time: C++

Green & Black, grade at that time: C

Silly Cow Farms All Natural, grade at that time: C-

Rocky Mountain Chocolate col. "Milk", grade at that time: D+

Ovaltine Rich, grade at that time: D+

END OF 2013 TEST. 

2018, CONTINUED: 

365 (Whole Food Market's brand). ALCALIZED

Dagoba Authentic ("cocoa powder with bits of pure, dark chocolate & cane sugar"). SUGAR

Dagoba Raw Cacao (Hershey's organic brand)

Saco. blend of raw plus ALCALIZED


C-/C
Stevens Organic (contains powdered milk, maltodextrin, salt, emulsifiers, plus natural flavor). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

E. Guittard Cocoa Rouge. ALCALIZED

Cafe D'Amore Sipping Chocolate (includes natural flavor). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

C-
Allegro Purvian 68 TESTED WITH ONLY DROSTE, BELOW)

Droste. (batch expires 28 Je 2019) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Valrona. ALCALIZED

THESE NEXT 2 WERE PERHAPS STALE, WHICH MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE FLAVOR. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE ABOVE WERE PAST EXPIRATION DATE AS WELL AND TASTED THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR TO NEW PRODUCT:

Bellagio Epicurean Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Mix (Includes powdered milk). (Expiration date Dec 2015) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

ABOUT HERE: Private Selection (Smith's/Kroger's brand) Double Cocoa with Belgian Chocolate (in packets)

ABOUT HERE: King Koko (Hawaiian block of cocoa, with sugar added and melted

D+
Les Confitures 'a l' Ancienne. (Contains brown sugar and vanilla extract) SUGAR. PROBABLY ALCALIZED

D
Lavenko. Sweetened with natural sugars.

Best Cocoa for cold chocolate milk / Best Cocoa Powders

BEST COCOA POWDER 
(for cold chocolate milk):

(also see our site, "Best Hot Chocolate")

- Make it yourself with the following brands!
- From 2 years of testing dozens of brands, side by side 

Rev. 19-20 Mar, 7 May 2022. Finished main test 29 June 2018 with more in Feb, Nov and Dec 2019. The Top 15 below were re-tested 13, 19 March 2022 (except Hotel and Ohio brands, tested in 2019), and the top 6 again on 7 May 22.

INTRODUCTION

Most of these brands are on Amazon (chosen in fact because they were the best sellers when we ordered them in 2017) or can be ordered elsewhere on the internet. Many are sold in grocery and health food stores with national distribution.

THE RECIPE - UPDATED 18 Oct 2020!
All taste best with 1 T (tablespoon) cocoa powder plus 2 tsp (teaspoons) sugar (or sugar-equivalent of allulose, which is 3 teaspoons allulose (not diluted with erithritol, but with monkfruit is OK!) (Before December 2019, 100% PURE stevia powder was the best we had found, rarely seen in stores as it's nearly always diluted with erithritol, but can be found on the internet), using 2 mini-scoops of 1/32 teaspoons each). 

The few exceptions for using 1 T of cocoa are indicated below. (We also did an entire side-by-side test of these powders with 1 T of sugar before redoing them with 2 tsp later.)

ADDING SUGAR
All cocoas on this list come without sugar except where indicated as SUGAR.

Table sugar was added to all those that do not come sweetened. (A couple dozen were also tested with stevia, with the same results as sugar, in the same order.)

Note that for a healthier version, you can substitute sugar for our favorite natural sugar substitute -- allulose. (Best tasting is a blend with monkfruit from Diabetic Kitchen.)

RAW VS. ALCALIZED

The vast majority of the best-tasting cocoas are raw cocoa! A few, very good-tasting cocoas below are processed with alcali or potassium carbonate, but they are exceptions. Processing seems to ruin the flavor (and also destroy most of the amazing health benefits of cocoa by destroying the polyphenols). So raw cocoa is king.

If the cocoa is processed, you will see the the term ALCALIZED or POTASSIUM CARBONATE below. Only in the U.S. does the law require on the package if the cocoa powder is Dutch processed (alcalized). However, even if the cocoa comes from another country, they are rather easy to determine: raw cocoa is lighter tan in color. (However, a French one below, Les Confitures 'a l' Ancienne, falls in the middle of the color/shade spectrum but is likely alcalized.)

For sugar-free, a top brand that comes already sweetened (with allulose and monk fruit and stevia), is from Diabetics Kitchen, which uses Bensdorp dutch cocoa. (Bensdorp is one of the great non-raw cocoas, and is what Ben & Jerry's used to make their ice cream with till the early 2000s perhaps,  switching to something much lower in flavor.)

For LOW-CARB, sugar-free, don't use milk. Instead use 1 cup water with cocoa powders below and blend 60 seconds. Then add 1 tablespoon cream and blend 6 seconds. Using milk tastes better, but for low carb this is MUCH better than using nut milks. As editor of this site, I've experimented with all the nut milks and nut milk combinations. My fave is half coconut milk and half almond milk; but this cream-with-water combo is much better, in my opinon. 

A
1. Better Body (imported by them in Lindon, Utah, sold at Walmart at times, and online.) Not only great tasting, it's the best bang for the buck - the least expensive for high quality.

A-

2. Cadbury Bourne (UK brand, sold in U.S. on Amazon) regular Cadbury rates lower down the list)

3. Saco Conscious Kitchen (very mild)

4. Super Vital (from Guatamala, imported by Super Vital in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and sold from time to time on Amazon and always at Redmond Farms stores in the state of Utah). Find it on their website.

5. Cacao Provisions (Vietnam), sold at Tony Caputos, SLC, Utah

6. Imlakesh Organics (sold at Sprouts and on Amazon, in a jar)

7. Hotel Chocolat (in the UK), their raw cocoa (tested 2020; not tested with top 6 above in 2022, but in 2020 it rated just above Provisions Marou and Saco Conscous Kitchen, which are above.

