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Hot chocolate is one of those nostalgic treats that have stayed a staple on snowy winter days since childhood. In fact, the forever-favorite warm drink can be traced back to 500 BC in Mexico. That’s over 2,500 years of scrumptious hot cocoa! With so many get-togethers with loved ones soon, what better time is there to chat over a delicious mug of hot chocolate? Picture this: A cozy fireplace burning in the living room, the radio playing your favorite holiday songs, all while your closest friends and family gather around a homemade hot chocolate bar, plopping whipped cream, sweet peppermint sticks, and gooey marshmallows into their mugs.
There are so many fun ways to decorate your tabletop or bar cart to create a hot chocolate bar. Adding garlands, festive mugs, or flocked miniature trees alongside your array of hot chocolate favors can create a festive focal point in your kitchen or gathering area. Here at DrewandJonathan.com, we take our cocoa game quite seriously. If you’re on the same page, we have tons of fabulous hot chocolate bar ideas to share for your next holiday gathering, whether it’s a big soiree or a cozy holiday morning with the family. It may be cold outside, but you can definitely stay warm next to a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite people! Before we get into our hot cocoa bar tips, let’s go over some questions you might be wondering:
How do you keep hot chocolate warm for a crowd?
For individual needs, a mug warmer is the perfect way to keep your hot chocolate toasty. But if you’re feeding a crowd, you’re definitely going to need something a little bigger to do the job! For small groups, an insulated carafe will work perfectly. However, if you’re hosting a holiday party or big family dinner, you might want to opt for a beverage dispenser or chafer, which can hold more liquid and keep it warm.
What is the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
Don’t get it twisted: There is a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. It comes down to ingredients, consistency, sugar content, and taste.
Hot cocoa is made from a powder consisting of cocoa and sugar, which dissolves in hot milk or water. (Technically speaking, that means the “hot chocolate” we buy in stores is usually actually hot cocoa!) Because the powdered cocoa is often made of 100% cacao, it needs the added sugar to make it taste less bitter. Because of this, it’s often sweeter than hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate is made from solid chocolate, which is then melted with hot milk or cream poured directly onto it. Hot chocolate has a thicker consistency because of this, and is also less sweet tasting. Hot chocolate is richer, and tastes more creamy than hot cocoa.
Whichever you decide to go with, both are delicious crowd-pleasing treats! And if you use the terms interchangeably, we won’t tell.
How do I make homemade hot cocoa?
Here are a few of our favorite hot chocolate recipes from across the web, all of which can be batched for crowds by doubling or tripling the ingredients:
- Food Network: Hot Chocolate Recipe, courtesy of Ina Garten
- Celebrating Sweets: Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Rainbow Plant Life: Vegan, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, and Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe
Now, with that, let’s get started on curating our hot cocoa bar. Cheers!
Make It Merry
We love a good excuse to add special seasonal touches to everyday places around the house. And boy, is winter the perfect time to do so! Even adding something as simple as winterberries or ornaments to your hot chocolate display will bring all the more holiday cheer.
Add Personality
There are a ton of trendy ideas out there to inspire you, but your hot cocoa party is your own! Tap into your creativity and play around with decor and hot cocoa accompaniments. (One of our spice-loving editors swears by adding chili powder to her cup.)
Keep It Functional
When creating your hot chocolate cart, it might be easy to go overboard on the decor and neglect the essentials. Be sure to leave some room for the mugs, hot chocolate mix, marshmallows, whipped cream, and any other yummy additions.
Decorating your bar or sideboard is, of course, the most exciting part of prepping your tablescape for the hot chocolate festivities. We recommend starting with a pre-lit garland or faux snow, and then spacing out a few glittery trees or decorative village houses (think a winter scene like the one you might put below the tree or atop the mantel). You can also hang a hot cocoa bar sign above the bar to direct guests to their soon-to-be favorite place in the house.
Here’s where we get down to business: the necessities. The yummy chocolate mixes and marshmallows are, of course, the most important part of this party, but matching jars, creative stirrers, and functional mug stands will make your hot cocoa bar go from fun to fabulous. Hot tip: WECK jars are one of the most highly-rated food storage containers on the market (not to mention some of the cutest!) so they’re perfect for keeping your marshmallows and chocolate chips fresh.
Seasonal additions don’t have to begin and end with your typical holiday decor. A festive mug (a perfect example of form-meets-function) is a great way to boost the holiday spirit while still making sure that the items along your bar cart are useful. We love the snowman stacking mugs from Kohl’s because of their ability to maximize your bar space as well as add a bit of cheerfulness.
Whether it’s a sweet holiday gift basket from you as the hostess or a gift to the entertainer whose throwing this epic hot chocolate party, these gifts are both seasonal and appropriate for your event. Plus, if there’s a chocolate-lover in your life, these can also make the perfect white elephant gift. The Oaxacan cocoa gift set from Verve Culture is a fun nod to hot chocolate’s history, while the St. Nicholas Square cookie jar is an adorable keepsake they can use each year.
The post An Ode to Hot Cocoa: Hot Chocolate Bar Ideas, Tips, and Edible Gifts appeared first on Drew & Jonathan.