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
i host a cookie swap for my family and friends every year. im really considering having a hot chocolate bar this year. i know they would all love it.
Wow! Ok, obviously I’m a bit late to the party, but these are amazing! We are definitely doing this next winter! Thanks for all the great ideas!
Not sure if you care, or if anyone is reading these comments anymore but I figured it out (I am the Tiramisu hot chocolate recipe above)! I will offer little coffee flavored chocolates (Thank you Switzerland, and your full isle of chocolate in even the smallest of grocery stores!) to melt into the milk instead of plain dark chocolate.
I am hosting our book club this month and am going to serve a Gourmet Hot Chocolate bar! I LOVE this idea.
I've been mixing up my own concoctions to go along with your fabulous ones. My favorite that I have come up with is TIRAMISU.
Whole milk
DARK chocolate crumbled into it
(I would love to offer a bowl for a pinch of instant coffee for flavor, but I think some of my guests would be appalled.)
Rum flavoring
Marscapone cream
(I may or may not add that pinch of instant coffee here, somehow I think my guests would be less opposed to 'eating' a teaspoon of flavored cream than drinking it, but we'll see)
Served with Lady Fingers.
Does it sound great? Tell me it sounds great… 😉 Any ideas for getting that Tiramisu coffee flavor without offending my guests?
Thanks for the great idea! My mom in Utah saw you on TV and forwarded your site to me.
Megan
Zurich, CH
OMG I luv luv these ideas.
I would like to feature them on my site and link back to you.
Next Monday for our weekly menu round up.
You can see it at
http://maggielamarre.com
I hope that's ok with you if not please let me know?
Maggie
nursegirl- not rude at all! We just avoid excessive caffeine due to our religious beliefs/lifestyles. Although with the amount of chocolate I consume I may need to cut back there too, haha!
I love your site! I really don't mean to be rude, but I'm curious. Why can you drink hot chocolate but not coffee?
these look awesome!!!
🙂
yum yum… neat ideas. will have to definitely give that nutella one a go.
I absolutely ♥ Hot Choc, so must weigh in here.
Try it with whipped cream that's only been whipped about 1/2 way, so that it is still pourable. Pour slowly over the back of a teaspoon on to your very hot Hot Choc. When you take a sip the cold cream floats on top and hits your palate while at the same time the hot choc hits the tongue.
Quite an experience.
Trust me 😉