Welcome to the Philips Bistro! Where you can take as many scoops of cocoa as you need and can eat a whole mug of marshmallows if you want! Somehow little hands keep getting into the marshmallows!
I'm not going to lie, I totally underestimated how much work this would actually take. I thought, oh I'll just pour some chocolate chips in my mouth this bowl, set out some caramel sauce and we'll be good! That turned into Pinteresting every item you could use in hot chocolate, buying every item on Target.com or Amazon, labeling everything (because apparently the original labels aren't good enough), and having to reorder all the items because I can't keep my sweet tooth fingers out of the jars.
Between Chip & Joanna's new line at Target and the endless-amount-of-anything-you-can-have-but-you-didn't-know-even-existed-on-Amazon, I'll help you find all the supplies you can use for a hot chocolate bar (and a few fun recipes, too)!
I think my favorite part of the whole hot chocolate bar are the little snowman Peeps. Peeps are so gross...but they look cute on the hot chocolate bar! Sit that little guy in some whipped cream snow and he is the perfect accessory to any hot chocolate mug!
- Hot Chocolate of Course!
- Check out a crockpot recipe below if you're serving a group of people!
- Sillycow Farms Mix
- Swiss Miss K-Cups
- Mugs
- Big mugs to fit all your toppings!
- To go mugs in case you're in a hurry!
- Toppings:
- Mini Marshmallows
- Marshmallow Bits
- Seasonal Peeps
- Mini Chocolate Chips (I like the Ghiradelli ones!)
- White Chocolate Chips
- Chocolate Sprinkles
- Caramel Bits
- Mini Gingerbread Men (They ship from the UK so mine still aren't here! I can't wait for when they are!)
- Peppermints or Crushed Peppermints! *Hint: I tried crushing normal peppermints, and unless you're Hulk-like, don't care if you get peppermint pieces all over your kitchen, or enjoy scaring your kids as you bang them with a rolling pin, I would suggest you just buy them crushed already. :)
- Pink Salt
- Whipped Cream
- Stirring:
- Candy Canes
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Rolled Wafers (I used chocolate fudge and chocolate hazelnut! I would love to try the french vanilla ones!)
- Mini Spoons
- Add Ins:
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
- Vanilla Syrup
- Peppermint Syrup
- Anything-that's-going-to-stick-to-my-thighs
- Containers:
- Glass Containers
- Small Stoneware Container
- Medium Stoneware Containers
- Santa Mug
- Merry & Bright Mug (Hearth & Hand @ Target) It looks like it's sold out online, but maybe in store?!
- Syrup Dispensers
- Other Items:
- Measuring Cup
- Keurig
- Pitcher
- Decor:
- Serving tray
- Mug tree
- Labels (I modified them!)
- Sign (From Magnolia Market last year)
- Tree
- Wood Serving Platter (similar)
- Basket
- Wreath
- Reindeer
Crockpot Hot Chocolate Recipe:
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
- 6 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Heat milk in microwave or stove. Stir in cocoa powder. Add all ingredients to a big crockpot! Leave on low for at least two hours. I switched it to warm after everything was melted and mixed together to keep it for a little longer! If your guests want the hot chocolate more..chocolatey (like me!) they can add the chocolate sauce or more mini chocolate chips! *Recipe thanks to The Country Cook!
Add these ingredients to your mug of hot cocoa for some festive flavor!
- Egg Nog
- 1/4 cup eggnog
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Handful of white chocolate chips
- Pumpkin Spice
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- a pinch of ground cinnamon and/or ground nutmeg on top of whipped cream!
- Peanut Butter
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- a pinch of chocolate sprinkles or a miniature Reese's cup on top of whipped cream!
- Peppermint Mocha
- 1 tsp peppermint flavoring
- a pinch of crushed peppermints on top of whipped cream or an Andes Mint!
- Caramel
- 3 tbsp caramel sauce
- a handful of caramel bites on top of whipped cream!
- Gingerbread
- a pinch of ginger
- a pinch of nutmeg
- a pinch of cinnamon
- a hint of vanilla
- a hint of molasses
- a mini gingerbread man stuck in whipped cream!
- Irish
- 2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
- a pinch of mini chocolate chips on top of whipped cream!
Let's be honest, I saved the best for last. Sometimes you just need a little something special after a long day of work ..or parenting ..or life!
What's your favorite hot chocolate recipe?! Honestly, the best recipe is any hot chocolate..as long as you're surrounded with family or friends.
P.S. Most of the items I have linked, so it should take you right to where you need to go! :)
P.S. Most of the items I have linked, so it should take you right to where you need to go! :)
xoxo
J