How to Host a Front Porch Hot Cocoa Bar
I've been wanting to create this Front Porch Hot Cocoa Bar and Porch Party for quite a while and finally I was able to do it! I don't have a proper front porch at my house so my best friend Dara kindly lends me hers whenever I need a front porch “fix”! Isn't she the best?! I love the idea of porch parties, do you? In days past, folks used to spend lots of time on the front porch but it seems that as our lives have gotten busier and busier we just don't use them much any more. Well, I'm on a mission to change that! So, here's my Front Porch Hot Cocoa Bar in all its glory to hopefully inspire you to head out front and pour a cup of Cocoa and relax a while…
Here's a view of all the coziness I created for you to explore. Since it's a Cocoa Party, let's head over to the Hot Cocoa Bar first, shall we?
Here's a slightly closer look before we serve up a mug.
This little frame was so simple to make – I'll try share a tutorial with you soon… it may be after Christmas though… OK, enough of that, let's get to the good stuff!
To begin, I've filled oversized jars with your choice of traditional cocoa powder with tiny mini marshmallows (of course!) or…
…White Chocolate powder if, like me, you are allergic to chocolate or perhaps you just want a change! I use Ghirardelli White Chocolate powder
I found this ribbon last year by Mara-Mi and have been holding on to it for just such an occasion as this! Isn't it sweet?
Of course half the fun of bars like this are the toppings!
First, please help yourself to some mini-chocolate chips,
and of course some mini marshmallows…
Feeling spicy? Try a red hot or two to heat things up!
oh, and one of my personal favorites, peppermint mini marshmallows! I L-O-V-E these!! All of my toppings are nested in natural colored coffee filters – I like the ruffles but you have to be careful and group them tightly on a tray (or bowl) so they support each other otherwise all the toppings may roll away!
There are even some jumbo, super-overstuffed marshmallows!
Yum! And no party is complete without a little treat, right?
This tempting assortment includes a little something for everyone…
First there is an assortment of dark and white chocolate dipped marshmallows… some are topped with chopped nuts, mini snowflake sprinkles, and crushed peppermint….
…while others are topped with silver dragees and mini chocolate chips. Decorating marshmallows is so easy that I kind of went a little overboard!
Prefer something a little crunchy? How about these adorable Scotty shaped shortbread cookies? I love the little star shaped ones too! There are also peppermint, white chocolate covered pretzels. I love how Target has such a wide variety of holiday cookies available right now!
Speaking of pretzels, please have a milk chocolate covered pretzel rod if you want that heavenly mix of salty & sweet…
When creating food displays like this, I like to place things at varied heights and use interesting props like my vintage kitchen scale. I adore its rusted patina, I think it compliments this cozy scene beautifully.
Please sit a while and sip your cocoa and have fun exploring the hot cocoa bar! There's still so much more to show you but I'll save that for Monday! In the meantime, thanks for visiting my front porch hot cocoa bar!
Are you counting the days like I am? If so, there are 10 days 'til Christmas! We're taking my daughter to have her photo taken with Santa today – I'm pretty excited!!
Want to see part 2? Click here!
I'm linking up with Funky Junk Interiors and Too Much Time On My Hands!
Happy Celebrating!
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That is such an inviting and wonderful looking bar you created!!! I LOVE it!!! I adore the Scotty shortbread!!! And the entire setup is beautiful. Great work as always.
> Thank you so much Lucinda! You are so kind to say so!!
I love it, Jennifer. My porch is only big enough to go out and get the mail on!
Brenda
> That’s about how mine is too!! It’s more of a “stoop” – it aspires to be a porch 😀
Love. Love. Love!!!!
This is just tooooo fun!!! And I can only imagine how much fun you had putting it all together. Who would think to make those marshmallow pretties. I thought they were cupcakes until I read differently.
What a happy post Jennifer!!
I think I need to have a cup of cocoa now!!
> Those topping would be adorable for cupcakes too! I just get obsessed with decorating marshmallows sometimes and this is the result of one of those “outbursts” 😀
What a beautiful and yummy setting! I think that a cocoa porch party is an excellent idea! Perfect for parents to gather while kids play in the snow, then come running to the porch for a warm treat! You always have a best ideas! Thank you for sharing! Hugs,Leena
> Oh Leena – that is just the sweetest sentiment! Thank you!
Jennifer that is awesome. Surely you had a party with friends too – and this wasn’t just for all of us to drool over! You are amazing – I love your styling!
> Hi Jill – no, it really was all just for you guys… although I am setting up a similar hot cocoa bar tomorrow at my parent’s house for a holiday open house they are hosting! 😀
This is the cutest thing I have ever seen….I want to come and sit there all bundled up….I was very jealous that you have such a big, beautiful porch, until I read that its your friends…now I just need a fun friends like you and her!!! Enjoy! and keep sending us wonderful pics and ideas!
> Ha, ha! I know Donna – I feel SO lucky to have such an amazing friend who let’s me live vicariously through her porch 😀
This is seriously too gorgeous for words!!! Oh how I wish I had fun friends like you! I love, love, love it!
> Thank you so much Jennifer!!! You are so kind to stop in and share your encouragement! I’m thrilled you like it!
This is just amazing. I love the idea of bringing the neighborhood together and you have set up such a gorgeous and yummy display! My front porch is small, but I could do something like this and our neighbors would love it!If you find a sec this weekend, I would love to have you share at Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time On My Hands.
xxx
Kim
http://too-much-time.com/2012/12/get-schooled-saturday-5-2.html
> Thank you so much Kim! I just linked up to your party and “liked” your FB page!! I’m so happy to have inspired you to have your own impromptu holiday party!! YAY!!!
