Who said hot chocolate has to be boring? With so many options for adding some extra “yumminess” to your cup, don’t let yourself have something plain! I decided to try to make something that would be perfect for a delicious hot chocolate charcuterie board. It is National Hot Chocolate Day, after all!
Now, fair warning: this is not one of my healthier charcuterie boards. I didn’t even attempt to be good with this one. If you were really looking to get some healthier treats, I would suggest doing sugar-free versions of some of the items I found. You could also search for candies with zero artificial food coloring or even vegan options!
There are plenty of better alternatives depending on your dietary restrictions or preferences. If you’re a free-eater or just looking to treat yourself, use the various items I’ve listed below.
What to Add to Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board
Think marshmallows. Lots and lots of marshmallows. Did you know that marshmallows come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors? I walked down the marshmallow aisle recently at a local store and realized how much I’ve been missing out on. They had vanilla and strawberry flavored marshmallows, decorative marshmallows, chocolate-covered marshmallows . . . the list goes on!
Besides a number of different styles of marshmallows, here’s what else I used on my hot chocolate charcuterie board:
- Chocolate-covered pretzel sticks
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cookies & cream biscuit sticks
- Godiva peppermint chocolate bars
- Hershey’s chocolate bars
- M&Ms
- Peppermints: sticks, candy canes, and puffs
- Shortbread cookies
- White chocolate chips
Putting Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board Together
For my charcuterie boards, I always like to spread food items out. In my opinion, it’s best to not have all the marshmallows together—let them live around the board so people have options on all sides!
I’m also a big fan of zero white space. To fill in any possible holes, I sprinkled extra white chocolate chips and peppermint puffs.
My kids really loved the cookies & cream biscuit sticks and the chocolate-covered pretzel sticks. They were the perfect thing to add to their miniature mugs I gave them.
Other Things to Add to Your Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board
- Caramel or chocolate syrup
- Cookies
- Rolled wafers
- Shredded coconut
- Thin mints
- Whipped cream
A Hot Chocolate Date No One Will Forget
My kids absolutely love hot chocolate during the cold months. These charcuterie boards are a super cute way of adding some extra excitement to your winter nights.
Some of my close friends saw the board as we were making it and mentioned how cute it would be for a girl’s night or a backyard party (if you have an enclosed patio, that is).
You know that when I make these charcuterie boards, I love asking my kids questions as we’re making them. For this board I asked, “What other shape or color of marshmallow should we have added?”, “What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s cold outside?”, and “Where should we go next time it snows?”
I just love hearing their responses and it becomes a great activity to do together. Finding new ways to engage with my kids will never get old to me. After all, who doesn’t love a good sugar rush and a fun night with family or friends?
