The weather is freezing right now! I am currently bundled up with my dog under my comforter, trying to type with no feeling in my fingers. It is very difficult, and all I am craving right now is a steaming mug of hot cocoa. I am always craving warm drinks this time of year. This is why one of the best things I have ever seen at a holiday party was an all-inclusive hot cocoa bar!
You heard me right! I am talking about everything you could ever want in your hot cocoa, and it was all available at the tips of my fingers. Everything from mini marshmallows to candy canes. Let’s just say, I was impressed.
A couple of years ago, I found myself at a holiday party that my friend was hosting. Because I am the biggest introvert, I was not enjoying myself. I was exhausted, cranky, I and wanted to go home. So, in an attempt to avoid another conversation full of painfully awkward forced small talk, I decided to check out the refreshment table.
It was like a spotlight dropped on the table and angles were singing from above. Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but it was certainly magical. Right there, next to the refreshment table was s short bar cart full of everything you need to make the perfect hot chocolate. It was a literal hot cocoa bar!
And for someone who doesn’t drink, this was gold! I usually feel like the odd one out at gatherings because of this but at this Christmas party, everyone was carrying around their delicious chocolatey creations!
Ever since this night, all I have been thinking about was how much I wanted my very own hot cocoa bar during the holidays. It’s not like I want it for a party or any social gathering, I want a hot chocolate bar all for myself. So that I can create delicious chocolaty creations any time I want.
So if this sounds like a dream to you like it does for me, you have come to the right place. I am going to teach you how to make the ultimate hot cocoa bar. I’ll talk about everything you will need and how to make your hot chocolate bar as magical and festive as possible.
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What is a Hot Cocoa Bar?
If it isn’t obvious from the name, a hot cocoa bar is a setup that contains everything you need to create a mug of hot chocolate. All in one place, this is the perfect addition to a holiday party or family get-together. But also, it is perfect for just yourself!
Hot cocoa bars can be set up on a counter, table, or bar cart, as long as you have enough room to lay out all your delicious supplies. I think the ultimate luxury of hot cocoa bars is a cart. My dream is to have something like this 3-tier bar cart from Amazon.
During the year I will make it my coffee cart, with my coffee machine and all my syrups and sauces. And then as soon as Christmas hits I will transform it into my hot cocoa bar! That’s the dream! I know I will have made it if I have this.
But anyway, you don’t have to be that fancy. You can put your hot cocoa bar on any wide surface that gives you enough room for the ingredients and room for guests to create their chocolatey creations.
What to Include in Your Hot Cocoa Bar
Creating setups like this for Christmas parties and events is all about creativity. So believe me when I say you can add whatever you can think of to your hot cocoa bar. Anything you have ever wanted in a warm drink can be included, there are no limits here.
But, if you are looking for some ideas, here are a few…
- Multiple flavors of hot cocoa mix (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, peppermint, carmel, pumpkin, etc.)
- Homemade hot cocoa (keep it in a crock pot simmering on low heat to keep warm)
- Hot water or steamed milk
- Marshmallows of all different sizes and shapes (I have seen dinosaur shaped marshmallows at Target!)
- Sauces (Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce)
- Flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, smores, hazelnut, peppermint) My favorite brand is Torani!
- Candies (chocolate chips, candy canes, etc.)
- Alternative milks (for dairy-free party guests)
- A ton of mugs or disposable coffee cups
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, pumpkin spice, and any other spice for topping
- Various coffee creamers (taste delicious in hot cocoa!)
- Hot cocoa bombs (they are all the rage now, and you can make them at home!)
How to Decorate Your Hot Chocolate Bar
Hopefully, by now you are sold on the hot cocoa bar. It is a great feature to have over the holidays. But if you are using it at a get-together, you probably want to spruce it up with some decorations!
Adding some festive flare creates such a cozy look. It doesn’t matter whether your hot cocoa bar is on a cart or on the counter, here are some decoration ideas!
- Garland (wrapped around the cart legs, or draped across the counter)
- Christmas lights
- Red and green ornaments placed around the cocoa ingredients
- Mason Jars (filled with the ingredients to create a cohesive look)
- Festive ribbon wrapped around the mason jars
- Tiny bottle brush trees or other figurines surrounding the hot cocoa
How to Make Your Hot Chocolate Station Covid Friendly
When I experienced my first hot cocoa bar, it was long before COVID was even a thought. It is much different now because of that pesky virus that doesn’t seem to want to go away.
So until coronavirus cools down, and more people get vaccinated (!!) here are some easy ways to make your hot cocoa bar a little more COVID friendly.
- Use disposable cups: I know this is bad for the environement, but having to wash everyones mug would be hard, and less sanitary. Another option is to find some cheap reusable coffee cups like these. Then everyone can take theirs home with them as a party favor. Or, grab some simple white mugs and set out a mug decorating station! Your party guests can decorate a mug and then take it to the hot cocoa station to fill! They sell them in bulk here.
- Have guests label their cups so there is no counfusion. If you have a cricut, you can personalize them before hand so everyone knows which cup is theres! Or, come up with a cute and festive way to lable them like gift tags.
- Use pre-packaged hot cocoa mixes instead of homemade: Although it definitely does not taste as good, it is better for health safety. You can save the homemade hot cocoa for yourself!
- Make single-serve bags of the ingredients: For anything dry, like marshmallows and candy, you can put them in small baggies like these ones. That way they aren’t being touched by everyone!
- Designate one person to serve: This might be difficult for a party where peoople come in and out, but if possible, you can designate someone to be the server. Have them prepare everything while wearing a mask and gloves while the party-goers tell them what they want.
Having a hot cocoa bar at your next holiday party is a sure-fire way to get people talking. It will be the hit of the evening, and it is such a fun and cozy way to celebrate the holiday season.
But can you imagine having this in your home at all times during the winter? You would have constant access to delicious and warm chocolate drinks that you can customize however you like! Sounds pretty amazing to me!
