Hot Chocolate for the Holidays

The holiday season is “s’more” about laughter and cheer and finally, that time is here! What’s even better than cozying up next to the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate? Pairing it with your favorite wintery treats and building your own dessert bar! Celebrate with your loved ones and show off your artistic side with our simple step-by-step how-to guide on making a holiday inspired hot chocolate & dessert bar right in the comfort of your own home.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

The Setup
Find a place in your home that will be best suited for setting up your DIY Hot Chocolate Bar. Make sure that there will be enough room for the cups, the hot chocolate, and all of the toppings. We like to use three different coordinated textured elements on our bar setups. For example, we could use fabric, wood cutting boards, glass bowls, and glass cake stands. We also try to have varying heights for the items. For example, place some of the toppings in boxes and others on top of stands. Gather a few holiday decorations to add to the display - we love the personal touch of handmade signage. These little details make the Hot Chocolate Bar extra special.

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle blog for the modern families, parents and kids.

Mugs
Ideally, using mugs that you already have on hand is the easiest option. But, if you don’t have enough mugs on hand, you’ll need to buy some. One option is to head to your local thrift store to look for Christmas mugs. Thrift stores usually have TONS of mugs and having an assortment of mismatched mugs can add a fun look to your table. If you’d rather not mess with glass mugs, or you’re going to be serving a large group, disposable coffee cups with lids are also a great option. Of course, using disposable cups also means you won’t have to wash all those mugs after your party.

Hot Chocolate
We usually make our own homemade hot chocolate, which is actually really easy to do. Once it is made, we keep it heated in a slow cooker and use a ladle to pour it into cups for serving. Alternatively, you could also use a hot beverage dispenser if you have one on hand. If you are short on time or don’t want to make it homemade, you can certainly use instant hot chocolate mix packets. Place the packets in a nice basket or tin to keep them together. If you are serving a larger crowd, you might want to buy a multi-serving container of hot chocolate mix, rather than individual packets. This mix can be displayed in glass bowl or canister with a scoop. If you use the dry hot chocolate mix, you’ll need to have hot water handy, so I would recommend using a hot beverage dispenser.

Topping Ideas
We tend to go bit overboard with toppings, but you don’t have to. The basics like marshmallows and chocolate chips are sufficient. If you want to go a step further, you can also easily add some crushed candy canes. If you’re looking to make a bountiful spread, there are lots of toppings that you can pick up that require little or no prep. Some of the additional toppings we’ve enjoyed over the years include chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, caramels, coconut flakes, flavored syrups or creamers (traditionally used in coffee drinks), chopped candy bars, and assorted sprinkles. Place each item in a bowl with the appropriate serving utensil and you’re ready to go.

Hot Chocolate in a Jar Recipe

Gift idea: Homemade hot chocolate mix in a jar is a great way to spread the holiday cheer. In each jar, layer cocoa powder, powdered milk, sugar, chocolate chips, candy canes, and marshmallows. Screw on the lids and affix a personalized label with the instructions below:

To serve: Remove the marshmallows and mix together the remaining ingredients in the jar. Bring 1 cup of milk to a simmer over low heat. Add mix and stir until completely combined. Pour into cups or mugs and top with marshmallows before serving

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