How to Host a Holiday Hot Chocolate Bar

Elevate your holiday gatherings this year with an elegant hot chocolate bar inspired by our newest velvety and decadent hue, Ganache. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the year’s most indulgent season and stay cozy and warm when the temperature drops. From the best hot chocolate recipe reminiscent of the richest ‘chocolat chaud’ found in the cafés of Paris, to our expert entertaining tips, here is how to host a holiday hot chocolate bar.

Set an Elegant Scene

To get everyone into the holiday spirit, set the scene for an elegant soirée. It’s the perfect time to pull out your finest china, silver, crystal and freshly pressed linens to toast the season. Add in some Noël Collection Mugs and Christmas Tree Plates to heighten the holiday magic.

Set up the hot chocolate bar in a part of the kitchen or dining area that will be out of the way of traffic, but still allow easy access for guests to serve themselves as well as mingle. Use a variety of materials and heights to create the display, all within a sophisticated neutral palette grounded by Ganache. And be sure that the bar flows with a clear start and end point to avoid confusion and traffic jams.

The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe

The star of the party is obviously the hot chocolate itself, so it’s imperative that you make it from scratch from the finest ingredients. Our favorite hot chocolate recipe is reminiscent of the most luxurious, rich and velvety ‘chocolat chaud’ found in France. Rich and thick, but not too sweet, one sip will transport you to the cafés and salons of Paris.

Make the hot chocolate in a Dutch Oven on the stovetop, which then doubles as an elegant serving vessel on the hot chocolate bar (be sure to use the Magnetic Wooden Trivet to protect surfaces from the heat). The enameled cast iron will keep the delicious beverage warm for guests to enjoy throughout the soirée. If you’re hosting a drop-in party throughout the day, set the Dutch Oven on a hot plate on the lowest setting to keep the hot chocolate at the perfect temperature for hours.

• Bring 4 cups whole milk and 2 cups heavy cream just to a simmer in a 4.5 qt. Dutch Oven set over medium heat. Do not let milk boil.
• Meanwhile, whisk together 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons good quality cocoa powder and a pinch of sea salt (such as Fleur de Sel). When the milk mixture is at a simmer, whisk in the sugar-cocoa mixture until dissolved and smooth.
• Add 16 ounces of good quality semi-sweet or bittersweet bar chocolate that has been finely chopped. Whisk until chocolate is fully melted and incorporated.
• For extra frothy hot chocolate, use an immersion blender to emulsify.

Hot Chocolate Toppings, Stir-ins and Accompaniments

The best part of a hot chocolate bar is all of the ways that your guests can customize their cup. Offer an assortment of flavorings to stir in, and plenty of delicious toppings in Mini Cocottes, Ramekins, candy dishes and even crystal glasses for garnishing the warm Mugs of chocolate. For the adults, boozy additions like liqueurs are a festive holiday treat.

Similar to cafés in Paris, sweet little treats are also a delightful accompaniment to a hot chocolate bar. Think cookies, pastries, candies and more that help offset the rich, creamy hot chocolate – bite-size cookies like biscotti, macarons and Pirouettes are just the right size for dipping into steaming mugs of cocoa. A hot chocolate bar can also be a lovely dessert course after a holiday appetizer or brunch party as well, offering a bit of sweet contrast to a savory holiday meal.