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You are here: Home / Recipes and Cooking Tips / How to Set Up a Hot Cocoa Bar + 10 Hot Chocolate Recipes

How to Set Up a Hot Cocoa Bar + 10 Hot Chocolate Recipes

December 9, 2013 by Alea Milham 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
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Ideas for setting up a Hot Cocoa Bar

When I was a kid, we would get together with friends and go caroling and then finish the evening with hot chocolate and cookies. Having friends over for cookies and hot cocoa is a frugal way to host a party during the holidays.  It also happens to be a fun, delicious, and low-stress way to throw a holiday party!

I usually set up hot cocoa bars for parties, but sometimes I throw an impromptu one together after a day of playing in the snow.  Whether it is an informal get together or a more organized party, hot chocolate bars are always a hit.

When I set up my hot cocoa bar, I do it one of two ways. I either make one big batch of Crock Pot Hot Cocoa and let everyone flavor it or I make several smaller batches of flavored hot cocoa. When I make hot cocoa in the slow cooker, I just add a ladle and serve it directly from the slow cooker. When I make smaller batches, I put them in tea pots and use place cards to label the different flavors.

How to Set Up a Hot Cocoa Bar

Items Needed:

  • Hot Chocolate (1 large pot or several flavors)
  • marshmallows (homemade marshmallows recipe)
  • whipped cream (homemade whipped cream recipe)
  • mugs, spoons, and napkins

Optional Items:

  • Candy Sprinkles (chocolate sprinkles, crushed candy canes, etc.)
  • Flavored Syrups (like chocolate syrup and caramel sauce)
  • Cinnamon Sugar
  • Instant Espresso Crystals
  • Candy Cane Stir Sticks (try these Candy Cane White chocolate Stir Sticks)

Setting Up the Hot Cocoa Bar:

Pick a space where people can easily move down a line, like a buffet or kitchen island.

Place the toppings in small bowls with spoons to make it easier for people to top their hot chocolate.

Try to place your toppings in the order that guests will most likely use them, so the line will flow faster.

Place cups, and spoons (or stir sticks) at the beginning of the bar. Having the spoons near the beginning of the buffet will allow your guest to easily stir the hot chocolate if they are adding in syrups.

If possible, place your cookies in another area. This will allow some guests to pick out cookies while the others are making their hot chocolate and will speed up serving time.

10 Hot chocolate recipes - plus tips for setting up a hot cocoa bar

10 Hot Chocolate Recipes

White Chocolate Hot Cocoa / Pandora’s Deals

White Hot Chocolate with Orange / Girlichef

Pumpkin Pie Spiced White Hot Chocolate / Chocolate, Chocolate, and More

Candy Cane Hot Cocoa  – An Easy Peppermint Hot Chocolate/ Premeditated Leftovers

Mexican Hot Cocoa – A Spicy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate / Premeditated Leftovers

Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate – with 4 dairy-free variations / Premeditated leftovers

Champurrado (Atole de Chocolate) /Girlichef

Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Mix / Food Allergies on a Budget

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate / The Baker Chick

Peppermint Mocha Hot Cocoa / Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles

Dark Hot Chocolate with Bourbon / Girlichef

Have you ever created a hot cocoa bar for a party?

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Heather // girlichef says

    December 10, 2013 at 8:12 am

    I’m so cold today (typing with frozen fingers)…so this post is almost warming me up ;). I just need to make one cup of each for myself to sample. Thanks for including me in this tempting group, Alea!

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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