How to Make a Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Whether hosting a dinner party, game night or looking for a special treat for the kids, you can’t go wrong with a big pot of hot cocoa served up with all the fixings, including candy, cookies and mounds of marshmallows.

When cold weather sets in, there's nothing quite like a steaming cup of hot cocoa to warm the soul. Heighten this cozy experience for your guests by creating a hot cocoa buffet board. It's a fun and interactive way to serve dessert or a special sweet treat.

Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Whether hosting a dinner party, game night or looking for a special treat for the kids, you can’t go wrong with a big pot of hot cocoa served up with all the fixings, including candy, cookies and mounds of marshmallows.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

1. Start With the Main Ingredient

Begin by placing a bowl of your favorite powdered hot cocoa mix on the board, ensuring a quick and convenient start to the indulgence. Hot cocoa bombs are another instant treat that will set your board apart from all others. Find these ready-made at discount stores and online. Keep hot water and hot milk (dairy or plant-based) in an Airpot coffee carafe or on the stovetop, allowing guests to easily pour and enjoy their preferred base for the cocoa.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

2. Add Sides for Dunking

Arrange or tile cookies around the bowl of instant cocoa and plate of hot cocoa bombs. Dunkable treats such as shortbread, butter cookies and mini stroopwafels are wonderful additions to the arrangement and taste fantastic with a mug of hot chocolate. You can bake a batch of your favorite homemade cookies, but if you have time constraints, there’s nothing wrong with ready-made treats.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

3. Decorate With Colorful Candies

Add a burst of color and flavor to the board with vibrant mint candies and chocolate sweets. These candies can be stirred into cups of cocoa, creating an additional layer of flavor. Place them in mini mugs to corral them and to complement the theme of the hot cocoa board.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

4. Pour on Sweet Syrups

Include small pitchers of chocolate syrup and caramel sauce for drizzling. Beverage syrups — found in the coffee aisle at grocery stores — are also appropriate additions. This coffee house-inspired touch allows guests to personalize their cups with an extra touch of sweetness and flavor.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

5. Include Stirring Sticks

Provide a variety of stirring options. Offer teaspoons or wooden coffee stirrers. Or go the extra mile with candy stirrers. Chocolate-dipped sugar wands and chocolate stirring spoons can be found for purchase at stores and online. These certainly add a touch of charm to the hot cocoa ritual.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

6. Add Other Edible Stirrers

Rolled wafer cookies, pretzel rods and other long stick-shaped snacks can also be used as stirrers. These not only serve a practical purpose, but they’re also delicious for dunking in hot cocoa.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

7. Don’t Forget the Marshmallows

No hot cocoa experience is complete without marshmallows. Be sure to include them on the board in a variety of shapes and sizes. Dehydrated tiny marshmallows and standard mini marshmallows can be arranged in small bowls on the board. Jumbo marshmallows can be arranged directly on the board or nearby on a plate.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

8. Pile On the Whipped Cream

Whipped cream is another non-negotiable essential. Include a generous bowl of homemade whipped cream, made by beating heavy whipping cream with a hint of sugar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. For convenience, aerosol cans of whipped cream can also be strategically placed on or near the board.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

9. Include Other Toppings

Offer chocolate and caramel chips, sprinkles, crushed cookies and even toasted nuts as delicious additions for a whipped cream-topped mug of cocoa. Visit the ice cream toppings aisle at the grocery store for inspiration. Almost anything that can be used to top ice cream can also be used to top a mug of hot cocoa.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

10. Everyone Makes the Perfect Cup

Guests will love curating their perfect mug of hot chocolate. Whether they prefer a mountain of marshmallows, a drizzle of syrup or a sprinkle of toppings, the hot cocoa board ensures that every cup is a tailored treat.

Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Board

Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Board

Whether hosting a dinner party, game night or looking for a special treat for the kids, you can’t go wrong with a big pot of hot cocoa served up with all the fixings, including candy, cookies and mounds of marshmallows.

Photo by: Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Heather Baird SprinkleBakes.com

Next Up

4 Ways to Make a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

From savory meat and cheese boards, to vegetarian-friendly fruits and veggies, to a dessert tray full of sweet-tooth delights, we’ve got charcuterie smorgasbord ideas that will satisfy all your guests.

How to Make a Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

Serve a spread that has all the things you’d expect on a classic charcuterie board, but give it a seasonal flair to win the holiday.

How to Set up a Charcuterie-Style Chili Bar

Whether you’re hosting game day or an awards-show watch party, spice up your gathering with a chili board, a charcuterie-style arrangement that revolves around the soul-satisfying goodness of warm chili.

How to Make a Thanksgiving Dessert Charcuterie Board

Satisfy every sweet tooth at your dining table with this easy-to-assemble platter of cakes, pies, cookies and more.

Warm Old-Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

Perfect for relaxing on a cold winter night, this drink will warm up the evening with a hot version of the classic cocktail.

Hot-Buttered Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

For a comforting and yummy twist on classic hot buttered rum, try this bourbon cocktail to keep you warm all winter. It’s a cozy drink that's perfect for chilly winter nights.

Blood Orange Hot Toddy Cocktail Recipe

Swap out the lemon in your standard hot toddy with the sweet raspberry citrus flavor of seasonal blood orange for a delicious variation on the classic cocktail.

Amaretto Sugar Cookie White Cocoa Cocktail Recipe

Try this decadent twist on white hot cocoa during chilly months. The smooth almond flavor of Amaretto liqueur adds warmth, while the whipped cream and cookies are fun garnishes for this grown-up version of hot chocolate.

How to Make Marshmallow Spiderweb Croquembouche for Halloween

This tower of sweets may look complicated to make, but this easy recipe uses a shortcut with store-bought frozen profiteroles.

How to Make Traditional Wassail in a Slow Cooker

The flavor of this aromatic holiday drink deepens as the ingredients steep in your slow cooker. Place all the ingredients in the pot to warm as you make preparations for your party. When guests arrive, they can help themselves to a cup of Christmas cheer.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.