G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!! Love love LOVE it!!! Great job!
> Hooray! Thanks Stephanie!! I’m delighted you love it!! 😀
Beautiful! All the details are wonderful!
> Thanks SO MUCH Lorrie!!!!
I love everything about it. Would you mind telling me where you found the sign? It’s perfect!
> Hi Susan, Oh absolutely! I found it at Marshall’s about a month or so ago. It’s super cute, isn’t it?! I was so excited when I spotted it because I knew it would be perfect for this shoot 🙂 Thanks for visiting!! ~ Jennifer
Oh I LOVE this!!!!!
thanks
barb
Thank you Barb! I’m SO glad!! 😀
So stinking adorable, I love how you layer everything.
tee-hee 😀 Thanks Becky!
This is just amazing. I mean really amazing. everything is so inviting and wonderful. It make you wish you were there. I truly am amazed. What a great job.
Thank you so much Chris! What lovely compliments!! 😀
Just started following you. I so enjoyed the Hot Cocoa Bar. I’m going to do something similar this Sunday at church. We are a small group and are having a Brunch before service. Also will be doing it with my grandkids
Thanks and I look forward to future things!
Oh Ann! Thank you for following me!!! Good luck with your Hot Cocoa Bar at church! I pray it will be a hit!!! How fun!!! Merry Christmas!!
This is so incredible! I love all your colors and the whole porch set up…not just the cocoa bar. I could sit out there for hours.
🙂
Kelly
Oh Kelly! Just the feeling I was going for! I’m so glad you like it!!! Merry Christmas!!
Jennifer, I just don’t even have enough words for how amazing your style is! It is mind blowing! I’m getting so many great comments about your photos today on my facebook page. You are incredible my friend!
Oh, yay!!!!!!!! I’m so grateful for you featuring me! Really, what a blessing!!!! 🙂 Hugs!!!!
Oh Jennifer what a yummy hot chocolate bar. I love this idea. Now where did my plaid wool throw go? Your porch looks so inviting!!
What an amazing, full of detail, fun and so AWESOME place to have cocoa!!! I would travel far and wide to get my cocoa there!!!
That is the cutest thing ever! Love it!
Oh my, Jennifer, this is amazing! You are so, so talented. I couldn’t even begin to name a favorite part. It is all wonderful. Merry Christmas!
so many things to love on this porch. i want to snuggle up an hang out there!
denise
Love the cocoa bar! Where did you get the sign? I love the rusty cup and hooks! Just started following, Merry Christmas!
Hi Ginny! I found the sign at Marhsall’s a little over a month ago. I fell in love with it at first sight! Thank you so much for following!! Welcome and Merry Christmas!!!
I love your attention to detail Jennifer. The styling is gorgeous,as are your photos and I truly do adore those scales.
Thank you, thank you Kerryanne! I’m so glad you like it all!! YAY!!
I absolutely love this idea! We had a wine and cheese tasting earlier in the season that was a huge hit! However, I felt the kiddos needed something special! So tonight, for Christmas Eve, we will have a Hot Cocoa Bar! I’m so excited! They are going to love it! Merry Christmas from Louisiana!
> Oh Shelly, I’m sure they will love it!! Have fun!! Thanks and Merry Christmas to you from Virginia!! 🙂
I love this! Thanks for so many neat ideas!!
Just LOVED the whole idea and how beautiful everything looked.
Jennifer,
This is the most adorable idea for a Hot Cocoa Bar ever, dear one!!! We will host Christmas 2014. . .I’m so inspired to make one here on the Prairie!!!
Thank you for sharing . . .and also, thanks to your friend for sharing her porch!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Greetings, Jennifer!
This has got to be THE BEST BEAUTIFUL IDEA ever!!! Every day can be a special celebration and it’s so easy and fuss-free (and economical, too). And, the best part is that it doesn’t takes weeks of planning to have an ‘occasion party’ – just so relaxed and lovely for everyone on any day, including the hostess! I don’t have a front porch but I do have a walkway where there’s space near our front door – what better way to greet folks to your home for the holidays, or on any day there’s a chill in the air! (In summer, it could be lemonade 🙂 ) And, I have a back deck where it could work just as well. You have inspired me in so many ways today! Where did you get that AWESOME sign???!!! That would make it all just perfect to know the source…You’re a woman after my own heart, Jennifer! THANKING YOU XO
Hugs
G A S P!!! I have no words. I just absolutely LOVE your friends porch all dressed up with your cocoa bar! I think I’m going to have to pin every picture!! Merry Christmas Jennifer!
Jennifer, i love this! I am making a hot cocoa stand for Christmas pictures and I fell in love with your hot cocoa sign. Where did you find it?
> Thanks Ashlie! I got it at Marshall’s a couple of year’s ago. It was a great find 🙂
Such a sweet little setup! The coffee filters are a great interesting touch!
GORGEOUS!! You’ve received so many comments on that sign – it’s just precious! I’ll have to dig around Hobby Lobby or our local Marshalls to see if I can find one similar. This whole scene is just precious. Well done!!
Hi Jennifer,
I’d love to use a photo of your beautiful hot cocoa bar in a round up post of winter deco please. I’ll be linking it back to your post… Please let me know if that’s ok.
Thanks,
Katrin
Hi Katrin, thank you so much! Yes, you are welcome to use one photo with a link back. Thank you so much for including me in your roundup! Happy New Year!
Absolutely LOVE this! My fiance and I are wanting to do something just like this at our wedding but haven’t had any luck finding a similar buffet/table/hutch. Is there a specific name for that piece of furniture shown above?