An Easy Hot Chocolate Bar

| | | |

Create a hot chocolate bar for an easy, fun dessert all winter long! Obviously you’ll have hot cocoa mix, plus all the mix ins your heart could desire!

After getting my grandmother’s dining room suite, I thought it would be fun to create a retro hot chocolate bar. And it’s already been a hit with my kids! They LOVE it. Plus, when we disassemble it, they’ve already claimed all of the decor for their rooms.

I’ve been dreaming about having a hot chocolate bar in my home for years. Having this beautiful credenza is the most perfect place to set it up! It’s the perfect place to set up a hot chocolate bar.

Hot Chocolate Bar Ideas

This post is sponsored by Walmart and includes affiliate links for your convenience. See my full disclosure policy.

I don’t know about you, but I am a huge hot chocolate fan and I can’t get enough of the stuff during the cold months.

I’m not sure it gets all that cold here in Alabama. But if the temperature is less than 50 degrees, then a piping cup of hot cocoa will be just the ticket!

Colorful Hot Chocolate Bar

So, every winter, about this time, I whip up a batch of the creamiest hot chocolate (recipe here) and store it away in a large canister for the coming months. (I usually make a second batch, fill up a bunch of mason jars and hand them out as Christmas gifts with a tub of popcorn!)

But this year I went one step further and collected some of my favorite, simple hot chocolate toppings and gathered them all in one spot on the new buffet for my hot chocolate bar!

Colorful Home Decor from Walmart Home

Before we dive into the ingredients, let’s chat about these beautiful colorful, retro holiday decorations from Walmart Home. I just love the bright colors that pop off the dark wall color. And it could NOT have been easier to order them and just set them up with my supplies for hot chocolate. It’s a whole vibe that so reminds me of my grandmother’s house! She loved her ceramic tree and bright nutcracker collection.

The mugs and bowls from Thyme & Table are so cute and heavy duty! I love the gold details on the handles and rims. And they are still microwaves and dishwasher safe. LOVE them!

And like I said before, my girls love all of these items and are already claiming their favorites to go in their room when the hot chocolate bar gets moved.

What You’ll Need for a Hot Chocolate Bar

  • Hot Chocolate, of course (best recipe HERE – so yummy and stores easily all winter long!)
  • Toppings (see my full list below)
  • Containers (different sized bowls, canning jars, latch jars & hocking jars work best!)
  • Spoons
  • Mugs
  • Electric Kettle (I prefer to leave my hot chocolate mix in powder form and let my friends and family add the powder to hot water. This allows them to control how strong it is.)
  • Mug tree, optional
Retro Hot Chocolate Bar

I just whipped up a batch of my grandmother’s hot chocolate recipe and filled up the large hocking jar. Then filled up the bowls and jars with my favorite toppings.

I included just the basic toppings like:

  • marshmallows
  • caramel bits
  • sprinkles
  • toffee bits
  • candy canes
  • white chocolate syrup
  • caramel syrup
  • Andes mints
  • stroop waffles
  • pirouette cookies
  • biscotti

I’ll probably add whipped cream when we’re having people over or a special event. I love some whipped cream in my hot chocolate, layered over some marshmallows with just a few sprinkles on top. Yum!!

Hot Chocolate Bar Ingredients

Shop this look by tapping the images below:

A tray is a perfect place to keep your hot chocolate bar, that way you can move it around if need be. I plan to put most of the ingredients on a tray and keep it out of reach when not in use. All because of a little girl who lives here. 😉 But I will say that those glass jars are heavy, so be careful if you choose to move it around.

Hot Chocolate Bar Ideas

A Hot Chocolate Bar Toppings List

  • Crushed peppermint, or
  • Candy Canes
  • Soft Peppermint Sticks
  • Toffee Bits
  • Caramels
  • Marshmallows
  • Sea Salt
  • Cinnamon
  • White Chocolate Sauce
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Chocolate Sauce
  • Whipped Cream
  • Andes Mints
  • Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Chili Powder (for those who like it spicy 💃🏻)
  • Pirouette Cookies
  • Biscotti
  • Whoppers
Hot Chocolate Bar Decor

This is such a fun, easy drink station to set up! I hope you’ll share yours with me on Instagram if you make one too!

What is your favorite combo choice in your hot chocolate? Do you have a hot chocolate or coffee bar at your home?

MORE POSTS YOU WILL LOVE:

SaveSave

SaveSave

Similar Posts

8 Comments

  1. Cinnamon sticks are nice in hot chocolate, or hot saskatoon berry cider. I also have a cocoa chili powder that I sprinkle on coffee or hot chocolate in the winter. My husband likes mixing Coffee Crisp hot chocolate mix with regular hot chocolate.

  2. Hi Laura! I am late in reading this delightful post, but wanted to add a brief comment: it is of course gorgeous and welcoming, & I will definitely try it next year… but, have you heard of Stroupe Waffles? I learned about them this year for the first time ever. Oh my. Yes indeed. If you don’t know these Dutch cookies, I would recommend you give them a try. You warm them over your cup of steaming coffee (or hot cocoa) to make the creamy insides even gooshier. They are highly addictive.

    And I agree with, like, every kind & appreciative thing other commenters have said! Thank you. I enjoy your blog so much.

    Sincerely, Jane.

    1. Hi Jane! I LOVE stoop waffles! I lived in Indonesia for 2 years in my 20’s and it was settled by the Dutch, so I was introduced to the stoop waffle there. I treat myself every now and then and loooove one over a hot cup of coffee. My mouth is now drooling. So, I included them in this updated hot chocolate bar post!

  3. Hi Laura!

    Thank you so much for your emails! They are like a little treat in my inbox that is overflowing with work! I always look forward to reading them!

    I absolutely LOVE your Isaiah 9:6 sign across from your Hot Chocolate Bar! Is that a printable? Where did you get it?

    I wanted to tell you thank you for being someone that keeps Christ in Christmas! I love your bold display of faith all year round! And also, in case you didn’t know, you’re doing a great a great job!!

    It was on my heart to share John 11:40 with you!

    Enjoy your day!
    Ashley

  4. My sister and her family are staying with us for Christmas, and i think this will be an awesome treat that folks can fix themselves whenever they want.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *