A DIY hot chocolate bar is the biggest party hit for kids and adults alike! You can take your winter beverages to a new level with a DIY hot cocoa bar! It’s a fun addition for holiday parties, birthday parties, family ski trips and more. Set up doesn’t take long and it doesn’t have to take up a lot of space, just vary the toppings to create their own personalized mug of hot chocolate.

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Well, it’s true, we are officially in the winter spirit here! I’m so excited to share with you my Hot Cocoa Kid’s party. It was such a great way to get into a festive spirit and treat my kids to an afternoon of fun. They had an absolute blast! I wanted the theme to feel wintery and festive so when I came across this buffalo plaid collection, I knew it would be just perfect for the chic but simple feel for the perfect DIY hot chocolate bar!
Putting together a hot chocolate bar is ideal for family get-togethers, cookie exchange parties or any holiday gathering you have planned during the winter.
Hosting a DIY hot chocolate bar is surprisingly simple. You can decorate to make it a winter wonderland or you can keep things chic and simple. Either way, it’s going to be a hit with the kids!

What You’ll Need for the Hot Chocolate Bar:

Hot Chocolate Mugs
The options are endless when it comes to hot chocolate mugs. You can keep things simple with all matching mugs or select color-coordinated mugs for your party colors. These chic and simple snowflake plastic mugs which also make perfect party favors when your guests leave.
Mug Options
- Marble Ceramic Mug
- Splash Proof Mugs with Lids
- Clear Double Wall Mugs
- Disposable Paper Cups
- Hot Chocolate Themed Mug Sleeves

Hot Chocolate
We picked up our hot cocoa mix since it fit the theme of our party, however, you can always make your own with a variety of recipes. All you need to do is have warm milk or water nearby for guests to make their own personal mug of hot chocolate. To keep it simple, feel free to pick up these hot cocoa envelopes for your hot chocolate buffet.

Sweet Treats and Toppings
To make a DIY hot chocolate bar even more festive, serve a variety of sweet treats or toppings! My boys loved using the peppermint stick to stir their hot chocolate and of course topping their cups with a handful of marshmallows! The chocolate-covered marshmallow snowmen were also a big hit.
Hot Chocolate Bar Toppings:
- Chocolate Chips
- Cinnamon
- Candy Cane Spoons
- Sprinkles
- Hot Cocoa Bombs
- Marshmallows (mini, Mini Marshmallows, dehydrated marshmallows, peppermint)
- Candy canes – whole for stirring, crushed for sprinkles
- Finely Chopped Nuts
- Peppermint Sticks
- Whipped cream


Hot Chocolate Party Themed Decor
It’s all of the little extras that pull the DIY hot chocolate bar together! We love our buffalo plaid details and the candle holders that added chic and simple touches to our display. Here are similar buffalo plaid pillowcases and candle holders to the ones above which are festive enough for the holidays and bold enough to enliven your decor all winter long! This Hot Cocoa Bar Kit with labels, a hot cocoa banner, and cup tags makes setup easy and cute.


So there you have it, a chic and simple Hot Chocolate Bar that you can enjoy anytime this winter!
Check out these beautiful DIY lanterns if you’re looking for additional decor ideas!
I love this hot chocolate bar, too cute! I think I may have to try this when we have a few friends over to decorate ginger bread houses! Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Jenn! Decorating Gingerbread houses sounds like it will be so much fun!
This hot cocoa bar is absolutely adorable!! I love it!! What a fun Christmas addition!!
This looks adorable! We’re having a Christmas party soon, and I think this will make a great last minute addition.
It was simple and festive! I love that I can use the decor items around my house even after the party.
What a fun activity!
thank you!
This is such a fun activity to do with the kids .
I just love this idea! Such beautiful holiday decor!