National Cocoa Day
Rich, creamy, and topped with marshmallows, there's nothing quite like cozying up with a warm cup of hot cocoa.
Drive December cocoa and hot chocolate sales by positioning cozy, indulgent seasonal beverages as the perfect gift and self-care moment for holiday shoppers.
- Share creative hot cocoa recipes and flavor variations (peppermint, salted caramel, spiked versions) to inspire at-home celebrations
- Partner with cafes and chains (Starbucks, Dunkin', Hershey's) to promote limited-edition hot cocoa offerings and drive foot traffic
- User-generated content campaign: #MyCocoaMoment featuring cozy winter scenes with hot cocoa for social amplification
- Gift guides highlighting premium cocoa mixes, marshmallows, and hot chocolate kits as stocking stuffers and holiday presents
Campaign ideas7
- Cocoa Bar Pop-Up: Host an interactive hot cocoa tasting station (like Peak Chocolate's 'Enjoy Your Way' event) with gourmet flavors—spiced, mint, salted caramel, adult versions with liqueurs. Include DIY toppings bar and encourage social media shares with branded hashtags.
- Gift Bundle Campaign: Package hot cocoa mixes with complementary items (mugs, marshmallows, stirrers, chocolate shavings) as holiday bundles. Emphasize gifting comfort and warmth during cold December season.
- Sustainability/Ethics Storytelling: Highlight cocoa sourcing practices. Frame the narrative around fair-trade, farmer empowerment, or supply-chain transparency (inspired by Divine Chocolate and Tony's Chocolonely models).
- Recipe Innovation Content Series: Share creative cocoa uses—cocoa bombs, baked goods with cocoa powder, cocoa-coffee blends, cocoa ice cream toppings. Position your brand as a multi-use ingredient, not just a drink.
- Cozy Lifestyle Campaign: Emphasize emotional warmth, wellness, and winter coziness. Content: fireplace moments, snowy scenes, family gatherings, bedtime routines. Partner with home/lifestyle accounts.
- Holiday Bundling with Retail Partners: Secure exclusive limited-edition packaging or 12-packs in major retailers (like Hershey/Walmart's partnership model). Add 'Share the warmth' messaging tied to inspirational content.
- User-Generated Content Contest: Encourage followers to share their favorite cocoa recipe or cozy cocoa moment via #NationalCocoaDay. Prize: seasonal gift basket or discount code. Amplify best posts.
Social angles6
- "Warm up from the inside out ☕🍫 December 13 is National Cocoa Day—how are you celebrating? Tag us in your coziest cocoa moment! #NationalCocoaDay #CocoaLover #HotChocolate #WinterVibes"
- "Fun fact: The Mayans were sipping cocoa 2,000 years ago. You're part of ancient history. 🌍✨ What's your favorite flavor combo? Share below! #NationalCocoaDay #CocoaTrivia"
- "Our cocoa comes from farmers who care. ❤️ Learn how we partner with cocoa communities for ethical, sustainable chocolate. Fair-trade from bean to cup. #NationalCocoaDay #EthicalChocolate"
- "COCOA BOMBS, anyone? 💣✨ Make these 3-ingredient chocolate spheres at home—marshmallows, cocoa, and magic. Recipe in bio! #NationalCocoaDay #DIYRecipe #HotCocoaBomb"
- "December 13 = National Cocoa Day. November 28 was Thanksgiving. December 25 is Christmas. But TODAY? Today is for you, your mug, and pure chocolatey bliss. ☕🤎 #NationalCocoaDay #SelfCare"
- "Not just for hot drinks anymore! 🍪 Cocoa powder in cookies, brownies, coffee, ice cream toppings... Show us how YOU use cocoa beyond your mug. #NationalCocoaDay #CocoaRecipes"
Ad copy starters5
“"Warm Moments Start Here. National Cocoa Day, December 13. Taste the difference real cocoa makes."”
“"From our farmers to your mug. Ethically sourced, purely delicious cocoa. Celebrate December 13 with intention."”
“"Not all hot cocoa is created equal. Ours has no compromise—100% pure, sustainably grown, unforgettable taste."”
“"This winter, skip the mix. Discover the comfort of craft cocoa. National Cocoa Day: December 13."”
“"Cocoa isn't just a drink—it's a ritual. Make yours unforgettable. Limited edition flavors for National Cocoa Day."”
