Baby It’s Cold Outside: Hot Chocolate Bar Party

Baby it’s cold outside… and by cold in San Diego I mean it’s about 70 degrees out. The “dramatic temperature drop” has me getting all types of cozy. Swapping out my Halloween decor for a bit more neutral Thanksgiving theme before going gangbusters on the Christmas decoration aisle. Since it’s getting legitimately chilly in most parts of the US and around the world, I thought I’d share a really fun party idea with you guys! You can even incorporate it into your Thanksgiving plans! Putting together a hot chocolate bar is super simple and a major crowd pleaser. It’s a great last minute party idea and an even better way to get cozy with your friends and family.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, I wanted to start sharing some fun crafty ideas with you guys! I couldn’t think of a better way to spread a little bit of holiday cheer than with chocolate! I recently partnered up with GODIVA to try their new GODIVA Masterpieces. Is there really anything more exciting than getting chocolates in the mail? I don’t think so. Their Masterpieces collection are all individually wrapped and come in chocolate ganache, hazelnut ganache, and caramel; perfect for sharing and my main inspiration to whip up this hot chocolate bar.

How To Throw A Hot Chocolate Bar Party

I love throwing parties that have some sort of a theme, so I thought it would be fun to turn our actual bar into a rustic chic themed hot chocolate bar. I’ve got you covered on everything you’ll need to set up the bar & a super easy, decadent hot chocolate recipe!

Step One: Choose a Location

I used our bar, that I featured in our Bar & Game Room Makeover to set up the spread. Make sure you pick a spot that’s central enough in your room or location that people will see it (and appreciate it’s majesty). You can easily use a kitchen counter or a pop up table in a corner.

Step Two: Pick Your Mugs

I opted for disposable/paper cups (easier clean up), but you can also use regular coffee mugs. If you use disposable coffee cups, your guests can bring a cup with them when leave! I’d recommend putting a marker at the bar as well so people can label their cups. Another fun option is to get a bunch of simple white mugs and dress them up with some fun stirrers or straws. If you want to get super fancy, you can even order custom coffee sleeves to match your decor.

Step Three: Pick Your Garnishes

Other ideas for toppings:

Whipped Cream
Marshmallows
Candy Canes
Cinnamon
Grated Chocolate
Crushed Cookies
Sprinkles
Crushed Peppermints
Crushed Toffee Bits
Coconut Flakes
Pirouette Cookies
Cinnamon Sticks
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate & Caramel Syrups

I used mason jars to serve my different toppings and added twine bows to decorate them.

Step Four: Add Fun Decorations

I used my old, trusty Letter Board to create a fun sign for the bar. You can also use a light a piece of wood or chalkboard if you don’t have a dedicated sign. There are also tons of fun printable options!

To bring it all together, I got some garland and twinkle lights that I draped between all of the jars and across the bar. I also added some glittery pine cones and a mini flocked Christmas tree to add a little holiday cheer. To add cozy touches, you can throw a plaid blanket over your table or use ornaments and other holiday decorations.

Step Five: Make the Hot Chocolate

As you probably know by now, I’m obsessed with my slow cooker. I used GODIVA Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa. I used a combination of Whole Milk and Half & Half to give it an extra rich flavor, but you can use any milk alternative as well. Throw the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it heat up (give it about an hour before your guests arrive). The great thing about using a slow cooker is that you can use it to keep the hot chocolate warm!

My Favorite Hot Chocolate Combination: Hot Chocolate + Topped with whipped cream, crushed candy canes and topped with a Dark Chocolate Ganache Heart!

What’s your favorite hot cocoa topping?