Set up a hot chocolate station with all the toppings, then let people help themselves to create their own take on the ultimate hot chocolate
Hot chocolate station ideas
Unwind this festive season with a warming mug of decadent hot chocolate. To take things to the next level, set up your own hot chocolate station where friends and family can load up their perfect mug with all kinds of toppings.
To set up your station, you’ll need some cocoa – see who makes the best hot chocolate or make your own with our recipe. Next, you’ll need a selection of mugs for your guests to choose from. See the best coffee mugs to find your perfect style.
Set up little jars with plenty of toppings to pick from. This is where you can customise whatever ingredients you like best, the sky’s the limit. Try chocolate chips, candy canes, cinnamon sticks and mini marshmallows. Add a selection of Monin flavoured coffee syrups (£9.99) to add a hint of vanilla, gingerbread or caramel.
Easy hot chocolate recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1.5 litres whole milk
- 3 tbsp demerara sugar, plus extra to taste
- 100g dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 150ml single cream
TOPPINGS
- dark rum, whisky, brandy, Disaronno or Baileys
- squirty cream
- Cadbury flakes
- (available from Waitrose and ocado.com) Chloe’s Hazelnut & Cocoa Wafers
- cinnamon sticks
- ground cinnamon
- chocolate chips
- mini marshmallows
- fudge chunks
Method
- STEP 1
Put the cocoa in a large bowl or jug and mix in enough cold milk to make a smooth paste. Put the rest of the milk in a pan and bring to a simmer. Whisk the milk into the cocoa paste until everything is incorporated then pour back into the pan. Add the sugar, chopped chocolate, vanilla and cream, and heat gently, stirring until everything is combined. Sweeten with extra demerara sugar to your liking.
- STEP 2
Pour the chocolate into heatproof glasses and let everyone add their own toppings.
