Easy Holiday Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Board

Hop onto the grazing board bandwagon and make this fun and easy holiday hot cocoa charcuterie board! All of your favorite hot chocolate additions come together on a fun board to create an elegant display that is not just pretty but delicious! I love this idea for an extra special Christmas Eve tradition with your family!

Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board

If you haven't noticed the popularity of charcuterie and grazing boards over the last few years, this is a perfect introduction. Starting with something fun and easy is great, but of course, you can always check out this savory fall grazing board idea for another choice to go along with your cocoa. This assembly of hot cocoa, candy, and chocolate is ideal for setting up each mug of cocoa to be unique!

Originally, the charcuterie board was used just for meats and cheeses, but over the last few years, it has become a wonderful way to serve up everything from breakfast foods to snacks and desserts. This is a perfect one to make as a starter board.

What Should I Use for My Board?

Grazing boards all begin with a platter, large plate, board, or cutting board. What you use as the base is totally up to you. The best part of these creations is that they are not exact, but easy to customize to what you have on hand.

You can go and buy special charcuterie boards, round cutting boards, or even lazy susan turntables that are unique and great for this. If you are on a budget, look in your kitchen at existing large platters, trays, and every day cutting boards. Of course, if using a cutting board, I do recommend it is one not used with raw foods or one that can easily be sanitized.

What Kinds of Hot Chocolate Should I Use?

For this version, I used a simple everyday cocoa mix from my local grocery store. As an example, I felt simple was best, but you can so easily use other ideas that will fit into your preferences. Get as simple or fancy as you want. Below are some other types of cocoa that are sure to be a hit with anyone partaking.

• Hot cocoa bombs: white chocolate hot cocoa bombs, rich milk chocolate hot chocolate bombs, or even unicorn hot chocolate bombs.
• Peppermint hot cocoa mix
• Salted caramel hot cocoa mix
• Red velvet hot cocoa mix
• Cinnamon cayenne spiced cocoa
• Brownie batter hot cocoa mix
• S'mores hot cocoa mix
• Lavender hot chocolate mix
• Mexican hot cocoa mix
• Winter chai spiced cocoa mix
• Pumpkin spice hot chocolate
• Vanilla bean hot chocolate
• Eggnog hot cocoa mix
• Gingerbread hot chocolate mix

You can even make a batch of slow cooker red velvet hot chocolate or slow cooker white hot chocolate and turn your board into just toppings to go on the rich chocolate drinks.

What Else Can I Put on a Hot Cocoa Board?

While I put candy, marshmallows, and of course, cocoa, you may want to add different items to your board. If you plan to make the hot cocoa separately and use this just for toppings and additions, then it may be even different! Below are some great items to include on your tray to add to or enjoy with your hot chocolate.

• Peppermint, pumpkin spice, or gingerbread flavored marshmallows
• Andes mint candies or other mint chocolate candy pieces
• Flavored coffee syrups (chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, caramel, butter toffee, pumpkin spice, maple donut, peppermint, and more)
• Peppermint rock candy
• Red hots candy pieces
• Colored sprinkles or sugar sprinkle
• Powdered sugar or baking sugar crystals
• Hot fudge, caramel sauce, or butterscotch sauce
• Peppermint and chocolate flavored liqueur for the adults
• Hot chocolate pretzel rods
• White chocolate spoons for stirring
• Chocolate peanut butter fudge
• Easy chocolate truffles
• Chocolate crinkle cookies

And, for the kids, you can use this tip for how to make marshmallow snowman for your hot chocolate!

How to Set Up a Hot Cocoa Station

If you are making this with just your family, you can simply place this on your board on the counter, coffee table, or even in the middle of the dining table. It's ideal for use when playing games as a family, especially with a turntable board.

If serving guests, I recommend setting up a buffet station that has mugs or paper cups, a few electric kettles with water, a carafe of warm milk, and a carafe of hot coffee. Place the hot cocoa charcuterie board in the center, and then add napkins, spoons, and drink stirrers at the end of the buffet line.

Make sure you also put out tongs or spoons for guests to scoop items out of the bowls and off the board. Fewer hands touching the food keeps it cleaner for everyone!

What I Put on My Hot Cocoa Charcuterie Board

• Marshmallows
• Candy canes
• Mini chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Candy cane Hershey's kisses
• Mini candy cane sprinkles
• Caramel candies
• Crushed peppermint candy
• Coconut flakes
• Dipped Oreo cookies
• Hot chocolate mix

How to Assemble a Grazing Board

When putting together any charcuterie board, focus on adding your largest items first. In this case, the bowls of hot cocoa mix, coconut flakes, candy cane sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, peppermint Hershey's kisses are all in bowls. Arrange these randomly, or as I did around the sides of the tray.

Next, add your larger additions around these bowls. I put on the caramel candies, large marshmallows, and candy canes.

Then, you will add all other items that are smaller between and in any empty spaces to fill in spots. You want your board completely covered.