I love hot chocolate. Like, really love it. I also love flavored steamed milk. I buy it in the middle of the summer and the Starbucks employees ask me if I’m aware they sell iced drinks. I don’t drink coffee so I guess this is my vice. One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is host a Gourmet Hot Chocolate bar. Sometimes we’ll invite another family over, sometimes we’ll host an adult get together, and sometimes I kick my husband and kiddos out of the house for a few hours and have a girls night in. Today I’m going to show you how to step it up a notch and put something together that’s super trendy and super gourmet! And you don’t need to throw a party to enjoy these, it’s a fun after dinner treat for the family, or just a cup for one on a chilly day.
I put together these flavor combinations with normal ingredients you can find in your own cupboards and at the grocery store. I’m not listing ingredient amounts because it’s really a to-taste thing. If you’re setting up spread for a get together, try putting all of these combos in little stations where people can put the add-ins in themselves. I use little espresso sized cups so people can grab several tastes without feeling an overload!
Ingredients and Supplies Needed
These are just suggestions. You can customize your hot chocolate any way you’d like!
- Base – I like to have a hot chocolate, a white chocolate and plain milk. I always use whole milk because it has such great flavor and a creamy texture. If you’re concerned about calories, c’mon we’re dunking straight-up fudge in this stuff. Since you’re going to have lots of sweet things to add to your drink, I strongly recommend you take the time to make your own hot chocolate (as opposed to using a pre-made mix). That way you can control the sugar and keep it low so it’s not overly sweet with the add-ins.
- Flavorings – Think of things you can both stir in and melt in. Extracts and oils work great but keep a tiny spoon or dropper so people don’t add too much. You can find a large assortment of flavored syrups in the coffee isle of the grocery store. Also there are fantastic coffee creamers available during the holidays in all sorts of great flavors like gingerbread, peppermint, hazelnut, french vanilla, etc. In addition to the normal flavors think of solid chocolate, peanut butter, Nutella, etc. Search through your pantry and fridge and be creative!
- Toppings – Whip your own cream and you can add flavors and or colors. Try cocoa powder for a chocolate whipped cream, or peppermint extract and pink food coloring for a candy cane twist. Use spices, shavings, crushed candy or candy bars to add an extra touch. Ice cream syrups like caramel and chocolate, or berry toppings are easy and show-stopping!
- Extras – With all of these add-ins you’ll need something to stir with! Try dipping spoons in caramel or chocolate and rolling in crushed candy canes or toffee and then let them harden. Or use candy canes or cinnamon sticks for extra flavor.
You’ll notice in my pictures I have tiny cups! That’s one of my best tips. Use espresso cups (available for pretty reasonable prices, my set was under $10!) so people can try a few different flavors and enjoy the richness of a small serving.
Some of My Favorite Flavor Combos
Holiday Spice
White hot chocolate, pumpkin pie spice, gingerbread marshmallows, cinnamon sprinkle. Optional: cinnamon oil or cinnamon syrup.
Raspberry Truffle
A couple chunks of dark chocolate on the bottom of the mug, hot chocolate or white hot chocolate, raspberry syrup or oil, whipped cream, raspberry drizzle, chocolate sprinkles. For the raspberry drizzle either puree fresh raspberries or mix a little raspberry jam with warm water until smooth.
Chocolate Hazelnut
Hot whole milk, Nutella, chocolate whipped cream, chocolate shavings.
Caramel Fudge
A chunk of fudge on the bottom of the mug, hot chocolate, caramel syrup, marshmallows, caramel sauce drizzle.
Peppermint Stick
White or Chocolate hot chocolate, peppermint oil, extract, or syrup, pink peppermint whipped cream, crushed candy canes.
Helpful Recipes to Know
Hot Chocolate: I love Hershey’s classic recipe. Use whole milk and decrease the sugar just a bit to allow for add-ins.
White Hot Chocolate: Melt 1 cup white chocolate chips with 6 cups whole milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Chocolate Whipped Cream: Make Sweetened Whipped Cream and add in a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Peppermint whipped cream: Make Sweetened Whipped Cream and add in peppermint extract to taste and pink food coloring.
Fudge: Here’s an easy Classic Fudge recipe that has all of the ingredients of a good hot chocolate. Or for a less sweet option, just make super thick ganache. Try this gnache recipe and cut the cream down to about 1/4 cup. You can make it with dark, bittersweet, semi sweet or milk chocolate. Place in a small dish in the fridge to harden and then cut into cubes.
Marshmallows: Make your own Homemade Marshmallows and flavor with any extract your heart desires!
Questions & Reviews
You ladies are simply lovely…I just wanted to tell you that.
🙂
Wow, what creative ideas. I've never heard of a hot chocolate bar before. Looks awesome!
Instead of hot chocolate, I usually drink vanilla milk.
hot milk with either vanilla torani syrup or a teaspoon or so of vanilla and a little sugar.
Love this!! Now I want to plan a Hot Cocoa Bar party!
A note for Cher who asked about Silk….
In my experience (at home and when I used to work at Starbucks), soy milk does heat up well, but it heats up faster than cow's milk so you have to watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
Thanks again! I can't wait to try some of these.
Where are you finding the ginger marshmellos?
I adore this idea! How fabulous! I'll be featuring it on my blog – all credit and links back to you – next week!
http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com
I seriously LOVE you for this post! I'm not a coffee drinker either and hot chocolate is totally my favorite winter treat. For my wedding, I got a hot chocolate machine, which mixes up the hot chocolate and dispenses with foam. Thank you for posting the recipes! I am definitely going to try to make my own hot chocolate next time.
Any suggestions for us lactose intolerant types? I've heard 'Silk' doesn't heat up too well.
Okay, that Hazelnut cocoa looks INcredible.
I think that hot cocoa is one of my favorite things in the entire world! I think I'll put together a hot chocolate bar this holiday season now!
Like you, I don't like coffee and hot chocolate is my "vice". I keep it low-fat, though, except when it is my dessert. I, too, use the classic Hershey's recipe but with skim milk, one packet of artificial sweetener, and about 1/2 spoonful of caramel syrup with a dash of vanilla extract (for 1 cup). Sometimes I'll treat myself with a splash of half-and-half (esp. in the winter) just to "richen" it up. My son will be so excited to see a recipe for white hot chocolate (thank you!!!) and I've never thought to host a hot chocolate bar but I think it's in my future!!! Thanks for the great ideas — can't wait to try the Nutella version.