We all know this time of year can get away from us if we are not vigilant. So much to do everywhere we turn!
There are several survival tactics I keep in my back pocket to combat the overwhelm. One of them is a hot chocolate bar.
Yup.
It doesn’t require climbing ladders to hang Christmas lights. It doesn’t denote baking all day in the kitchen or spending fistfuls of cash.
If we have a snow day, unexpected guests or an after recital celebration, I always know I can set up a hot chocolate bar quick as a wink!
If you are visiting from of the other farmhouse blogs, welcome!
Since we don’t currently own a dining room table, my post is a little different from the other girls. But, setting up a hot chocolate bar is the perfect compliment to a well designed tablescape!
I recently did a Facebook Live on how I set up a hot cocoa bar the decorating group I help run. If you aren’t already a member in the Farmhouse Decorating 101 facebook group, I think you would really like it!
There are just a few things to have on hand before you set up.
Here are what I like to call my:
Hot Chocolate Bar Essentials
*This post contains affiliate links to products I know &/or love.*
- Out of the way surface
- My kitchen counters are prime real estate this time of year, so I set up shop on my sewing cabinet in the corner of my kitchen.
- Cups or Mugs
- I prefer all one color and like to display them on something with tiers.
- Note- if you are having, say, more than ten guests, grabbing some heavy, white cups from a restaurant supply store would be a good idea.
- Hot Chocolate
- Pinterest will blow your mind with all the amazing hot cocoa recipes and crockpot tips out there, but I like to keep the bar low in this case- haha!
- We just have powdered hot chocolate, so kitchen prep requires boiling water only!
- Toppings
- Again, I just keep it simple. We always have chocolate chips and marshmallows on hand, so I set these out.
- Just put your toppings in cute containers or add a ribbon to dress them up.
- Stirrers
- The Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes are our favorites as far as edible stirrers go, candy canes are fun, too.
- The selection of paper straws is fantastic out there. I have even seen them at the Dollar Tree. These birch straws are my favorite.
- I made these sweet little Christmas tree stirrers by cutting off the base of tiny sisal trees and hot gluing them to the bases of rock candy sticks.
- Finishing Touches
- This is the fun part and one that seems to set my hot cocoa bars apart each year.
- You could hang snowflakes from the ceiling or add in some fairy lights and greenery.
- This year we made these darling, little miniature gingerbread houses! They are called “side-of-the-mug” gingerbread houses and you can make your own using this gingerbread cookie cutter.
- Also, we are loving this free hot chocolate bar printable from Mountain Modern Life.
Shop This Look
Yay, super easy on the hostess and super fun for the guests!
It’s a win-win!
Don’t forget to hop on over and visit the other three home decor blogs.
They each have some quick table decor inspiration for ya!
Grab your copy of 10 Steps to a Peaceful Christmas
by clicking on the image below!
Pin For Later
related posts
How to Write Anything on a Chalkboard
Sharing at these parties!
This is so beautiful, Sarah!! Merry Christmas to your sweet family!
Thank you Beth, Merry Christmas to you, too! You’ve been such a good friend to me.
This is perfect, Sarah! Those little gingerbread houses are just too cute, such a great idea, friend!
Thank you Amanda, what a sweet thing to say. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
I adore this coffee bar so much Sarah! Those gingerbread houses are soooo cute!
Thank you Deb, I really enjoyed doing this tour with you. You did such a wonderful job posting!
I’m late reading this, but thank you for sharing. It’s amazing what a cup of hot chocolate can do for your mood — and to have such a pretty setting bumps it up even a few more notches!
Thank you for stopping by, I couldn’t agree with you more!
I just love the sisel tree stir sticks! How creative! I also love the faux material that adds so much warmth to the scene. The gingerbread houses are adorable. I bet your kids and company enjoyed this little bar immensely.
Those little sisel trees are my favorite, too! Thank you for appreciating the little details. You are a good friend.