How to Style a Hot Cocoa Bar + FREE Printables

We’ve had a lot of fun setting up this Hot Cocoa Bar at our Christmas parties the last few years and wanted to share a few tips on how to create your own.  FREE printable labels and sign attached below.

How To Style a Hot Cocoa Bar

1. Grab mason jars at your favourite craft or grocery store to hold your hot cocoa toppings and stir sticks.  Ours were purchased at Michaels.
2. Pick your favourite treats to add into the jars.  Our bar included white + chocolate chips, marshmallows and whip cream.  Other ideas: cinnamon, sprinkles, candy canes, crushed cookies and chocolate/caramel sauce.
3. Buy your favourite hot cocoa pouches or fill a larger mason jar with cocoa powder for guests to scoop.  We used pouches and love the variety of flavours from Nestlès Carnation line.
4. Dig up or purchase a festive picture frame that holds 8 1/2 x 10 or similar size print.  The frame shown above is actually a chalk board we attached the sign on top of.
5. For a great staging look, add levels to your bar with gift boxes, wired bins or rustic wood crates available at most craft stores.  Place items high + low for visual appeal.
6. Pick up grosgrain ribbon (small width) + mini festive clips to attach labels to your jars.  We got our clips from our local Dollar store and the ribbon from Michaels.
7. Add spoons for scooping toppings or small candy scoops available at most party stores.
8. Use a Thermos with a pump to dispense hot water.
9. Buy paper cups with lids meant for hot beverages.  These can be tricky to find.  We got our red, green + white ones at Party City.
10. Get creative with your theme and bring it out in a table runner, paper décor cut outs, stickers, ribbon and centre pieces.  We chose a snowflake theme for our bar this year.
11. Other supplies you may need: a hole punch + white or silver sharpie marker (for labels) and double-sided tape (to affix sign if not using a frame with glass).

*The table runner, gift boxes and frame shown in photo are from HomeSense*

Here are your FREE printable labels and signs to create a Hot Cocoa Bar of your own (*NOTE: for personal use only.  May not be redistributed for commercial purposes*):

Baby It’s Cold Outside Poster

Hot Cocoa Bar Poster

Hot Cocoa Bar Labels

We hope your guests enjoy this Hot Cocoa Bar as much as ours did.  Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday celebration!