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A hot chocolate charcuterie board is the coziest thing you can set out this winter: a board of marshmallows, candy canes, cookies and sauces next to a pot of warm cocoa, so everyone builds the mug they want. It takes about 20 minutes, works for two people or twenty, and the kids will talk about it until next December.
Below is how to make a hot chocolate board in seven steps, the toppings that disappear first, 15 hot cocoa bar ideas from peppermint to s'mores, how much cocoa to make for your crowd and how to keep it warm through the whole party.
To make a hot chocolate charcuterie board you need a board or tray at least 16 inches long, a pot or slow cooker of hot chocolate, one mug per guest, four to six small bowls, and toppings: marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, a sauce or two, cookies and stirrers. Spoons and a ladle finish the setup.
A hot chocolate charcuterie board is a dessert board built around a mug of cocoa. Instead of meat and cheese, it holds the toppings: marshmallows, whipped cream, candy canes, chocolate pieces, sauces, cookies and stirrers, set beside a pot of hot chocolate so each guest builds their own mug. A bigger version for a party is called a hot chocolate bar.
It works for almost any winter gathering: a family movie night, a holiday open house, a sledding party, Christmas Eve or a quiet night for two by the tree. Set up on an engraved board, it doubles as a gift, and our personalized Christmas gifts collection has boards, trays and mugs to build it on.
To make a hot chocolate charcuterie board, set out a board and mugs, make a batch of cocoa, then fill small bowls with marshmallows, crushed candy and sauces. Arrange cookies and stirrers around the bowls, fill every gap with chocolate pieces and candy, and add whipped cream last. The whole board takes about 20 minutes once the cocoa is warm.
Bowls make the whole board easier. The Marble Grove Personalized Charcuterie Board ($89.99) comes with three ceramic bowls and spoons, which are just right for mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes and caramel sauce.
New to building boards? The same layout rules from our guide to how to make a charcuterie board work here: bowls first, big items next, then fill every gap.
The best hot chocolate bar toppings are mini and jumbo marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, caramel and chocolate sauce, cinnamon and sea salt, plus something to dip and stir, like peppermint sticks, pretzel rods or biscotti. Six to eight toppings is plenty for most parties. Mix sweet, salty, crunchy and creamy so every mug tastes different.
| Topping type | Ideas | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Marshmallows | Mini, jumbo, peppermint, flavored or homemade squares | Add them last so they do not melt into the board |
| Creamy | Whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, flavored creamer | Keep whipped cream cold until guests arrive |
| Candy | Crushed candy canes, peppermint bark, Andes mints, mini peanut butter cups, toffee bits | Crush candy canes in a zip bag with a rolling pin |
| Chocolate | Chocolate chips, shaved chocolate, white chocolate chips, chocolate curls | Shave a chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler |
| Drizzles | Caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, Nutella, peanut butter, maple syrup | Serve warm sauces in small jars with spoons |
| Spices and finishes | Cinnamon, nutmeg, flaky sea salt, sprinkles, cocoa powder | Use small shakers or ramekins with tiny spoons |
| Dippers and stirrers | Peppermint sticks, cinnamon sticks, pretzel rods, biscotti, wafer rolls, chocolate dipped spoons | Stand them upright in a jar or mug |
| Cookies | Gingerbread, shortbread, sugar cookies, Oreos, graham crackers | Group them in two or three piles around the board |
The best hot chocolate charcuterie board ideas are a classic marshmallow board, a peppermint candy cane board, a s'mores board, a Christmas tree board, a hot cocoa bomb board and a salted caramel board. Each one starts with the same pot of cocoa and changes only the toppings, so you can pick a theme in minutes and shop for it in one trip.
The board everyone expects and nobody gets tired of. Go big on marshmallows in three sizes, then add whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Put out: Mini, jumbo and flavored marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, chocolate chips and a jar of chocolate dipped spoons.
Red, white and very Christmas. Peppermint turns a plain mug of cocoa into a holiday drink, and candy canes double as stirrers.
Put out: Mini candy canes, crushed candy canes, peppermint bark, Andes mints, peppermint marshmallows and white chocolate chips.
Everything from a campfire, minus the campfire. Toast the marshmallows with a small kitchen torch and drop them right into the mug.
Put out: Jumbo marshmallows, graham crackers, milk chocolate squares, chocolate graham cookies and a little bowl of crushed grahams for rimming mugs.
Arrange the toppings in the shape of a tree: green candies and mint chocolates for the branches, a pretzel rod trunk and a star cookie on top. See more holiday layouts in our Christmas charcuterie board ideas.
Put out: Green M&M's, mint chocolates, mini marshmallows for snow, a star shaped sugar cookie and peppermint sticks.
Hot cocoa bombs are chocolate shells filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows. Guests drop one in a mug and pour hot milk over it to watch it burst open.
Put out: Store bought or homemade cocoa bombs, a pitcher of hot milk, extra marshmallows and sprinkles.
