How To Make A Hot Chocolate Bar For A Party

How To Make A Hot Chocolate Bar For A Party

What’s one of the best things to put out at your holiday party this year? A hot chocolate bar! The great thing about adding this to your holiday spread, is that it can be as low key or as elaborate as you want it to be.

First you need to decide of course you need to decide what hot chocolate recipe you want to use.  You can go as simple as instant hot chocolate packets, or make your hot chocolate from a good quality cocoa power.  Here is our favorite recipe for hot chocolate:

Mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 3 to 4 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate in a bowl, then whisk into the milk. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring, until the chocolate melts and the cocoa is thick, about 2 minutes. (If you have any vegans coming, you can switch out the milk for unsweetened almond milk.)

Here is a popular recipe for slow cooker hot chocolate:

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup hot water
• 20 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 10 cups whole milk (or 2% – see notes)
• 2 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk (not fat free)
• ½ cup sugar (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Mix ingredient and cook for 6 hours on low in your slow cookers.  Keep warm and serve with a ladle. This serves 7 to 9 guests depending on cup size.

If you have a Keurig you can also get cups of hot chocolate so each person can brew their own.

Set up:  Next decide on mugs or more casual paper cups with tops. We suggest decorating your table or counter with your favorite holiday place mats or decor and then work on your toppings.  Toppings look great in mason jars so you can see all the colors, bringing your toppings bar to life. You can also get creative, like making marshmallow pops by using a peppermint stick with a marshmallow on the end or offering spoons coated in chocolate.  Of course even though this is most common for the holidays, we have used it for birthdays and get-togethers as well.

Toppings:  Whether you want to make it simple or go all out, here are 20 toppings you can include.

Whipped Cream. No hot chocolate bar is complete without whipped cream. Just make sure you put it in a bowl with a few pieces of ice so that you can keep it chilled.

Chocolate Chips. You can choose any kind of chocolate chips you like. White, peppermint or even dark chocolate chips will add a little extra something to your hot chocolate. You could even add peanut butter or pumpkin spice chips as well.

Salted Caramels. The saltiness of the caramels will add a lot of flavor to hot chocolate that your guests will enjoy.

Churros. If you want to give your guests a topping that they can use to dip into their hot chocolate, consider churros. They hold up pretty well even with repeated dunkings and the sugar adds extra sweetness to the hot chocolate.

Rolled Wafers. Just like with churros, rolled wafers can be dunked in hot chocolate. There are all sorts of wafers to choose from including vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

What Your Hot Chocolate Topping Says About You

Cinnamon. This topping will add a woody flavor to hot chocolate which makes it the perfect addition to your hot chocolate bar.

Caramel Drizzle. If you are looking for a topping that will add just a little bit of creamy sweetness to your hot chocolate bar, this is a great choice.

Chopped Andes Mints. These mints have a unique flavor. When they melt in a cup of hot chocolate, the end result is absolutely delightful.

Crushed Candy Canes. A great way to make your hot chocolate bar festive is to include crushed candy canes.

Hershey Kisses. There are all sorts of Hershey kisses that you can include on your hot chocolate bar. Traditional chocolate ones or the holiday variety are great choices.

Mini Marshmallows. For a fun addition to your hot chocolate bar, consider including mini marshmallows. Include both white and colored marshmallows.

Rock Candy. Do you want to give your guests an extra special treat on your hot chocolate bar? If so, rock candy is a great choice. They will love the popping sensation in their mouth as they are drinking their hot chocolate.

Toffee Bits. Toffee is both savory and delectable. Because of this, it makes a great addition to any hot topping bar.

Sprinkles. These little pieces of sugary goodness can add some sweetness to your hot chocolate. Include both rainbow sprinkles and chocolate ones.

Peanut Butter Cups. We all know that peanut butter and chocolate go together. This is why peanut butter cups will make a great addition to your hot chocolate bar.

Flavored Coffee Creamers. Some people want to cool down their hot chocolate just a bit. Flavored coffee creamers are a great option. Just like with the whipped cream, make sure you keep the coffee creamers in a bowl with some ice to keep them cool.

Coconut Shavings. You can help your guests give their hot chocolate an interesting flavor by including coconut shavings on your hot topping bar. Just make sure they the shavings are thin so that they dissolve easily.

Candied Ginger. Some people do like their hot chocolate on the spicy side. For your hot chocolate bar, make sure you include candied ginger as one of your toppings.

Soft Mints. Mints can provide a peppermint or spearmint flavor to your hot chocolate. If you plan on including them as one of your toppings, make sure you choose mints that are soft.

Chocolate Flavored Spoons. Your guests will need something to stir their hot chocolate with. This is why chocolate flavored spoons are a great topping choice.

For the adults, you could also include some “liquid toppings” so they can enjoy some boozy hot chocolate. Godiva, Peppermint Schnapps, Cinnamon Liqueur, Scotch and Kahlua are all great options.

Alcoholic Drinks to Warm You Up

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