Hot Cocoa Happy Hour

Hot cocoa happy hour.

Earlier this month, I had some of my girlfriends over for a “hot cocoa happy hour”. I had seen the idea online and thought it looked cute (& easy!) So I went for it.

I thought I would share what I did - just in case anyone else is looking for a sugar bomb :)

Hot cocoa charcuterie board.

HOT COCOA CHARCUTERIE BOARD

• white chocolate pretzel Christmas trees
• mini marshmallows
• red & green M&Ms
• Heath bar (broken into pieces)
• Hersey's Cookies & Cream bar (broken into pieces)
• mini chocolate chips
• peppermint-covered cookies
• chocolate-covered pretzel sticks
• Ferrero Rocher chocolates
• candy canes
• peppermints

HOMEMADE HOT COCOA

• 1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups milk
• 1/3 cup hot water
  
• ​dash of salt
  

Chocolate-dipped hot cocoa mug.

CHOCOLATE COVERED MUGS
In a sauce pan, melt 4-5 cups of chocolate chips. Add a splash of milk so it's not quite as thick. Turn mug upside down, dip into the melted chocolate — being careful not to get as much on the handle. Let the extra drip back into pan for 30 seconds… then flip over.

NOTE: I put my mugs in the freezer for about 30 minutes before dunking that way the chocolate would solidify faster and not run down the side too much. I think this helped make it not quite as messy.

The whole spread.

ONE MORE THING….
No doubt, a hot cocoa charcuterie board & mug of hot cocoa results in a big time sugar rush. So I also put out a few bowls of salty snacks to help balance the tastebuds. I had out a bowl of popcorn, cheeze-its and potato chips… with another bowl of pieces of fruit and one for veggies (helps with the guilt of eating all the sugar) :)

And don’t forget the holiday plates + napkins!

- KC