Last week I shared my favorite Christmas date nights you can have at home, and the hot chocolate bar idea was a huge hit! So I decided to share how I put mine together, with all the different toppings and ingredients you can use to make your hot chocolate bar better than the rest.
A hot chocolate bar is perfect for a date night at home or to go with a get together with friends. It’s super easy to throw together, and will be a hit, no matter how simple or involved you make it. I just used powered hot cocoa mix, but you can also make some homemade cocoa to make them even more decadent and special! I haven’t made my own hot chocolate before, but there are plenty of recipes online you can try if you’re feeling particularly adventurous. And if you do, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to give your recipe a try.
Hot Chocolate Bar
Add Ins
Think creamy and decadent! And, of course, delicious.
Coffee creamer (like vanilla, caramel, peppermint and white chocolate)
Ice cream
Peanut butter (stir till it’s melted in)
Toppings
Get toppings that will go well with chocolate (please, please, please avoid gummies or sour candy, for the love of all things chocolate), and bonus points if they can melt into the drink.
Whipped Cream
Mini marshmallows
Crushed Oreos
Crushed peppermints/candy canes
Mini chocolate chips
Peanut butter chips
Cinnamon
Chopped up candy bars
Sprinkles
Chopped nuts
Shredded coconut
Syrups
It’s time to mix in some flavor, and make your whipped cream look extra fancy. Go crazy and pretend you’re a Starbucks barista. You’ll feel cool, I promise.
Chocolate
Peanut butter
Caramel
Vanilla
Salted Caramel
Extras
Peppermint stick/Candy cane
Rolled wafer cookies
Coffee stirrers
Pretzel sticks covered in chocolate
$25 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway!
And if making a DIY coffee bar isn’t your thing (or you just love Starbucks holiday drinks as much as I do), then you should head on over to my friend’s blog! She’s hosting a giveaway for a $25 gift card to Starbucks, and her post is all about how to save money this holiday season. It’s a great read, and hey… who wouldn’t love to win a free gift card?!
Now it’s your turn to talk! Answer one of these questions in the comments below:
What is your favorite topping for hot chocolate?
Have you ever made a hot chocolate bar before?
December 19th, 2016 at 7:13 am
This is such a good idea! I’m intolerant to milk (and thus most chocolates) so it won’t be easy to make this but i’m going to try it with milk free chocolate bars or cocoa powder and soy milk!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Oooh those sound like great substitutions for the cocoa. I didn’t know they made milk free chocolate bars… So cool!
December 19th, 2016 at 7:40 am
Cinnamon, whipped cream and chocolate chips, for the win!!!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Mmmm delicious! Cinnamon and hot chocolate is such a classic combo. Love it!
December 19th, 2016 at 7:53 am
I love the idea of a hot chocolate bar! Everything looks wonderful and yummy!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Thanks Chrissy! They are so fun, aren’t they?
December 19th, 2016 at 8:15 am
I love all of the extra whipped cream on top of your hot chocolate, it looks delicious!! We have a coffee/hot chocolate bar & it is my favorite place in our house! Too good to resist! :)
December 20th, 2016 at 2:53 pm
Oooh yes! The more whipped cream, the better. Next time I’m definitely adding in some coffee. I love subbing milk or water with coffee. Yum!
December 19th, 2016 at 8:22 am
I really need to do this!! My daughter would be in heaven and so would I!! I love this idea. Hot chocolate is a winter staple. Great ideas for toppings!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
I know my sisters would be ALL over a hot chocolate bar! It makes a night at home so much fun.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:38 am
I seriously can not wait to make a hot chocolate bar for my party! such a great idea! (mine will have a dab of bourbon in it though!) ;)
December 20th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Yes! I was thinking about doing a hot chocolate bar for the New Years Party I’m cohosting.
December 19th, 2016 at 8:42 am
HOT CHOCOLATE BAR! I need to do this. This is a must. Adding to our Sister Bucket list!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Aw how fun! I need to make a sister bucket list. <3
December 19th, 2016 at 9:07 am
I like to put peanut butter in mine! Oh my goodness…so good :)
December 20th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
SARAH. Why have I never thought of that before?! Genius!! I’m definitely doing that next time I make hot chocolate. YUM.
