When winter temperatures begin to drop, and you want to treat your guests to a cozy treat, you can never go wrong with hot chocolate! If you’re hosting a party for a specific holiday or simply having a winter get-together, setting up a hot chocolate bar will be an unforgettable experience for everyone!
Read on for some of our favorite hot chocolate bar ideas!
How to Create a Hot Chocolate Bar
One of the best elements of a hot chocolate bar is its endless possibilities! There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to create a festive drink selection, so long as you have fun with the process! However, if you’re lost for specific hot chocolate bar ideas, you can start by looking at the big picture. Would you like a simple, small hot chocolate bar or something more elaborate?
Once you’ve thought about the size of your hot chocolate bar, you can come up with those cute little details that will welcome your guests and invite them to make a drink. You can include anything from cute mugs to themed straws that match your overall theme. There’s a ton of flexibility with hot chocolate bars, and they’re perfect for delivering those sought-after cozy vibes.
Hot Chocolate Bar Supplies
We’ve got plenty of hot chocolate bar ideas, and we’re sure you do, too. But, before you dig into powdery mixes and tasty hot chocolate toppings, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve got all of the supplies and decor you need.
Hot Cocoa Bar Signs
Welcome your guests with cute, themed hot cocoa bar signs! Feel free to get as creative or straightforward as you’d like with your cocoa bar decor, especially the signs.
Your hot cocoa bar sign will tell your guest what they’re looking at and what to expect, and it can be great for setting the tone for your bar’s theme. There are plenty of easy DIY tutorials and pre-made templates to make your own hot cocoa bar sign. You can even use something as easy as a chalkboard!
You can also scope sites like Pinterest for lettering inspiration for your hot cocoa bar sign to give it a professional flair. If you’ve got a little bit of artistic or technical know-how, you can personalize your sign with the names of your family or your guests!
Hot cocoa bar signs aren’t just to tell guests where the bar is, either! Ensure you’ve got everything labeled so everyone can find exactly what they want to add to their hot chocolate – and avoid the things they don’t!
Bowls and Trays
You’ll need to be ready with a few bowls and trays to place your hot chocolate fixings. Take a look around your home to see what you already have, or make a trip to the dollar store to see if you find anything that suits the hot chocolate bar theme you’ve set up. The most cost-effective option is wrangling up items you can repurpose.
Mugs and Cups
Anyone who loves mugs will tell you there’s nothing cozier than drinking hot chocolate from a themed cup. If you’re someone with a sense of humor, set out some hilariously over-the-top mugs to match the atmosphere of your celebration.
You can also include durable paper coffee cups if guests don’t want to use mugs. If you go the route of paper cups, try to have cup sleeves so that no one burns their hands, and make sure everyone knows where to toss or recycle their cups.
Cup Labels
To avoid unnecessary waste while decreasing the amount of cleanup you’ll have to do at the end, include cup labels for guests who aren’t using mugs. Include sharpie or dry-erase markers for people using ceramic mugs. You can also get a little creative by cutting out cardstock tags and attaching them with decorative twine or ribbon.
Electric Kettle
Depending on the kind of cocoa mix you’re using, it may be helpful to have an electric kettle ready. Keeping the kettle on standby can be especially useful if you’re using a powdered hot chocolate mix. Electric kettles heat up rather quickly, making it convenient for guests to refill their drinks whenever they need to top off.
Hot Chocolate Flavor Options:
Whether you enjoy making your own hot chocolate or want to simplify the process, you can provide a few selections to guests.
If you’d like to keep the hot chocolate pre-made and hot all through the night, store it in an insulated container like a crock or instant pot. You may also whip up your own hot chocolate mix, giving you complete control over the flavor profile, and let guests make it fresh at the hot cocoa bar whenever they’re craving a sip. If you have one, you can purchase store-bought mix and Keurig cups to use with your machine. For a trendy and fun option, set out hot chocolate bombs!
If you want to allow your guests to really customize their drinks, leave out items like flavor extracts (think almond and vanilla), creamers and syrups in assorted fan-favorite flavors. Chocolate, caramel, and mint are great places to start with syrups and drizzles.
Don’t forget to pair in coffee, too! Coffee and chocolate is a classic combo that guests will appreciate after, or before, a long day of holiday festivities.
Adult Selections
Are you hosting a more adult-oriented celebration? Feel free to include some alcoholic additions to your hot chocolate bar! Just be sure to have a separate section for these items if both children and adults are attending your gathering.
- Amaretto
- Brandy
- Bailey’s Irish Cream
- Bourbon
- Espresso
- Kahlúa
- Rum
- Peppermint vodka
If you have beverages that fair better chilled, set up an ice bucket and work the design of it into your hot cocoa bar decor! You can also enlist your hot cocoa bar sign to tell guests where to find the boozy additions if you need to keep them separate.
Hot Chocolate Toppings
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a hot chocolate bar is the toppings you can set out for your guests! There is a wide range of choices that can appeal to everyone’s personal flavor preferences.
Try to arrange toppings to suit a variety of palates and taste profiles. Whipped cream is a standard, as are marshmallows, but what about adding items that push your hot chocolate bar even more over the top? Mini brownies, cookies, powdered donuts, peppermint bark, or candies will make for a delicious and stunning topping that’s sure to wow. If guests don’t want to put their treats on top of their cocoa, they can enjoy them on the side, too!
Let your guests choose hot cocoa toppings that will compliment their beverage. Think of things that incorporate a bit of visual appeal, like Mermaid Pearls, or that will melt into the drink for a burst of creamy flavor. Crumbled up cookies, crushed candy canes, edible sparkles, toffee bits, chocolate shavings, and crushed pretzels can also have a place in your hot cocoa bar. Don’t sleep on the classic merit of colorful sprinkles, too!
Spice Up Your Hot Cocoa Bar
Want to make your hot cocoa bar feel like your local coffee shop? Go all out and include miscellaneous flavorings to enhance your guest’s drinking experience! Here are a few creative spices to add alongside your toppings and stirs.
- Chili powder
- Cayenne Powder
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cardamom
- Nutmeg
- Pumpkin spice
- Orange zest
- Lavender
Cause A Stir At Your Hot Cocoa Bar
Of course, your hot cocoa bar won’t be complete without spoons for mixing and stirring, but you don’t have to stop there. Allow your creative side to come out when setting up your hot chocolate bar, and add in a few edible stirring tools too! A few creative stirrers for your hot cocoa bar include:
- Candy canes
- Chocolate-coated pretzel rods
- Candy stripe cookie sticks
- Peppermint sticks
- Chocolate and vanilla wafer sticks
- Butter crisps
- Candy cane spoons
If you want to keep your stirring implements non-edible, you can still find straws and spoons that will pair well with your hot cocoa bar decor!
Hot Cocoa Bar Side Dishes
The drinks will be the star of your hot cocoa bar, but giving your guests a treat to snack on will turn that bar into a full-service experience! Tasty goodies like peppermint popcorn, chocolate-covered pretzels, or nut clusters are ideal quick bites that will please any guest. Of course, a hot cocoa bar will also be a great place to whip up and display those holiday recipes you’re eager to show off too!
You can even go all out and set up a candy charcuterie board!
Let Candy Club Lend A Hand!
Preparing for an upcoming holiday event? Make sure you have all the essential supplies you need for an unforgettable hot chocolate bar! Candy Club includes a variety of selections for people with a sweet tooth. Our delectable fruit-flavored gummies, chocolate toppings, and toffee-flavored candies will be right at home in your hot cocoa bar – or anywhere at all. Grab a few delicious treats for your hot chocolate bar today!
