Charcuterie boards and snack boards are all the rage these days. Tis the season for hot cocoa, so I have some hot cocoa board inspiration to share with you. Hot cocoa boards make winter gatherings more festive. This hot chocolate board is loaded up with lots of marshmallows, stir sticks, and the very best homemade hot cocoa mix.
This sweet hot cocoa board comes together easily and is perfect for Christmas.
I must confess that I make a charcuterie board of some sort for just about every party or gathering that Andy and I host. I’m all about easy entertaining, especially during the busy holiday season. It is so easy to throw together a simple hot cocoa board for your next get together, holiday party or a cozy night in with the family.
Assembling a Hot Cocoa Board
Step One: Choose your board. Any wooden cutting board, tray or platter of any shape will do for a hot cocoa board.
Step Two: Make the hot cocoa mix. Here is my favorite hot cocoa mix recipe. I shared it on the blog a couple of years ago when I made some hot cocoa ornaments. Hot cocoa bombs are another nice addition to hot chocolate boards.
Spoon the hot cocoa mix into a small board and place on the charcuterie board, along with a spoon.
Step Three: Gather your toppings and stir-ins.
What to put on a hot cocoa board?
I recommend a variety of marshmallows, stir sticks, candies, cookies, sprinkles, flavored syrups, and whipped cream. These homemade chocolate dipped peppermint stir sticks are a nice addition. I love stirring a candy cane into my hot cocoa. Choose candies that will melt in the hot beverage and cookies that are good for dunking.
You can even have some holiday spirits available. My favorites are Peppermint Schnapps and Bailey’s Irish Cream. Speaking of Bailey’s Irish Cream, check out this decadent Chocolate Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake recipe. You’re welcome!
Place all of the hot cocoa charcuterie board ingredients in mounds around the board. I try to place items of contrasting colors and shapes next to each other. However, no rhyme or reason is necessary…simply pile it on. If it is a food with very small pieces or something that runs, such as sprinkles or flavoring syrup, put it into a small bowl and place the bowl onto the board.
How much of each ingredient should you put on the board?
Of course, the amount of items you put on a hot chocolate board depends on the number of people you’re serving. If you’re worried you won’t have enough, make some extra hot cocoa mix. It will keep for a while if you don’t use it all for the board. And make sure you have extras of popular ingredients, including mini marshmallows, whipped cream and peppermint sticks for stirring. Store everything that is not consumed in an airtight container or zippered bag for later use.
Step Four: Pull all of your holiday mugs out of the cupboard. Over the years, I’ve collected a LOT of holiday mugs. I keep most of them wrapped and stored in the garage until the holiday season rolls around. It seems no matter how many Christmas mugs I have, I always pick up a few new ones each year.
What are some of your favorite hot cocoa toppings and stir-ins?
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