How to Set Up a Hot Chocolate Bar
In three easy steps, you can have a festive hot chocolate bar, perfect for the holidays. (An optional fourth step is for the adults!)
Photo: Jenn Young
Not only is a hot chocolate bar a great way to keep the winter blues at bay, but it's also fun to put together! In a few easy steps you can create your own hot cocoa bar that is perfect for entertaining at the holidays.
You can set this up on a sideboard, a bar cart, or right on the dining room table after dinner has been cleared. Invite a few friends over to share the warmth, or save the goodies for your family to enjoy! With minimal effort on your part, you can be super mom or dad—or the friend who makes her other friends jealous. (Don't pretend you don't want to be that friend!)
Photo: Jenn Young
1. Recipe
First, decide on your hot chocolate recipe. I used a powdered mix to make several cups and put it into an insulated carafe.
You could also put out individual packets with accompanying hot milk in a carafe or slow cooker. There are a bunch of great recipes out there for slow cooker hot cocoa, so decide what works best for you.
Artisanal hot chocolate is also surprisingly easy to make and is really only limited by your imagination. With a little milk and any kind of chocolate (white, milk, or dark), you'll have a cocoa they'll be sure to remember.
For those with lactose intolerances, soy, almond, and coconut milks are great alternatives to traditional milk.
2. Toppings
I put out freeze-dried strawberries, toffee, crushed candy canes, chocolate curls, and gold sugar.
Some other ideas:
- Chips (chocolate, butterscotch, cinnamon, mint, or white)
- Coconut
- Whipped cream
- Sprinkles
- Cinnamon
- Chocolate syrup
- Chopped candy bars
- Cinnamon sticks
- Caramel sauce
- Peanut butterNutella
- Marshmallow fluff
Photo: Jenn Young
I made a marshmallow station with mini-marshmallows, French vanilla-flavoured snowman marshmallows, and jumbo chocolate-vanilla swirled marshmallows. To pump up the wow factor, consider making homemade marshmallows with a flavour of your choosing. I also set out some pirouette cookies and festive straws for stirring.
3. Bar Set Up
I placed all of the toppings in mini mason jars with a little spoon in each. I put a ceramic place card in front of each topping so everyone would know what was available. If you're hosting those outside your family, this is important in case anyone has allergies.
Bonus: Adult Version
The funny thing is I think I love hot cocoa as much as my children do. I added some grown-up treats on my hot cocoa bar, as well! I included peppermint schnapps, peppermint-mocha Kahlua, and salted caramel vodka. Whipped cream and birthday cake vodka are also amazing in hot chocolate. If you're having adults at your party, they may soon find hot chocolate is their favourite, too!
For more ideas on how to set up your hot cocoa station take a look at our Cabin-Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar.