A tray with handles carries the mugs, not just the toppings. The Blue River Couples Serving Tray ($79.99) has gold bar handles and room for two mugs and a plate of cookies, with your two names joined by a heart.
Sweet and salty for the grown ups. A drizzle of caramel and a pinch of flaky salt make the richest mug of the night.
Put out: Caramel sauce, caramel chips, flaky sea salt, pretzel rods, toffee bits and caramel filled chocolates.
You can add almost any dessert flavor to a hot cocoa bar: cinnamon and a pinch of chili for Mexican hot chocolate, white chocolate, gingerbread spices, cookie dunkers, and Nutella or hazelnut. Set out a flavor station with spices, syrups and spreads beside the regular toppings, and guests can turn one pot of cocoa into five different drinks.
Warm spices turn cocoa into something special. Stir in cinnamon and a tiny pinch of chili or cayenne for a gentle kick.
Put out: Cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, a small dish of chili powder, Mexican chocolate tablets and churros or cinnamon sugar cookies.
Make a pot of white hot chocolate and build snowmen from marshmallows on the board. It is the prettiest board on this list.
Put out: White chocolate chips, coconut flakes, jumbo marshmallows with candy faces, white sprinkles and vanilla wafer cookies.
All the flavor of a gingerbread house in a mug. Gingerbread spice and a few cookies make it taste like the holidays.
Put out: Gingerbread cookies, gingersnaps, ground ginger and nutmeg, molasses cookies and cinnamon whipped cream.
Round boards make a pretty wreath of cookies. The Riverbend Personalized Round Resin Charcuterie Board ($109.99) is 16 inches across with a raised edge, so marshmallows and candy stay on the board.
Make the cookies the star. A long row of dunkers next to the mugs gets kids and grown ups to the board fast.
Put out: Biscotti, shortbread, Oreos, wafer rolls, chocolate chip cookies and graham crackers.
For the chocolate lovers who want even more chocolate. A spoonful of Nutella melts right into the cocoa.
Put out: Nutella, chopped hazelnuts, Ferrero Rocher, chocolate wafer cookies and hazelnut creamer.
To set up a hot chocolate bar for a party, put the cocoa in a slow cooker or dispenser at one end of a table, line up mugs next to it, then set two or three topping boards along the table so guests move in one direction. Add labels, a trash bowl for wrappers and a separate tray for any adult add ins.
Kids love choosing their own toppings. Use smaller mugs, fill them only halfway and let the cocoa cool a few minutes before they dig in.
Put out: Sprinkles, mini marshmallows, M&M's, gummy candies, whipped cream in a can and short candy canes.
A few bottles turn hot chocolate into an after dinner drink. Keep them on their own tray, away from the kids' end of the table.
Put out: Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, coffee liqueur, bourbon, a jigger and cinnamon whipped cream.
For 20 or more guests, use a slow cooker or two and a big board for the toppings. Refill bowls from the kitchen instead of overfilling them at the start.
Put out: Two pots of cocoa, a ladle, a tall stack of mugs, two of everything popular and labels for each topping.
A crowd needs a long board. The Personalized Bamboo Serving Board ($79.99) is 23 3/4 inches long with recessed handles and a carved drip ring that catches drips from the ladle.
Not every board needs a crowd. Two mugs, a handful of toppings and a tray on the coffee table make a cozy Christmas morning or date night.
Put out: Two mugs, a small pile of jumbo marshmallows, a candy cane each, a few cookies and a blanket.
Plan on about 12 ounces of hot chocolate per person, or one and a half mugs, for a party where cocoa is the main drink. That is about 1 gallon for 12 guests and 2 gallons for 20. For toppings, figure one bag of mini marshmallows for every 8 to 10 guests and six to eight topping choices in total.
| Guests | Hot chocolate | Mini marshmallows | Topping choices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | About 2 1/2 quarts | 1 bag | 4 to 5 |
| 12 | About 1 gallon | 1 to 2 bags | 5 to 6 |
| 20 | About 2 gallons | 2 to 3 bags | 6 to 8 |
| 30 | About 3 gallons | 3 to 4 bags | 8 to 10 |
Kids usually drink less than adults, and a cold night or sledding party means more refills, so round up when in doubt. Leftover cocoa keeps in the fridge for a couple of days and reheats on the stove.
Keep hot chocolate warm in a slow cooker on the low or warm setting, and stir it every 30 minutes so the milk does not form a skin or scorch on the bottom. A thermal beverage dispenser holds heat for hours without power. The USDA advises keeping hot foods at 140 degrees or above, so check the temperature during a long party.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Danger Zone" (40°F to 140°F).
You can make most of a hot chocolate board a day ahead. Portion candy, cookies, sprinkles and other dry toppings into bowls the night before and cover them. Make the cocoa a few hours early and keep it warm, or make it the day before and reheat it gently. Add whipped cream and anything that melts within an hour of serving.
