How to build a Hot Chocolate Bar: Everything you need for the setup, along with lots of topping ideas and our favorite hot chocolate recipes!
author’s note
A Wedding, 500 Homemade Cookies & a Hot Chocolate Bar!
This Hot Chocolate Bar originally came together for my sister’s wedding. I was helping with the food and somehow ended up making more than 500 cookies, including sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, oatmeal cookies, and snickerdoodles. And because that apparently wasn’t enough, I also took on the Hot Chocolate Bar!
I spent weeks testing the hot chocolate to get it just right for the wedding, and the setup ended up being such a fun part of the night. Since most of us aren’t regularly serving hot chocolate to an entire wedding reception, I scaled everything down for a much more manageable version. It’s perfect for a holiday party, shower, family night, or any gathering where everyone can pile their cup with exactly what they love!
Items Needed To Host
- Individual hot chocolate cups or mugs: I get the cups, lids, and cup sleeves all on Amazon. If you are interested here’s exactly what I use!
- Hot Chocolate (of course)
- Toppings (See below!)
And, not necessarily needs, but your Hot Chocolate Bar is begging for:
- Little mini wooden scoops (for the topping containers): Found here.
- Mini wooden stirring sticks: Found here.
- Small signs – Maybe some cute labels or signs to let folks know what’s what!
- Candles/tea lights to set a fun mood.
- Glass topping containers – I like displaying the toppings in glass jars.
How To Set Up A Hot Chocolate Bar
- Pick a Spot: Use a kitchen counter or table.
- Gather Supplies: Set out hot cocoa, a slow cooker, mugs, toppings & mix-ins.
- Add Flair: Include festive straws, spoons, labels, lights & a tablecloth.
- Customize & Enjoy: Let everyone build their perfect cup!
Topping Ideas
- Whipped Cream: Homemade or store-bought.
- Marshmallows: Regular, jumbo, mini, or dehydrated.
- Chocolate Chips: Semisweet, milk, white, or dark.
- Caramel Sauce: Drizzle on top or use caramel bits.
- Peppermint Sticks: Add whole or crushed.
- Cinnamon: Sprinkle on top or add a cinnamon stick.
- Sprinkles: Try colorful sprinkles or chocolate shavings.
- Nuts: Add sliced almonds or your favorite chopped nuts.
- Baking Chips: Try butterscotch chips, toffee bits, or mini peanut butter cups. Coconut Flakes: Toast them for extra flavor.
- Crushed Oreos: Any flavor works!
- Hot Fudge Sauce: Drizzle hot fudge sauce over the whipped cream.
Variations
- For a Halloween-themed hot chocolate bar, use orange and black mugs, and offer spooky toppings like ghost-shaped marshmallows, gummy worms, candy eyeballs, and crushed Oreo “dirt.” Don’t forget to include candy corn and Halloween-themed straws for added festive fun.
- For a Christmas bar, use red, green, and white mugs and offer peppermint, gingerbread, and cinnamon toppings. Include whipped cream, holiday sprinkles, festive syrups, and mini marshmallows for a delightful holiday treat.
- For Valentine’s Day, use pink, red, and white cups and offer heart-shaped marshmallows, chocolates, and syrups like raspberry or cherry. Finish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder and a dollop of whipped cream for a romantic hot chocolate experience.
When setting up a Hot Chocolate Bar, I recommend having one standard hot cocoa recipe and then letting the guests pick their own varieties by using the toppings you’ve set out.
How To Make Crockpot Hot Chocolate
- Blend: Mix dutch process cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and 1 cup of whole milk in a blender until smooth.
- Transfer: Pour the blend into a slow cooker, making sure to get it all out.
- Add Rest: Add the remaining 5 cups of milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Stir.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker, set to low, and cook for about 2 hours. Stir occasionally. Avoid high heat to prevent curdling.
- Enjoy: Once it’s warmed to your liking, serve in mugs, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
What To Serve With Hot Chocolate:
Desserts
Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies
Desserts
Apple Coffee Cake
Desserts
Best Crème Brûlée Recipe
Cookies
Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
Hot Chocolate Bar
How to build the ultimate Hot Chocolate Bar with setup tips, topping ideas, and delicious recipes to keep it cozy and fun!
