How to Set up a Hot Chocolate Bar

It is winter time and if you throw a party in the Winter with NO Hot Chocolate Bar, then WHAT are you even doing with your life??? I kid, but seriously though, they are so easy to throw together and super cute and people always appreciate a good hot drink when the temps are low. Also, if you are one who prefers to leave cooking to other people, this is the perfect way to add a special touch to any party without having to spend hours in the kitchen.

See below for all the tips and products you need to make the perfect Hot Chocolate Bar for your winter party.

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HOT CHOCOLATE:

One of the best things about a Hot Chocolate Bar is that you can use mostly store-bought items. You can make your own hot chocolate like this Mexican Hot Chocolate or Homemade Marshmallows to add a special touch, but it is so easy to set up with ALL store bought items if you prefer. I have compiled a list of my FAVORITE store-bought hot chocolate mixes below:

SHOP THESE COCOA’S: 1. Williams-Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate / 2. Private Selection Double Cocoa Hot Cocoa Mix / 3. Equal Exchange Organic Dark Hot Chocolate Mix / 4. World Market S’mores Cocoa Mix / 5. Moonstruck Gourmet Chocolate Classic Hot Cocoa Mix / 6. Cocomama Signature Semisweet Hot Cocoa / 7. Cacoco Drinking Chocolate 75% Mint Dark Chocolate / 8. Coconut-Cloud Dairy Free Instant Hot Cocoa Mix / 9. Starbucks Toasted Marshmallow Hot Cocoa Mix / 10. Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa / 11. Ghiradelli Hot Cocoa Mix / 12. Mexican Spice Hot Chocolate / 13. Archer Farms Mint Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

TOPPINGS:

The toppings are the BEST part of a hot chocolate bar. You can keep things easy by simply providing a marshmallow bar with different flavored marshmallows like these Peppermint Marshmallows or Espresso Marshmallows OR you can put out all the candy, sauces and sprinkles your heart desires. This is meant to be fun, so peruse the aisles of the grocery store and get inspired or check out my suggestions below:

SHOP THESE TOPPINGS: 1. Hot Fudge Sauce / 2. Williams-Sonoma Ice Cream Topping / 3. DeBeukelaer Creme De Piroulines / 4. Peppermint Cocoa Marshmallows / 5. Peep’s Valentines Day Heart / 6. Dandies Original Vanilla Marshmallows / 7. Smashmallow Strawberries & Cream Snackable Marshmallows / 8. So Delicious Dairy Free Frozen CocoWhip / 9. Ghirardelli Caramel Sauce / 10. Hot Chocolate Sticks / 11. Sur La Table Mini Vanilla Snowflake Marshmallows / 12. Marshmallow Sauce / 13. Thrive Market Dark Chocolate Chips / 14. Heath Bits’ O Brickle English Toffee Bits / 15. Upouria Coffee Topping Variety Pack / 16. Peppermint Light Whipped Cream / 17. Navitas Organics Cacao Sweet Nibs / 18. Ghiradelli White Premium Baking Chips / 19. Peppermint Crunch Sprinkles / 20. Primal Palate Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Blend / 21. Thrive Market Organic Ground Cinnamon

THE TOOLS:

You need something pretty and fun to hold all those toppings mentioned above, as well as something to serve the hot chocolate in. This is MY favorite part to pull out all those fun containers you have stashed away and fill them with all the delicious goodies. The Hot Chocolate itself can be served in a crockpot or Airpot (which is what I totally recommend as it is easier to serve). When setting up any food bar, be sure to have a mix of bowls or cups in different sizes and styles to bring a lot of variety to your bar. Elevate some items by turning cardboard boxes upside down or use a tiered stand to display some of your toppings. See below for some of my favorite things to use.

SHOP THESE TOOLS: 1. Mug Storage Tree / 2. Black Stoneware Mug / 3. Irish Coffee Mug / 4. Stainless Steel Thermal Carafe / 5. Thermal Coffee Airpot Carafe / 6. Stelton Erik Magnussen Thermo Jug / 7. Noir Monogram Mug / 8. Set of 8 Contact White Bowls / 9. Stainless Steel Fustis Beverage Dispenser / 10. New Star Foodservice Stainless Steel Shakers / 11. Marshal Black Marble Cake Stand / 12. Aspen Mugs / 13. Zyliss Milk Frother / 14. Hi-Gloss Black Rectangle Tray / 15. Kanto Platters / 16. Porcelain Ramekins / 17. Modular 5-Piece Square Serving Set / 18. Border Paper Place Cards / 19. Marin White 3-Part Server / 20. Trivet Wooden Stand with Gold Rivets / 21. Set of 8 Cantina Glasses / 22. ISI Easy Whip Plus / 23. Black & White Geo Travel Not a Paper Cup (4-pack)