How to Host a Hot Chocolate Party On a Budget

It’s finally the time of year when hot chocolate is not only acceptable, but almost required.  The newest trend in easy, fun, and inexpensive parties is the Hot Chocolate Party.

Invite your friends to sample various twists on hot cocoa, or have each person bring their favorite for all the guests to sample.  You can give adorable mugs as the favor of the evening (or really, really ugly holiday mugs a la ugly Christmas sweater parties,)  or have each guest bring their most creative, ugly, shocking, or beautiful mug.

The best mug wins a prize of….you guessed it, hot chocolate.  You can also give hot chocolate enhancers as favors: swizzle sticks, chocolate shavings, flavored syrups, or marshmallows in shapes of the season.

The fun of this party is that everyone loves hot cocoa, and it’s exciting to try new twists on an old classic.  Some great places to scavenge for alternative flavors of cocoa include Whole Foods, HomeGoods, and independent coffee houses around town.  I found several unique hot chocolate flavors that were pre-made in little boxes and bags at HomeGoods for under $5.99.  From mint, to cookies and creme, to orange….the flavor possibilities are endless.  Adding fun touches like Girl Scout cookies, peppermints, peppermint bark, flavored marshmallows, caramels, dark chocolate bar pieces, whipped creams of unusual flavors, and cinnamon spices make your cocoa bar like a miniature candy store.  You can get quite a few of these items at the dollar store, Trader Joe’s, or your local grocery store.

For about $30 for the cocoa and flavor add-ons, you can host your own party.  Plain mugs can be bought cheaply at the dollar store, and you can print cute free labels for your cocoa bar here. (Download the blank cards to personalize.)   Hot Chocolate Happy Hour has never been more sweet.

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