When the holidays roll around, the one thing I look forward to most are the steaming hot mugs of hot chocolate I get to share with my loved ones. Sitting around chatting while we catch up over this cold weather treat is one of those things that makes for great memories!

As a little inspiration for Christmas, I designed a “haute” chocolate bar to enjoy. The best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, hot chocolate on a stick by The Ticket Kitchen, starred on the bar. These little cubes of chocolate get mixed into steaming milk and melt into pure nirvana in a cup. Not that this hot chocolate needed any help, but we offered some mix-ins for the cocoa, like salted caramel, dark and white  chocolate and peppermint for a little different flavoring. Skewers of marshmallows and striped straws were ready to stir in all the yummy add-ins.

And if you remember Buck, well, he made an appearance as well!

Special snowflake-shaped marshmallows were the perfect finishing touch for our cocoa. If you want to make your own, I can’t say enough good things about the Alton Brown Homemade Marshmallow recipe here. Much easier (and tastier) than I thought to make your own!

There were sweet treats to go with the cocoa as well, like chocolate cupcakes, iced gingerbread, chocolate pots de creme, rocky road cake pops (from Starbucks!), wedding cookies and peppermint bark.

We had little wrapped gifts, cellophane bags of chocolate  and special made hot cocoa-in-a-tube favors for our guests to take home.Thanks to Richelle and Libby for helping spread our Christmas Cheer, and to Charming Whimsy for their beautiful matching beaded bracelets!

Photography | John McLaughin Photography 

Paperie and Styling | Frog Prince Paperie 

Hot Chocolate on a Stick | The Ticket Kitchen

Beaded Bracelets | Charming Whimsy