The best board for a hot chocolate charcuterie board is at least 16 inches long, with raised edges or bowls to keep marshmallows and candy from rolling off. A tray with handles is the easiest choice, because you can carry the mugs and toppings together. For a crowd, go 20 inches or longer. A board engraved with your family name comes out every winter.
The same 18 x 9 inch acacia and blue resin tray with gold bar handles, engraved with a family name in script and an optional line like EST. 2019. Set the mugs and toppings on it and carry the whole bar to the coffee table.
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An 18 x 9 inch acacia tray with a hand-poured blue pearl resin river, gold bar handles and two first names joined by a heart. Two mugs and a plate of cookies fit with room to spare, so it carries hot cocoa from the kitchen to the couch.
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A 16.25" x 12" marble and acacia board with a large initial and name, plus three white bowls with spoons that sit in their own acacia side tray. Toppings go in the bowls, so the whole board is free for cookies and mugs.
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A 16" x 12" rawhide leather tray with 2.5" raised sides and cut-out handles, engraved with a family name and an optional top line. The deep sides keep full mugs steady on the walk to the living room.
Shop NowSee every design in our personalized charcuterie boards and personalized serving trays collections.
A hot cocoa board makes a great Christmas gift for a family, a couple or a neighbor. Give an engraved board or tray with two personalized mugs, a tin of cocoa, a bag of marshmallows and a few candy canes, and they can set it up the same night. Most personalized boards cost $40 to $110, and mugs about $25.
Giving it for Christmas? Every board and mug is personalized after you order, so order by the first week of December and check the ready to ship estimate on each product page.
Two white ceramic mugs printed Hubby and Wifey in black script, with your year below each, like EST. 2023. A cozy pair for cocoa by the tree on Christmas morning.
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A 15 oz black coffee mug sand carved with two initials inside a heart with an arrow through it, raised so you can feel every line. A sweet mug for cocoa for two.
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A 15 oz glossy black stoneware mug carved with your dog's portrait, from 24 breeds, and its name. A fun stocking stuffer for the dog lover on your list.
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Clear faceted glass, 3 1/4 inches across, with the family name in script inside a laurel wreath and up to three more lines like EST. 2015 and Christmas 2026. Comes in a lined gift box.
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A 19" cable knit stocking in red, green or white with a name embroidered on the cuff. Tuck in a packet of cocoa and a candy cane and it is a gift on its own.
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A 16.25" x 12" marble and acacia board engraved with your family name, with three ceramic bowls, three spoons and four tools. The bowls hold marshmallows, crushed candy canes and caramel. Our best seller.
Shop NowMore gift ideas for the holidays: shop our personalized Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts for Mom and personalized stocking stuffers, or plan the rest of the season with our Christmas charcuterie board ideas and New Year's charcuterie board ideas.
| You need | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A tray to carry the mugs | Personalized Blue River Serving Tray ($79.99) | Gold bar handles, 18 x 9 inches |
| A board with bowls for toppings | Marble Grove Personalized Charcuterie Board ($89.99) | Three bowls and four tools |
| A round board for cookies | Riverbend Personalized Round Resin Charcuterie Board ($109.99) | Raised edge keeps candy on the board |
| A big board for a crowd | Personalized Bamboo Serving Board ($79.99) | 23 3/4 inches with handles |
| Cocoa for two | Blue River Couples Serving Tray ($79.99) | Two names joined by a heart |
| Mugs to match | Personalized Wifey & Hubby Mug Set ($24.99) | A pair for the couple |
Every board and mug is personalized after you order, and each product page shows its own ready to ship estimate.
A hot chocolate charcuterie board holds everything guests add to a mug of cocoa: marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, caramel and chocolate sauce, cinnamon, cookies and stirrers like peppermint sticks or pretzel rods. Set the small and sticky toppings in bowls, then fill the gaps with cookies and candy.
A hot chocolate board is a single board or tray of toppings set next to the mugs, sized for a family or a small group. A hot chocolate bar is a bigger setup for a party: a slow cooker or dispenser of cocoa, a mug station, several boards of toppings and labels so guests can serve themselves.
Keep hot chocolate warm for a party in a slow cooker set to low or warm, and stir it every 30 minutes so the milk does not scorch. A thermal beverage dispenser works too. The USDA advises keeping hot foods at 140 degrees or above, so check it with a thermometer during a long party.
For 20 people, make about 2 gallons of hot chocolate. That allows about 12 ounces, or one and a half mugs, per guest. Plan on 2 to 3 bags of mini marshmallows and 6 to 8 toppings, and keep a second batch of cocoa warm on the stove if the party runs longer than two hours.
Yes, you can make most of a hot chocolate board ahead. Portion the candy, cookies and dry toppings into bowls the night before and cover them. Make the cocoa up to a few hours early and keep it warm. Add whipped cream and anything that melts within an hour of guests arriving.
Adults can add a splash of Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, coffee liqueur, bourbon or spiced rum to a hot cocoa bar. Set the bottles and a jigger on a separate tray away from the kids' toppings, label each one and pour the cocoa first, then add about one ounce of liqueur per mug.
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