How to Create a Cozy Hot Cocoa Bar

The moment cool temperatures set in…it’s time for hot cocoa!  Even on a chilly summer evening my family has indulged on the toasty drink to warm our bones!  But now hot cocoa season is in full swing and it can be so easy to serve this sweet, warm treat to family and friends on a blustery day!  I often keep a tray filled with the fixins’ for the chocolatey sip in my kitchen at all times during the fall and winter, making it easy to serve up a quick cup…and it looks festive too!  Today I’d like to share some fun ways to create a pretty cocoa station with the help of my friends at Oriental Trading!  The holiday season and hot cocoa go hand in hand…you can have so much fun adding some festivity to a simple cup of cheer to make spirits bright!  So get ready for some easy DIY projects from the craft room and the kitchen to create a winter treat that won’t disappoint! Get warm & cozy…

toast the season with a hot cocoa bar!

creating a hot cocoa bar will always bring on some smiles…and with all the cute goodies you can find at Oriental Trading, it’s a snap to set up a festive display!

i thought it would be fun to add extra color and pattern to craft-ready trays…so this called for an easy DIY project!

decoupage fun!

i love decoupage because it’s such an easy AND inexpensive project for all ages!  to create these colorful trays you just need to measure the interior of the tray and cut strips of paper to fit.  i gave these a quick white-wash with creamy paint before decoupaging the pattern!

generously coat the tray with glue…

lay the strips of paper side by side and brush another coating of glue over the top, pressing out any air bubbles that may form.  then just wait for them to dry…it’s as easy as that!

serve up the sips!

once the trays are ready they can hold the simple goodies for a hot coco bar!

sprinkles are always fun for topping a toasty treat…

how cute are the snowflakes for a cozy cup of holiday cheer!

you can wrap a bottle of whipped topping with matching paper to make it effortlessly fit your colors or theme…

even though sprinkles and cream are wonderful…a hot cocoa bar wouldn’t be complete without marshmallows!  how darling are these cuties that look like mini ice cubes!

and since this is a holiday cart, i loved these darling sweater pattern mugs that perfectly fit the season!

fuzzy poms tied to the handles add a cozy touch…

and another fun addition…chocolate “lace” that will melt down inside your mug once the cocoa is poured on top!

hot cocoa bar DIY

it’s easy to make these cocoa cup toppers…line a baking sheet with parchment paper & trace out the top of your mug…

in a microwave safe dish melt baking chocolates and then transfer them into a pastry bag…

then simply pipe out squiggly shapes that will be slightly larger than the circles so that they will fit on top of the rim.  once cooled, they will easily pop off the parchment!

festive touches!

any table can look extra cheerful with some simple holiday additions!  hot cocoa flavored candy canes make tasty swizzle sticks…

i tucked the tin down inside a cut-off sleeve of a thrift shop sweater to mimic the cozy mugs!  and oversized “confetti” made from the leftover craft paper is also a quick way to sprinkle more fun & color to the table!

i adore the look of these natural sisal trees…they add so much rustic charm!

speaking of trees, the colors and patterns of these festive cut-outs were the inspiration for the DIY trays…and they make an effortless holiday backdrop!

it’s almost December…

time to get your hot cocoa on!

you can find so many wonderful goodies and inspiration for decorating & DIY projects at Oriental Trading…for the holidays and beyond!  check out how else you can use some of the hot cocoa goodies…

festive favors!

you can create a wonderful favor or hostess gift with these sweet mugs and marshmallow packets…

add a container of cocoa mix, a spoon, a peppermint stick & the mallows and you’ve got a thoughtful gift perfect for the season!

hot cocoa & happy holidays go hand-in-hand!

samples seen in this post have been provided by Oriental Trading for me to review.  all opinions and ideas are my own.

you can see more fun from Oriental Trading here!