Create the perfect hot cocoa bar for your upcoming event with these awesome ideas and helpful tips. It’s definitely a great addition to any winter themed party! And be sure to score the free printables!
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Who doesn’t love a delicious cup of hot cocoa!?
For the past several years, my husband and I have enjoyed hosting a Caroling Party the Monday before Christmas Eve. And each year I put together a hot cocoa bar for the festive occasion.
Along with pictures from our most recent cocoa bar, today also I wanted to share with you a few tips and ideas for hosting your own hot chocolate bar party.
Hot Cocoa Bar Ideas for any Occasion
What’s awesome about a hot chocolate bar is that it is pretty low maintenance, it’s a crowd pleaser, and can easily be adapted for any fall/winter themed event. A baby shower, harvest gathering, Valentine’s party, wedding reception, bridal shower, as long as their is a bit of a chill in the air, a hot chocolate bar is a great option! Simply decorate the surroundings to go along with the theme of the party.
And if you are throwing a Christmas get together, you will already have the house decorated so you just need to put a few embellishments on the hot cocoa table. 🙂
>> Be sure to check out my bundle of hot cocoa bar labels in my shop!
HOW TO CREATE A HOT COCOA BAR
1. Decide on a Theme
First tip would be to decide on what type of theme you are going with. Then the fun begins! Start by gathering all the items around your house that tie in with the theme. Don’t think twice about it, just collect everything that might possibly work. If you have a table to spare, you could store all the items there to begin brainstorming the set up. After that, compile a list of all the other things that you might want and then go shopping!
Last year, I went with a rustic Christmasy theme which turned out great!
–> See pics from our last hot chocolate bar party! It was fabulous! Oh and be sure to check out pics from our Old Fashioned Christmas themed hot chocolate bar which was a guest favorite!
But this year I was hankering for a more pure wintry type of feel. Snowflakes, frosted trees, basically lots and lots of white!
Recreate the look:
2. Collect the Decor
So after gathering a few things I had on hand, I went shopping for anything and everything white. Thankfully I found these snow covered trees, the white village houses, and cute little birds all at Target- major score!!! Definitely not things that I had planned on but they all came together quite nicely.
And great minds really do think a like because I have seen these white houses in several of my friend’s homes. I’m regretting taking back the three extra I bought after Christmas last year for half off!
And don’t forget some festive printable signs! Printables are such an inexpensive way to decorate but can add so much to the overall feel. I actually designed this cocoa 25¢ sign for last year’s party but liked it so much, I decided to use it again.
>> Download the Hot Cocoa Sign for FREE over here.
As you might have noticed, we have a very red wall (thank-you past owners!) Which didn’t bode well for a white theme at all, so we definitely needed ideas to lighten things up!
We had this piece of wood box laying in the garage that with a little white paint and some sanding worked perfectly for our backdrop! I actually used this same backdrop in a floral baby shower I hosted.
I wanted to keep the backdrop simple. So I dressed it up merely with a string of white lights, a few wooden snowflakes
>> Get the hot cocoa banner for FREE by clicking the link!
Do you like the table covering? Wrapping paper and a roll of burlap! Can I just say, wrapping paper can be a great inexpensive asset when it comes to party preparations! Aside from table covering, you can use it for creating a backdrop (as seen here), covering a box for added height on a food table… or covering a can of whipped cream to make it look more appealing. 🙂 And speaking of toppings…
Recreate the look:
3. Gather the Toppings
Here is a list of all the hot cocoa toppings we served:
- peppermint chips
- crushed Andes mints
- mini chocolate chips
- toffee bits
- white chocolate chips
- coarse sea salt
- chocolate sprinkles
- festive Christmasy sprinkles
- Pirouette cookies
- marshmallows
- mini marshmallows
- candy canes
- soft candy cane sticks
- whipped cream
- caramel sauce
Really the sky is the limit with toppings. Serve as many or as few as you fancy and be sure to add a few of your own favorites! Crushed Andes mints is my fave! All the toppings I bought at our local grocery store and found the majority of them in the baking section.
>> Another fun and chic way to serve the toppings would be on a hot cocoa charcuterie board– be sure to check out the post!
4. How to Serve the Hot Cocoa & Toppings
It’s all in the toppings! With so many different hot chocolate flavor combinations to choose from it would be difficult to create a batch of hot cocoa that everyone loves.
That’s why I like to keep the hot cocoa to a simple chocolatey taste (this cocoa is my fav so far). Guests are then free to choose from the vast amount of topping combinations to customize their cup to best please their taste buds.
