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 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! First I’ll show you my creations, and then I’ll give you my hot chocolate tips. Here we go…
Here’s a video segment of these recipes, along with my s’mores hot chocolate, on Studio 5 tv.
Oh, I am SO in love with this post! Your blog is AMAZING! I think I may just have to get some of those espresso cups…love them. Thanks for sharing all these great ideas.
You ladies are A MA ZING! This looks so good! Thanks for another fabulous idea. Just a heads up for those looking for the gingerbread mallows I saw some at my local (Sandy,UT) Walmart.
I love hot chocolate with any flavor! I used to work at a coffee shop and I can't drink coffee due to a caffeine intolerance, so hot chocolate is my thing 🙂 The one thing you have to watch out for when dealing with raspberry syrup is that it will curdle when it is mixed with milk (the acidity of the flavor causes a reaction.) To solve the problem you can add it to the chocolate syrup or mix it with a shot of espresso prior to mixing it with the coffee.
As for why whole milk: fats carry flavor, so the higher the fat content in the milk, the better it will taste 🙂
Great ideas! I don't think I can manage to fit this in before Christmas, but wouldn't a hot chocolate bar girls night be a great way to beat the January doldrums?
To the person that asked about eggnog-flavored hot chocolate, what if you made hot chocolate by substituting egg nog for the whole milk. I bet that would be yummy!
One of my favorites is white hot chocolate with peppermint syrup and caramel ice cream topping.
(I'll have to try it with that pink peppermint whipped cream and crushed candy canes!)
Eeee! I plan on having a December wedding next year (or 2012, we haven't decided yet ^_~ ) and this would be a great idea to set up at the reception. Instead of a dessert or candy bar, do a hot chocolate bar! Tiny espresso cups (love that idea so you can try a few different flavors), carafes with hot milk chocolate, white chocolate, or hot milk mixed up, items placed out, and then a chalk board with "recipes" for inspiration behind the table. This is so exciting, I love this!
A hot chocolate bar! What a great idea. I love hot chocolate; Hershey's recipe is definitely a favorite and I make it almost every night. Can't wait to try these yummy variations!
We were planning a Polar Express party and of course, the Polar Express needs Hot Chocolate. This post came just in time to give me a few more ideas! Yummy!
They all look sooo good! I want some hot chocolate now. Like right now!
Your creativity blows my mind! You are a true genius in the kitchen. Can you think of a way to make an egg-nog flavored hot chocolate? It is my husbands absolute favorite and I would love to make it into a yummy hot drink for him this Christmas 🙂
Thanks for the awesome post.
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.
You had me at Nutella!
lisa- LOVE the toasted coconut idea!
Alyssa- ok I should have specified, you don't *have* to use whole milk, it just tastes really really good 🙂 Also, because it has a little more creaminess (aka fat aka yumminess) things tend to melt in a little better.
Jasey- yup, your two ingredient fudge is thick ganache, that's actually my *favorite* kind! That would work great in there too 🙂
PS – I was super excited to see that you recommend the exact same fudge recipe that my mom uses – the one I grew up with.I always knew she had amazing taste! However, I know you both have a thing for interesting and easy recipes – check this recipe out, it's my aunts, ONLY two ingredients and super duper creamy!
http://crazyjayzplace.blogspot.com/2010/12/fudge-easiest-you-will-ever-love.html
Happy Day, again,
Jasey
I cannot find those cute gingerbread marshmallow's here anywhere! Love this post – everything about it!
Happy Day,
Jasey
You could buy a gingerbread cookie cutter and make your own marshmallows. There’s a post on how to do that too. 🙂
This is an amazing post! I love hot cocoa.
I have been looking for something special to so for our friend Christmas, and I think this will be perfect! Thanks.
This post makes you hungry!
I am having my first giveaway on my blog – a gift card sponsored by CSN Stores. please do come over and enter
I'm hosting a hot cocoa bar later this month so I appreciate the tips. I was just going with boring hot chocolate so I may try to spice it up. Thanks,
Christy
Why is it a must to use whole milk as opposed to other milks?
My local coffee shop has a hot chocolate called The Snowball. It has coconut syrup and is topped with toasted coconut. It is yummy!! My boys would love the one with Nutella.
pls give me the recipe!!!! I love coconut. Thank you, Jann
Oh, my. This post just killed me! SO YUMMY! 🙂
I will defintely watch you on Studio5 on Monday! Good luck!
-Annie
{PeppermintPlum}