December 19th, 2016 at 9:19 am
Nothing is better than a good cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. Love the bar set up!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
I agree! And thanks Ryan. It was so fun and easy to put together. :)
December 19th, 2016 at 10:10 am
I’ve never made a hot chocolate bar before, but it seems like a great idea! My favorite topping is good ole’ whipped cream!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Hot Chocolate bars are so fun! They’re easy to make, and make ordinary hot chocolate so much better. And you can never go wrong with whipped cream! Yum!
December 19th, 2016 at 10:16 am
We love hot cocoa in the winter. The more toppings and add-ins, the better!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
I agree!! I’m all about the toppings in my hot chocolate.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:35 am
What a fun and yummy idea! This would go perfectly with our cookie decorating day!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Ahh that sounds like the perfect day! It doesn’t get much better than cookie decorating and hot chocolate.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:41 am
This is such a cute idea! I love it.
December 20th, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Aw thanks Sara! It was so much fun!
December 19th, 2016 at 11:54 am
What an awesome idea. My daughter would think this was the coolest thing ever!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Yes! I know my younger sisters would be all over a hot chocolate bar. They are so much fun!
December 19th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Oh yum, I need to try this for Christmas! This is such a great idea everyone would love!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Yes!! It would be so fun to do with the whole family. I think it’d be perfect to have something to sip on while opening presents on Christmas morning.
December 19th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
I haven’t had hot cocoa in FOREVER. I’m so overdue, this all looks delicious! And what a fun thing for a party!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
GIRL. You need to get some asap! Hot chocolate is one of my favorite holiday treats. And I agree!! I’m thinking about doing this for our New Years Party. :)
December 19th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
We did this at a party recently … such a huge hit! Love the idea of adding pretzel sticks covered in chocolate!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Aww I’m sure it was a blast! And right?! A spoon you can eat?! Yes please!
December 19th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
What a cute idea! I would love to do something like this sometime!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Thanks Neely! It’s a blast and so easy to throw together.
December 19th, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Hi. This is the second time today that I have heard about a hot chocolate bar. This is clearly a sign that I need this in my life.
December 20th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
I agree! You can’t go wrong with hot chocolate, and the more toppings the better in my opinion haha.
December 19th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
This amazing! Want!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Isn’t it?! Hot chocolate is my jaaam during the holidays!
December 19th, 2016 at 6:41 pm
I’ve never made one but I really want to!! I’m thinking maybe salted caramel or peppermint chocolate!?
December 20th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
You should. And YES YES YES. Salted caramel hot chocolate sounds divine. Yum!
December 19th, 2016 at 7:51 pm
I love this! What a fabulous idea!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Thanks girl! It’s so much fun. <3
December 19th, 2016 at 8:48 pm
I’ll be having several guests for winter, so this hot chocolate bar is perfect for company! Who doesn’t love hot chocolate on a cold, winter night!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
I agree! The hot chocolate bar is perfect for serving something to guests. Easy and fun- what else could you ask for?!
December 19th, 2016 at 9:53 pm
This is so fun! I actually just had hot chocolate tonight.
December 20th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Yum! I love hot chocolate during the colder months.
December 19th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
This is the cutest little set up! Definitely trying this at my next winter event!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Thanks Erica! It will be a hit, I’m sure. Hot chocolate bars are my favorite!
December 19th, 2016 at 11:39 pm
You have totally motivated me to create a hot chocolate bar! This is beautiful! ~nicole
December 20th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Awesome! Let me know how it turns out :)
December 20th, 2016 at 7:21 am
Such a great idea! All the toppings are amazing well!
December 20th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Thanks Danielle! In my opinion, the more toppings the better… right?
December 20th, 2016 at 8:30 pm
Exactly!
December 20th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Yes!! It’s one of my favorite holiday treats.
December 20th, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Thanks Cristina! I need to try making homemade hot chocolate someday. I’m sure it’s heavenly!
December 21st, 2016 at 12:47 am
I have never done a hot chocolate bar before, but this looks like SO much fun! I’ll have to do a mini-kid friendly version for my littles!!
January 5th, 2017 at 3:38 pm
Girl it was a blast! I’m sure your littles loved it. We did another one for a NYE party and it was a hit.
December 21st, 2016 at 11:10 pm
I love this! So cute and festive!
January 5th, 2017 at 3:45 pm
Thanks girl! It was SO much fun to put together and enjoy. And it was a hit at our NYE party!
December 23rd, 2016 at 6:51 am
This is such a cute idea! I love how you set everything up. Looks so yummy.
January 5th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
Thanks Suzanne! It was so much fun to put together, and was a huge hit at our NYE party.