In-N-Out Burger has made a rare move, adding a new item to its limited menu of burgers, shakes and fries: hot cocoa.

The Southern California burger institution — with a menu that has remained relatively unchanged since it was founded in Baldwin Park in 1948 — is selling an 8-ounce cup of hot chocolate.

The hot drink was added to menus about two weeks ago, according to employees working at restaurants in Huntington Beach and Orange.

In-N-Out Burger rarely adds new menu items. Over the last two weeks, stores began serving hot cocoa. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In-N-Out Burger rarely adds new menu items. Over the last two weeks, stores began serving hot cocoa. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

In-N-Out Burger rarely adds new menu items. Over the last two weeks, stores began serving hot cocoa. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Each 8 ounce cup of hot chocolate comes with the option of adding these tiny marshmallows. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In-N-Out Burger rarely adds new menu items. Over the last two weeks, stores began serving hot cocoa. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)



In-N-Out is selling its 8 ounce cup of hot chocolate made with hot water for $1.60 (shown, left); McDonald’s sells a small, 12 ounce hot chocolate made with milk for $2. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Holy hot cocoa: In-N-Out is selling hot chocolate, a new beverage added to the menu in recent weeks. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In-N-Out Burger rarely adds new menu items. Over the last two weeks, stores began serving hot cocoa. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Such menu additions are routine at most fast-food chains which often break out new creations and discounts at the start of a new year.

But for Irvine-based In-N-Out, a menu expansion is tantamount to Taco Bell serving fries on its Mexican-inspired menu. (By the way, that milestone is happening later this month.)

In-N-Out sells burgers, fries, sodas and shakes. Nothing else. In previous interviews, the chain has said the last significant menu change came more than 15 years ago when restaurants added lemonade.

It appears nostalgia is what prompted the hot cocoa addition to In-N-Out’s 328 restaurants in California, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Nevada and Oregon.

Company president Lynsi Snyder, whose grandparents founded In-N-Out in 1948, said hot cocoa was previously sold at the chain in the 1950s.

“This is actually the return of hot cocoa,” she said in a statement. “My grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, served it for many years beginning in the ‘50s. I’m not sure how it fell off the menu but it’s part of our culture and something special for kids, and I’m happy that we’re bringing it back.”

She said the company sources cocoa powder from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to make the hot chocolate.

During a visit to a restaurant in Orange, the sweet beverage was poured from a thermal dispenser labeled “Hot Cocoa” in the chain’s signature red font. The drink, served in a white cup with the signature In-N-Out palm trees, comes topped with a packet of mini marshmallows. (Marshmallows can be requested on the side.)

The employee said the $1.60 drink is made with hot water, not milk. By comparison, McDonald’s sells a 12-ounce hot chocolate made with milk for $2. McCafe does not sell any drinks smaller than 12 ounces.

Adding hot cocoa is one of two major business decisions made by the privately-held company in recent weeks. In late November, In-N-Out announced plans to expand to Colorado — the seventh state the chain has entered in 69 years.

It will likely take at least three years before Colorado sees its first Double-Double.