Equipment
- 6-quart Crock-Pot See note 1 for all the equipment I use when creating this Hot Chocolate Bar!
Ingredients
Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate
- 1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder see note 2
- 3/4 up to 1 cup granulated sugar adjust to preference
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 cups whole milk divided
- 2 cups heavy cream or use more milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Pick Your Favorite Toppings, see note 3
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and 1 cup of the whole milk. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the blended cocoa mixture into a slow cooker, ensuring you scrape out every bit.
- Pour in the remaining 5 cups of milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to low. Cook for approximately 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The hot chocolate is ready once it’s warmed to your liking. (Don’t cook on high; this can curdle the milk.)
- To get your toppings just the right size, use a nut grinder, small food processor, or a mini blender. Pulse down cookies, pretzels, and nuts to your desired coarseness. Once you’ve prepped all your toppings, grab a muffin tin and line it with muffin liners, or use miniature bowls, to organize and display each choice.
- Organize your serving area with the Crock-Pot of warm hot chocolate, any sauces and/or toppings, and whipped cream. Ensure hot chocolate cups are available for guests to use.
- Once warmed, ladle the hot chocolate into mugs. Top with your preferred toppings and enjoy!
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Supplies:
- Individual hot chocolate cups or mugs: I get the cups, lids, and cup sleeves all on Amazon. Here’s exactly what I use!
- Little mini wooden scoops (for the topping containers): Found here.
- Mini wooden stirring sticks: Found here.
- Small signs: Maybe some cute labels or signs to let folks know what’s what!
- Topping containers: Muffin pan with liners—or if you’re feeling fancy, grab some miniature glass jars.
- 6-quart Crock-Pot: for the hot chocolate.
- Optional: This nut grinder is my favorite tool when preparing the toppings for this Hot Chocolate Bar! It’ll quickly chop up cookies, nuts and seeds, and candies in a whiz.
- Must-Haves: Whipped cream and marshmallows
- Nutritious Add-Ins: Sweetened coconut flakes, raisins, craisins, dried cherries, pepitas, nuts
- Candy Mix-Ins: Heath bar pieces, toffee bits, crushed Butterfinger, mini chocolate chips, mini Reese’s cups, caramel bits, sprinkles
- Crunchy Toppings: Crushed Oreos, graham crackers, Nilla Wafers, pretzels
- Sauces: Caramel, hot fudge
- Ice Cream: Add a scoop of peppermint stick, chocolate, vanilla—whatever you love!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 643kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 623mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 1099IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 395mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use this receipe to make the hot cocoa on the stove if I don’t have 2 hours for the crock pot?
Sure!
I loved the recipe with the toasted marshmallows. Is that still available?
I updated this recipe, heres a link to the best marshmallows: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/homemade-halloween-marshmallows/.
The toppings for this hot cocoa bar look scrumptious!
They are so delicious! Hope you enjoy! Thanks Belle! 🙂
Hi! Where did you get the glass containers for the toppings? Thanks!
Target, many years ago (like 10 years ago!)
Thanks for the quick reply! Do you know the size (either ounces or dimensions) and are they glass/plastic and are they pedestal? Sorry for all the questions! I’m trying to put this together for my baby sprinkle and since I need to order online, am having a hard time figuring what containers work best. Thank you!!
I believe they are 4 ounces; they are glass with a pedestal, hope that helps!
Can this be made without the marshmallows?
Sure 🙂
This hot cocoa bar looks adorable!! Love it!
Thank you!
Where did you get the little wooden spoons?
Amazon! 🙂 https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stix-Scoop-3–10ct/dp/B00HZANQOK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450446352&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+wooden+scoops
These photos are gorgeous! I am so jealous of this hot chocolate bar… sounds incredible and so creative!! Looking forward to seeing some photos
I know what you mean, Xmas is sneaking up on us!! This hot chocolate bar is such a cute idea!! Love the photos.
OMIGOSH!
1-your sister’s wedding sounds amazing and I hope everything is perfect!!!! I would love to see pics!
2-these 2 hot cocoa recipes are fabulous, they look so so sooo delish!
3-HOT CHOCOLATE BAR OMG LOVE IT NEED IT