Who doesn't love a cup of hot chocolate when it's freezing outside? A hot chocolate bar is excellent, with a chill in the air. In addition, a chocolate bar doesn't need a lot of money. Whether you have a baby shower, Thanksgiving party, or bridal shower, a hot chocolate bar never fails to entertain your guests.
Hot chocolate packing oodles of calories protects its users against freezing temperatures. We have put together some chocolate bar ideas that your guests will love. We have also explained our hot chocolate recipe that will help you make the most delicious hot chocolate, which will be hard to resist.
How to Set Up Your Hot Chocolate Bar?
The first thing to consider is where to set up your hot chocolate bar? Pick a place in your house where there is enough space for everyone to gather around the table. You can set up your hot chocolate bar on a table or a bar, depending on its size. Your table should be covered with a tablecloth, and some decorations should be placed there to make it look more festive.
Create a clearly defined starting and ending point. These points will help you prevent overcrowding and save your guests from bumping into each other. For example, place the mugs and spoons on one end first, then the hot chocolate and toppings.
You should decide what kind of theme you want to use. Start by gathering all the décor pieces around your home that fit the theme. Don't hesitate; simply pick everything that you think might be useful. You may put everything on a table or a bar and start thinking about the setup. Next, make a list of everything else you might need.
Like we said before, your decorations depend on what kind of theme you have. For example, add pine sprigs, pinecones, and ferns to your table if you want a rustic touch to your hot chocolate bar. On the other hand, suppose you have a Christmas theme for your hot chocolate party. Add different ornaments to decorate your hot chocolate bar, including Christmas wreaths, baubles, Santa, Christmas trees, and tinsel. While setting up your hot cocoa bar, you can also decorate it with sign boards such as "It's cold outside" or "Welcome to Hot Cocoa Bar."
Ensure that you have enough mugs for everyone. A few nice cups and some attractive spoons complete the style you're looking for. For serving hot chocolate, we recommend using disposable mugs as they are heat-resistant and easy to handle. The Kaya Collection brings you a variety of disposable mini-party supplies, including plastic mugs, bowls, and plates.
Fill up a beautiful tray with mini plastic bowls and mason jars to divide some of your dry and wet ingredients. Place the cookies, candies, whipped cream, dark chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, powdered sugar, and sprinkles in the tiny bowls and arrange them on the tray as you like.
You can also use mason jars in different sizes for the hot chocolate bar toppings. You can use various sizes to add height and interest to your tray décor. Fill the tall ones with marshmallows and candy canes and the short ones with toppings like toffee bits, mini chocolate chips, and crushed peppermints. To scoop them out, you can keep disposable mini flatware.
To decorate your jars, wrap red bakers twine around the jars a few times. Remember to add labels to your jar, so your guests know what they are having. Next, decorate this beautiful tray on your table or bar, and place your mugs next to the tray.
The best thing about hot chocolate is that you can customize it with your favorite flavors, sprinkles, and toppings. The ingredients you use to make homemade hot chocolate are entirely up to you.
Hot Chocolate Recipe
You must toss everything into the slow cooker to make the most delicious hot chocolate. To make hot chocolate, you will need.
Ingredients:
- Cocoa powder, 1/4 cup
- ½ cup of hot water
- Chopped semi-sweet chocolate weighing 20 ounces
- 10 cups whole milk
- Heavy cream, 2 ½
- 12 ounces of evaporated milk (not fat-free)
- 1/2 cup sugar (optional)
- Salt, 1/4 teaspoon
Toppings:
- Candy canes
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate syrup
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
- Cookies
- Candies
- Toffee bits
- Crushed peppermint
Instructions:
- Place the cocoa powder in a bowl, add the boiling water, and mix thoroughly.
- Add the cocoa mixture, chopped chocolate, milk, heavy cream, evaporated milk, and salt to a cooker.
- Don't add sugar if you're serving this with a hot chocolate bar and toppings to prevent the hot chocolate from being overly sweet. However, add sugar if you're serving the hot chocolate just by itself.
- Cook the hot chocolate for 3 to 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low flame. To prevent the chocolate from settling to the bottom, stir the hot chocolate every hour.
- Keep the temperature warm if you're serving it hot chocolate bar style with toppings on the side. Leftover hot chocolate l can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week and reheated in the microwave before serving.
Guidelines:
- Try to serve the hot chocolate within an hour after it has been cooked. The cream may curdle, or the hot chocolate may stick to the bottom if you let it sit for too long.
- You can also make this on the stove if you don't have a slow cooker.
- Simply heat the water and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan while mixing until the mixture starts to simmer.
- Add the additional ingredients and continue stirring until the chocolate has melted. Don't let the hot chocolate boil. It should simmer at this time.
- Your hot chocolate won't be delicious if you use less than 12 ounces of milk.