The consensus this year is that rather than full-on meals that take hours (and sometimes days) to prep and prepare, smaller, intimate, and simpler means of celebrating are soon to be taking over this holiday season. We saw the charcuterie chalet taking over social media most recently and now, there's another trend that's bound to be sweeping through everyone's feeds: Hot cocoa charcuterie boards.
Picture it: The weather is finally chilly. There's a cool breeze in the air and maybe it's even snowing or has the feel as though the sky is about to let loose. The night is creeping in, there's a great movie or your favorite show on TV, and now, all that's needed is a serving platter with every single hot cocoa topping you could ask for. That is the magic of a hot cocoa charcuterie board and this year, we expect to see maybe people getting creative with how they're dressing up their hot cocoa. Ready for some tips on how you can recreate your own? Stay tuned for some chocolate-loving brilliance.
Start Out With A Fun And ~Fancy~ Serving Platter
This is the year to stay at home, get fancy, and splurge a little bit on yourself. That means finding a serving platter that feels just as luxe as the food or drinks that are on it. Everyone should have at least one platter that they're uber proud to bring out when they have company or are having a self-care day and if you were looking for the green light to purchase one, this is it. From serving up dinner to cheese and wine boards, a nice platter won't fall into disuse.
A rustic wooden board makes anything feel natural while a porcelain platter will add a level of elegance to any food presentation. Christmas-themed platters are wonderful but having one that you can pull out year-round, that's' not specifically themed, is well worth the price. If your heart is set on something with a festive edge, wood, gold, and silver are always timeless.
The Basics: Choose Your Chocolate
Choosing a hot chocolate, of course, is like choosing the cheese in a cheese and wine or charcuterie board. It's the core of the platter and serves as the jumping-off point for the rest of the toppings. It should be the most important choice when it comes to a hot cocoa charcuterie board, right? Wrong! While the hot cocoa flavor is important, more attention is going to be paid to the toppings that are going in the hot chocolate. Therefore, it's not necessary to become overworked trying to decide which one is the best. A plan, rich chocolate flavor will be just fine. Trust us - you'll be adding more chocolate later on.
The Important Stuff: Toppings
It seems like there is literally no end to the sheer number of things that can go into one cup of hot cocoa. If you're one of those people who desires a little of everything, go with smaller teacups. They look adorable and they'll allow each person to have smaller cups of cocoa which they can then dress up however they want without getting full off of just one.
Toppings can be anything from extra chocolate to flavored marshmallows and everything in between. Some inspiration to get you going could be: Dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peppermint sticks, chocolate syrup, caramel, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles. And then, of course, there's the big question: What can be dipped into hot chocolate?
Set The Scene: Dipping
Of course, the most obvious answer is cookies and that's definitely not wrong. Along with a plethora of cookie options come the obscure choices that aren't popular, but are always tasty. Anything like graham crackers, wheat crackers, and even pretzel sticks - because sweet and salty is always a good combination - can be a game-changer in terms of upgrading a cup of hot cocoa. Variety in toppings is also a great way to switch up a platter and add dimension, color, and interest to the plate. After all, half the fun of eating something so visually appealing is being able to step back and be proud of making it, right?
For some extra flair and elegance, pastries such as French macarons, fancy sugar cookies, and biscotti can be added. It's also a great way to support your local bakery - so throw on those winter boots, order ahead online, and get ready to spend the week in with your new favorite way to enjoy a cup of decadent hot chocolate.