B+++ (2 of these 3 tested in 2022)

8. Pure Natural Miracles brand, on Amazon

9. Viva

10. Ojio (tested 2020)

B++

11. Trader Joes pure cocoa, not their one mixed with sugar (further below)

12. Fortunato #4 Javier's mix BEST MIX WITH SUGAR AND ALCALIZED COCOA: (with ½ milk and ½ water, boiled then cooled). (Better than only water or only milk.) SUGAR, ALCALIZED 

13. Freedom

14. Voluptia

15. Healthworks

16. Sprouts

17. Nuts.com (batch tested was from about 2014 and tested 2017 - 2019. If they sell from the same source still, it's very good cocoa.)

18. TCHO (pronounced "cho" for the first syllable of "chocolate." This is their raw cocoa; they also have a cocoa mix below)

B+
THREE NEXT HIGHEST RATED COCOA POWDERS (after Fortunato #4 Javier's) THAT ARE NOT RAW AND THAT INCLUDE SUGAR, IN ORDER:

Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate Classic, made by Guittard Co. especially for them. 3 T needed per cup of milk, not the 5 T written under "directions" on the can. Also, be careful not to use the standard 1 T we recommend, which works best for most other cocoa powders on this list. (Includes butter oil, soy lecithin) SUGAR. POTASSIUM CARBONATE

Starbucks Classic (This higher quality packet is sold in boxes at Walmart and elsewhere.) Use 2 T, not the full packet which is 2.5 T.) SUGAR, ALCALIZED 

Starbucks Double Chocolate (This one is also sold in boxes at Walmart and elsewhere.) Use 2 T, not the full packet which is 2.5 T. (It's too strong with the whole packet.) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

B/B+

Great Value (Walmart's brand)

B
TCHO Drinking Chocolate Crumbles (different than their raw cocoa above), 3 T per cup of milk. (contains soy lecithin) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

B-/B
Pralis raw cocoa (not to be confused with their "Pralis Show," further below)

(Note: Starbucks Double Chocolate (listed above) ranks here, using just 1 T of mix, rather than 2 T, per above, for each cup of milk.)

Damori Apurimac

Askinoski

Coco Metro: Belgian Drinking Chocolate (Separate from their raw version below that comes without sugar). (Includes soy lecitin and chocolate chunks. This is the only company that provides a cocoa  mix - with sugar - that is better than their raw cocoa powder.) SUGAR

B-
Sunfood

Navitas, the "new batch," we call it, with expiration date of January 2019. A previous batch of theirs we tested in 2017 was #1 in taste of all cocoa powders!

Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate Double Dark, made by Guittard, is not as good as their "Classic" version above. (Contains butter, emulsifier, etc.) SUGAR. POTASSIUM CARBONATE

Rapunzo

Bensdorp, ALCALIZED, fits somewhere below here. . . . 

Cadbury (their Cadbury Bourne is MUCH higher on this list)

Cocoa Metro Belgian Cocoa Powder (raw cocoa, different than their drinking chocolate above)

Trader Joes powder (pure cocoa)

Nestles

Trader Joes Sipping Chocolate. SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Tera Soul

Kiva

Hershey's

Western Family

Chatfield

Scharfenberger Unsweetened, expiration 2019, ranks one spot higher than their batch dated for expiration in 2015.

Blanxart: "Traditional Spanish Hot Chocolate Blanxart Powder." SUGAR

Ghiradelli 100% Raw Cocoa

C+
Ghiradelli Double Chocolate. (Includes cocoa and unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin and vanilla) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Scharfenberger sweetened. SUGAR

Droste (Batch expires 28 June 2019 SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Allegro Coffee Company Drinking Chocolate, Costa Rican 64. SUGAR

Organic (contains powdered milk, maltodextrin, salt, emulsifiers, plus natural flavor). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Guittard Grand Cacao. SUGAR. ALCALIZED

C
Big Tree

Natierra

True Vibe

Joy Fuel

Dagoba Authentic ("cocoa powder with bits of pure, dark chocolate & cane sugar"). SUGAR

C-
Cafe D' Amore Chocolate Truffle. (Includes non-dairy creamer, soy lecithin, coffee, salt, stabalizer, anti-caking agent, hydrolyzed soy protein, etc.) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

Cacao di Pernigotti. ALCALIZED

Dagoba Raw Cacao (Hershey's organic brand)

365 (Whole Food Market's brand). ALCALIZED

Valrona. ALCALIZED

Saco. blend of raw plus ALCALIZED

Cafe D'Amore Sipping Chocolate (Includes natural flavor.). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

E. Guittard Cocoa Rouge. ALCALIZED

Les Confitures 'a l' Ancienne. (Contains brown sugar and vanilla extract) SUGAR. PROBABLY ALCALIZED

Bellagio Unsweetened,  2014. ALCALIZED

Pralis Cacao Show (different than their raw chocolate higher on the list). SUGAR. ALCALIZED

THESE NEXT 3 WERE PERHAPS STALE, WHICH MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE FLAVOR. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE ABOVE WERE PAST EXPIRATION DATE AS WELL AND TASTED THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR TO NEW PRODUCT:

Bellagio Epicurean Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa Mix (Includes powdered milk). (Expiration date Dec 2015) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

ABOUT HERE: Private Selection (Smith's/Kroger's brand) Double Cocoa with Belgian Chocolate (in packets).

Bellagio Sipping Beverage Mix, 2015. (Despite the age, it tested much higher as a hot cocoa.) SUGAR. ALCALIZED

D
Lavenko. Sweetened with natural sugars.