It’s Hot Cocoa time!!

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

I think you guys all know by now that hot chocolate is a very coveted drink in my family. My dad has been joking lately that my mom is solely existing on hot chocolate. Apparently, since I’ve moved out, her hot cocoa cravings have been through the roof. I think this may be because she no longer has someone to literally serve her, breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts…yeah, I did that. Hot cocoa is a lot easier to make than say… lunch. Don’t lie mom, you totally miss me.

Anyway, way back in like early September, I had this idea for a holiday hot chocolate party. I know, I start thinking about Christmas WAY too early, but the point is, I’ve been thinking about this party for so long.

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvestHot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

It’s really so simple and so much fun. Basically, all you need are these hot chocolate mixes, warm milk and all the toppings you can possibly think of! Duh, toppings are a must!

So let me just get right down to it.

First you need really good hot cocoa mix. Today I’m sharing my easy recipes for dark chocolate mocha, milk chocolate, peppermint and vanilla matcha white chocolate. Each batch is easy, just add everything to a food processor and process until you have a fine powder.

SIMPLE.

My favorite mix is the dark chocolate mocha. I love coffee with my chocolate, so this is a given. Of course the milk chocolate is delicious too, and peppermint…very festive! The vanilla matcha white chocolate is totally different. It’s delicious, but you have to be into matcha green tea to like this one. I made this one with coconut milk, which also added great flavor. Creamy, vanilla with a hint of green tea, but with the additional sweetness of white chocolate. YUM.

SIDE NOTE: Sorry if I’m a bit distracted today. It’s kind of a big day for my little bro Red. He is competing in Breckenridge in the Dew Tour for the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Finals in just a few hours. I swear I might be more nervous than he is. OK, probably not, but I am just SO pumped for him. He is the youngest rider competing today (he’s only 15, and guys… little Red is well… LITTLE) and he’s competing against the BEST of the BEST. Like no joke. I’m talking Olympic status here. I don’t mean to brag, but I mean, come on. It’s kind of cool, and I am so proud of him…but I can’t sit still cause watching him is the most nerve-racking thing. You should have seen me on Friday during semi-finals, I had to cover my eyes. I was a basket case. Just so proud of that kid. He killed it. Please, please, PLEASE send good vibes his way guys. PLEASE. 🙂

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

OKAY back to cocoa. Possibly the most important part of a hot chocolate party though are the toppings. Toppings makes everything so much fun…especially when those toppings include things like nutella, marshmallows and um…all the Christmas candies you can find.

My Personal Favorite Toppings

Marshmallows

Whipped Cream

Nutella

Holiday M&M’S

Salted Caramel Sauce

Milk Chocolate Shavings

Gingerbread Cookies…more for dipping

Candy Canes

Flaky Sea Salt

Toasted Coconut

I recommend warming around 6-8 cups of whole milk OR full fat canned coconut milk (depending on how many people will be attending your party). You can either heat the milk over low heat on the stove or in your crockpot on the warm setting. Just leave a ladle in the pot/crockpot of warm milk and people can ladle the warm milk into their mugs and then add their desired hot cocoa mix + toppings.

See?? Pretty simple, right?!?

I highly recommend having a few items for people to snack on such as sugar cookies, salted popcorn and maybe crackers. I went with gingerbread cookies and popcorn!

You could have Christmas music softly playing in the background or have a fun holiday movie on the TV… OR maybe you could plan to decorate gingerbread houses?? Yes, do that! SO FUN!

And there you have it. That’s my two cents on how to host the most epic holiday hot cocoa party!!

Question: what holiday parties are you guys throwing/attending this year?!? I SO want to know all the details!!!

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest
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4.41 from 5 votes

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

The Recipe

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!).

By halfbakedharvest

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, christmas, cocoa, hot chocolate, hot cocoa

It's Hot Cocoa time!!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 873 kcal

Ingredients

Dark Chocolate Mocha

Milk Chocolate

Peppermint

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 ounces milk chocolate broken into pieces
  • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate broken into pieces
  • 1-2 candy canes crushed, plus more for topping
  • half of a vanilla bean seeds removed
  • pinch of flaky sea salt

Vanilla White Chocolate Matcha

  • 1/4 cup matcha green teat powder
  • 12 ounces white chocolate broken into pieces
  • 1 vanilla bean seeds removed

To Make 1 cup of Hot Cocoa

  • 12 ounces steaming milk - your choice I LOVE using coconut milk
  • 2-4 tablespoons hot cocoa mix

Instructions

  1. For each hot chocolate mix, combine all the ingredients in a high powdered blender or food processor (I recommend using a food processor)*. Process until the chocolate is finely ground and the mix looks like hot cocoa mix.
  2. Store each mix in a glass jar or other container with a tight fitting lid. Label the jar so you know which mix is which.

To Make 1 cup of Hot Cocoa

  1. Add the steaming milk to a large mug and whisk in 2-4 tablespoons hot cocoa mix of your choice. I like to use between 3-4 tablespoons of mix, but start with 2 tablespoons and go up from there. Whisk until fully combined and enjoy with your desired toppings!
Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest

Oh umm, hey Frosty? I think you’re melting…and you know, you’re kind of delicious too. I think I’ll eat you now.

Products used in this Post: Gingerbread Train/Sleigh, Copper Mugs, Snowman Marshmallows, French Marble Kitchen Island, Snowflake Serving Dish Set

Hot Chocolate Party (with 4 Hot Cocoa Recipes!) | halfbakedharvest.com @hbharvest