Tips4
- Lean into coziness and emotion: Cocoa Day falls in December during peak holiday season—emphasize warmth, family, comfort, and self-care. Pair visuals with fireplace, snow, marshmallows, and intimate moments.
- Lead with storytelling, not just product: Successful cocoa brands (Divine, Tony's, Nestlé) win by telling stories about farmers, ethics, and heritage. Don't just sell cocoa—sell the reason to care about where it comes from.
- Emphasize versatility: Most consumers think 'hot drink.' Show them cocoa powder works in baking, ice cream, coffee, desserts, and more. Expand the occasion beyond winter beverages.
- User-generated content is your best asset: Cocoa naturally inspires warm, aesthetic, share-worthy moments. Encourage and amplify customer photos with branded hashtags—this drives engagement better than brand-created content.
Chocolate’s history goes far back into ancient times, much further back than most people are aware. It may have been part of the Aztec culture as early as 1400 AD.
Chocolate itself first was found by European explorers in South America, where it had been enjoyed for hundreds of years even prior to their arrival.
Researchers have reason to believe that the reason the Americans didn’t make contact with Europe sooner is they didn’t want to share this delightful beverage with the rest of the world. Of course, that may be an exaggeration….
The first origins of cocoa being made into a drink can be traced back to 500 BC. However, many archaeologists believe that this is only as early as they can trace it and that cocoa consumption predates even that august culture.
Of course, the chocolate of those days would have been much different than that which is now consumed, as sugar was not something that had yet found its way to the Americas.
Instead, the beverage was probably flavored with vanilla and often with chili and was served at all temperatures, depending on the recipe being used.
Not everyone is a fan of cocoa at first taste. In fact, the Spaniards first found the flavor of cocoa unpleasant and one that an individual had to acquire.
It would not be until it was introduced to Europe and had spent some time there as a luxury drink of the wealthy that it would be sweetened and milk chocolate would be invented.
It took until 1828 for powdered chocolate to be made, and in that glorious moment of culinary history, both the chocolate bar and instant hot cocoa came into existence.
Even then, it wasn’t for more than a hundred more years that powdered hot cocoa drinks that could be mixed in the cup came to be. In the 1950s and 1960s, Charles Sanna produced the product (tested on his children) that would later become Swiss Miss.
Enjoy a Cup of Hot Cocoa
Of course, the first item on the agenda for the day is to settle down with a warm cup of cocoa and savor the sweet, delicious flavor. Some people like to keep it simple and classic. However, other people might think that the best way to celebrate National Cocoa Day is to try every variety it’s possible to think of! In that case, it’s certainly permissible to get a little creative by adding a peppermint stick, some red hot candies, salted caramel sauce, or (for the adults in the room) even a bit of Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur.
Go Out for Hot Cocoa
It’s true, not every cafe serves hot cocoa–but the best ones sure do! Get a group of friends or family members together, or head out on your own to enjoy a tasty cup of hot cocoa from one of these well-known establishments: Starbucks: While there may be some questions by coffee connoisseurs about the quality of this company’s coffee, no one can question that their hot cocoa drinks are purely delicious! Made from fresh milk and cocoa, and real vanilla extract, there’s no mixing up a powdered drink for this chain that is known all over the world.Dunkin’ Donuts: People come to Dunkin’ for the donuts and coffee, but the hot chocolate is worth staying for. Their salted caramel hot cocoa with whipped cream is absolutely divine. And easy to get on the go.Hershey’s Chocolate World: It stands to reason that Hershey’s would know its way around a cup of hot cocoa. And a Chocolate World in either Hershey, PA or Times Square, New York, guests can enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate while experiencing the best of America’s iconic chocolate.The Old Chocolate House in Bruges, Belgium: Those who are looking to make a complete trip out of the hunt for the best hot cocoa may end up in Europe. Hot chocolates here come in a variety of milk, dark, white and single-origin. And for the grown-ups, try tastes like rum, amaretto, Grand Mariner, or Bailey’s.
Host a National Cocoa Day Gathering
Form a gathering of friends and have everyone bring their favorite recipe and all their favorite varieties. White and Dark, Milk and Bittersweet, there are as many different Hot Cocoa recipes as there are individuals! One favorite is to make Hot Cocoa with 50/50 Milk and Sweetened Condensed milk and Dark Powdered Chocolate, followed by a sprinkling of cinnamon and shavings of dark chocolate on top. Rich and flavorful, it’s not for the timid!