We whip up a big batch of hot chocolate in our crock-pot
FYI, I’m NOT a fan of individual hot cocoa packets. They are great for a long term hot chocolate station however they are not the best option for a party. It adds tedious extra cocoa making steps for guests and can be awfully messy. It’s better just to have the hot chocolate ready to pour to relieve your visitors of the added hassle.
Okay back to the fun part… the toppings! I displayed each topping in mismatched sized jars (like these and these) and then grouped the majority of them on a serving tray
I designed the printable hot chocolate bar labels (just click on the link to grab them!) for all the toppings and tied them to the jar with a bit of red bakers twine.
To scoop out each topping, we had these adorable mini scoops
Recreate the look:
Hot Cocoa Bar Ideas Aside the Toppings
Along with the toppings, I like adding a few extra novelties like these chocolate dipped candy canes. Having stirrers and dippers available is not only helpful to the guest to mix in their hot chocolate toppings, but also adds a fun element of interest to the table!
I was going to stop at the chocolate dipped candy canes, but then I found these festive snowflake stir sticks so I just had to make marshmallow chocolate stir sticks. It all just adds a little extra fun to the display and for the guests.
Some other fun hot cocoa bar ideas for stirrers are:
- candy canes
- peppermint sticks
- cinnamon sticks
- Pirouette cookies
- candy cane peppermint spoons
- paper straws
- festive wooden stirrers
- chocolate dipped spoons
- chocolate stir sticks (easily make your own!)
–> Learn how to make your own hot chocolate stir sticks by clicking here.
Recreate the look:
5. Use all the Hot Cocoa Bar Printables!
Did you see a hot cocoa bar printable that you liked? If you haven’t already grabbed them, be sure to snag them now, all for free! I shared several links throughout the post that would connect you with a particular hot cocoa printable. But just for convenience, I will share them all in one spot here for your convenience. Just click on the one(s) you need that will take you to the post to download them!
The “Hot Cocoa” Banner
Hot Cocoa Toppings Labels
Hot Cocoa 25 Cent Sign
Cup of Cheer Labels
Hope you enjoyed all these hot cocoa bar ideas!
So what do you think? Will you be hosting a Hot Cocoa Bar Party soon? I sure hope so!
Did you find this post helpful? Then be sure to save A PIN to your Winter themed board!
Creating a Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board is also a great way to display toppings!
You’ll love these 48 prefilled hot chocolate bar labels in my shop for your upcoming party!
What size is the hot cocoa sign?
Hi Amber,
What sign are you referring to? The “hot cocoa 25 cent” sign? That sign is a 6×8 inch print.
I love your hot cocoa bar ideas. The hot chocolate sign is absolutely adorable.
what size mason jars did you use for the white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, etc? Pretty much that whole middle row on the tray? Are those 8 oz or 16 oz?
Hi Hillary,
I used 16 oz mason jars for the middle row of toppings. 🙂
I love love love your hot cocoa bar!! My family will be staying in a cabin this Christmas and my plan is to copy yours, if I may!!!!! I have a couple of questions. The metal container that is holding the small candy canes, or the large marshmallows, where did you get this? and did I see that you put some small marshmallows below the hazelnut wafers? Is this to make them taller? Thank you so much.
Thanks Lynne! A cabin, Christmas, and a hot cocoa bar couldn’t be more perfect! How fun! So I actually bought that metal cup at an all you can drink rootbeer stand at the fair, but I found a similar one here.
Good catch! Yes, I put the some small marshmallows below the hazelnut to get them higher in the jar more for ease and for the look. 🙂 Best of luck with all your preparations! Sounds like Christmas this year will be a blast!
Hi 🙂 I wanted to tell you how much my family loves this idea. I love it so much that in my planning blog I am talking all about my favorite holiday activities, and I am linking to your ideas. Thank you so much for sharing what you love to do with your family.
Ah, thanks so much Wendy! I’m glad that you and your family can also enjoy these fun holiday traditions!
very nice put up, i actually love this web site, carry on it
Hello, I have been doing a hot chocolate bar for a couple years now, and each year it has gotten better. I can’t wait to do this years!!
What an awesome tradition Peggy! I love annual events that can be built on year after year. So do you switch it up each time? What do you keep consistent each year- besides the hot chocolate of course! 🙂
I LOVE this idea!!!! I think you have inspired me to set aside the holiday craze and put together a hot cocoa party! xoxo
So glad to hear it Jennifer! 🙂 I know you will love it!!!