12 Hot Chocolate Bar Recipes

A hot chocolate bar is the coziest party station ever. These 12 hot chocolate bar recipes give you the base, the flavors, and all the topping ideas — from peppermint to s'mores to salted caramel. Set out mugs and let everyone mix their perfect cup.

1. Classic Creamy Hot Chocolate

Silky, rich, and deeply chocolatey — the perfect hot chocolate bar base.

Ingredients

• 6 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions

1. Heat milk and cream until steaming.
2. Whisk in cocoa, sugar, and salt.
3. Add chopped chocolate; stir until melted.
4. Stir in vanilla.
5. Keep warm in a slow cooker.
6. Top with whipped cream.

2. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Cool peppermint meets rich chocolate — holiday magic in a mug.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup crushed candy canes
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 12 candy cane stirrers
• 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 pinch salt
• 12 mugs

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Stir in peppermint extract.
3. Rim mugs with crushed candy cane.
4. Ladle in hot chocolate.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Add a candy cane stirrer.

3. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Buttery caramel and flaky salt swirled into rich chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1/2 cup caramel sauce
• 1 tsp flaky sea salt
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/4 cup extra caramel
• 12 mugs
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• 1/4 cup toffee bits

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Stir in caramel sauce.
3. Add a pinch of sea salt.
4. Ladle into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Drizzle with caramel and toffee bits.

4. Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate

Cinnamon and a whisper of cayenne — warm spice in every sip.

Ingredients

• 6 cups whole milk
• 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions

1. Heat milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in cocoa, sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne.
3. Add chocolate; stir until melted.
4. Stir in vanilla.
5. Ladle into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

5. White Chocolate Hot Cocoa

Creamy, dreamy white chocolate cocoa — elegant and sweet.

Ingredients

• 6 cups whole milk
• 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/4 cup white chocolate shavings
• 12 mugs

Instructions

1. Heat milk until steaming.
2. Add white chocolate; stir until melted.
3. Whisk in sugar, vanilla, and salt.
4. Keep warm.
5. Ladle into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and shavings.

6. Nutella Hot Chocolate

Hazelnut-chocolate heaven — like drinking a truffle.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/4 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
• 12 mugs
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1/4 cup mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Whisk in Nutella until smooth.
3. Ladle into mugs.
4. Top with whipped cream.
5. Drizzle with extra Nutella.
6. Sprinkle with hazelnuts.

7. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Fall's favorite spice blended into rich chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/4 tsp extra spice
• 12 mugs
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Whisk in pumpkin, spice, and brown sugar.
3. Simmer 5 minutes.
4. Ladle into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Dust with spice and caramel.

8. Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Rich chocolate with melty peanut butter — pure indulgence.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chopped peanut butter cups
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 12 mugs
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1/4 cup chocolate sauce
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Whisk in peanut butter until smooth.
3. Ladle into mugs.
4. Top with whipped cream.
5. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.
6. Sprinkle with peanut butter cups.

9. Cookies & Cream Hot Chocolate

Cookies and cream in a mug — a kid-favorite showstopper.

Ingredients

• 1 batch white chocolate cocoa
• 1 cup crushed Oreos
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/2 cup cookies and cream spread
• 12 mugs
• 1/4 cup mini Oreos
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. Prepare white chocolate cocoa.
2. Stir in cookies and cream spread.
3. Fold in half the crushed Oreos.
4. Ladle into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Sprinkle with remaining Oreos.

10. Orange Zest Dark Hot Chocolate

Intense dark chocolate brightened with orange — sophisticated and rich.

Ingredients

• 6 cups whole milk
• 8 oz dark chocolate (70%), chopped
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp Grand Marnier (optional)
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1/4 cup candied orange peel
• 12 mugs

Instructions

1. Heat milk with orange zest 5 minutes; strain.
2. Add dark chocolate; stir until melted.
3. Whisk in sugar.
4. Stir in Grand Marnier if using.
5. Ladle into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and candied peel.

11. Coconut Hot Chocolate

Tropical coconut meets rich chocolate — dairy-free friendly.

Ingredients

• 6 cups coconut milk
• 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp coconut extract
• 1 cup whipped coconut cream
• 1/4 cup toasted coconut
• 12 mugs

Instructions

1. Heat coconut milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in cocoa and sugar.
3. Add chocolate; stir until melted.
4. Stir in coconut extract.
5. Ladle into mugs.
6. Top with coconut cream and toasted coconut.

12. S'mores Hot Chocolate

Toasty marshmallow and graham cracker — campfire in a cup.

Ingredients

• 1 batch classic hot chocolate
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
• 1/4 cup chocolate sauce
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 12 mugs
• 1/4 cup toasted marshmallows
• 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

1. Prepare classic hot chocolate.
2. Toast marshmallows under the broiler.
3. Rim mugs with chocolate sauce and graham crumbs.
4. Ladle in hot chocolate.
5. Top with toasted marshmallows.
6. Add a pinch of sea salt.