11.07.2015

Hot Chocolate Station!



We had a few of the neighbours over last night for a little Bonfire party and via group chat I knew the grown ups were covered for wine but I wanted something special for the kids to drink. What is better than Hot Chocolate with all the trimmings on a winter night though, right?! I honestly haven't tasted better than this either if I do say so myself.

 I didn't want to be standing in the kitchen making tonnes though, instead of enjoying the party so I decided to make a Hot Chocolate Station that ANY grown up could help to make. I have a bit of a thing for my Slow Cooker and its almost a challenge what I can make in it next. I made Mulled Wine on Christmas eve last year and that sparked this idea. I cant recommend it enough, even the Grown ups loved it, perfect for any winter party and we will def be doing this at our annual Christmas Eve party.

Make 2hrs before Party.

What you will need:

Slow Cooker 
Cups - My wintry disposable ones were £1 for 24 from Poundland
Paper Straws - Again 24 for £1
Can of Squirty Cream
Mini Marshmellows
Sprinkles

Optional.
Coco duster - I already had it.
Jug of milk for little ones who need it cooler



Ingredients:
1 tub of Cocoa - this was 175g
4 Pints of Milk
1 small tub of Single Cream - I used half.
A large scoop of Nutella.

Put the full tub of the Cocoa Powder  and a huge scoop of Nutella in the slow cooker....yip looks a bit like a lump of poop. I'm also immature ha ha.





Then add the 4pts of Milk and half the tub of cream.



Give it a really good stir with a wooden spoon, until combined. In hindsight a whisk would have been much better.



Put the lid on, turn it on low for 2hrs and it will be delicious and piping hot ready for the guests.

In the mean time I set everything else out ready for all the toppings and guests to help themselves.



When ready give another good stir and use a ladle to serve up and top however you wish!


Ideas

What about those lush Mason jars with a handle for a more smart or Grown up party? 

BOOZE?

A bit more grown up version? I'm in. I lovvvve adding Cointreau to mine but I do have a major Chocolate Orange thing going on.

Add the alcohol just before serving, stirring in well or add into the top of each drink. I would personally add a shot per person...it warms your bones in the winter right he he. However if you don't want it to over power just half the amount.

So want to be a bit lit 9-10 shots.
Just a Taste 4-5 shots. 


How about?

Malibu with some coconut sprinkles.

Baileys with a little liqueur Choccy on top.

Peppermint Schnapps and a candy cane...I'm sure even Santa
 will be wanting that!


                                     


GROWN UPS... HERE IS MY MULLED WINE RECIPE!
Here 



Thank you SO much for all the interest in this post...it is in its millions of views now which is just insane so thank you for that. 
I didn't expect it at all, so let me answer a few of y'all questions I didn't cover.

FAQ's

Did I use Cocoa Powder or Drinking Chocolate?
In this recipe I used Cadbury's drinking chocolate. In my opinion it's creamer for kids. I have used Cocoa before and it works but makes it much richer so more like a dark hot chocolate. You may also need to add sugar and I cant be doing with the guilt of that see how much goes in, at least in the drinking chocolate its all hidden and yummy already ha ha.

What size is your Slow Cooker? 
Mine is a 3.5L. If youre's is too small for your party how about borrowing a few and have them all on the go? Last year I did but had This is one, Beef Stew in the other and Mulled wine in the third. PROMISE to get the recipe out in the next few weeks.

How many does this serve?
Well normal Mug's it should be 10 but these little ones it did 15-20 I guess it depends how full you want them...obvs gotta leave a big gap for marshmallows and cream right?! 

Does the milk curdle?
Nope not for me. It needs a good stir when ready but it was fine for about 4-5hrs while it was made and served.

Allergys?




Nuts - Allergy and cant use Nutella...I honestly feel for you its may favourite thing in the world! However what about using some other Chocolate sauce to add more Choccy flavour. I'm a big Slimming World fan and I love Choc Shot which is used a lot as its low fat, its even Vegan friendly. 

Milk - My son Oscar cant actually have cows milk so I have made this with his normal almond milk and it was great. Totally couldn't tell. As for the topping, instead of whipped cream what about a scoop of that yummy 'Marshmallow Fluff' the supermarkets have thankfully brought over from the USA. Not the healthiest but dairy free and this is a treat after all. 
If anyone try's Soya etc I would love to hear about it. 

How long does it last?
Well I make it 2hrs before guests are due to arrive and it perfect and piping hot for then, people mingle then slowly help them selves so mine was on the go for about 4-5hrs. It did start to look a bit grey at the dregs so make sure you just stir it well each time before serving. I could say longer than that as its always demolished!

Do you turn off the Slow cooker?
Nope I just set it on low and leave until it is all gone....then I do obvs ha ha. Don't be telling me about no house fires, god forbid. To be honest you could turn it off and it would keep warm for about an hour I'd say. 

For your Own Slowcooker see below.

Enjoy!


104 comments:

  1. What a fantastic idea....As well as it being great for the kids it just looks so pretty!
    I hope you all had a great evening x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thank you and I agree so pretty which living with all boys I'm totally about ha ha! We loved it. Thank you for your kind words xx

      Delete
  2. This is just amazing - you are full of fantastic ideas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well this is praise indeed from you!!! Thank you oricle he he xxx

      Delete
  3. Oh wow, now that is a way to celebrate bonfire night! I need slow cooker hot choc in my life! Thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I honestly want to do it every week now, so yum....I may have added a bit brandy to mine ha ha. Thank you for your kind words xxx

      Delete
  4. Do you think it would work as well without the Nutella? Nut allergy problems :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hiii yes totally Im just addicted to the stuff I've made some today without for same reason and its just as creamy and chocolatly! xxx

      Delete
    2. Hiii yes totally Im just addicted to the stuff I've made some today without for same reason and its just as creamy and chocolatly! xxx

      Delete
    3. Yes, use Cadburys chocolate spread instead xx

      Delete
  5. This may be a silly question, but I am not sure what Single Cream is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NOT ALL! Someone once asked where you can get softened butter from...if you dont know you don't know though. Its just whipping cream or "light" cream I know they have different names. The milk would be called 2% in USA. Thank you asking xxx

      Delete
    2. Just to say, whipping cream is different to single, single cream will never whip up thick. But if you only need it for pouring or mixing, they will work just as well as each other. Can't wait to try this, it sounds yummy! :)

      Delete
  6. Could you post the recipe for mulled wine aswell please?😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly will! I just need to a week until my next party....I could drink 2 bottle of red to my self but the husband wouldnt allow me he he. Did it last year on Christmas eve and it was lush. Thank you for asking xxx

      Delete
    2. recipe for mulled wine would be much appreciated could you send it to duchess297@hotmail.com please

      Delete
  7. Hi sound a really good idea but could i ask one question. What size is your slow cooker?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, did you turn your slow cooker off after the two hours cooking or leave it on to keep the milk warm? Awesome idea btw, will defo be doing it this year :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kept it on low for another hour until it was nearly all gone really it did start to get a skin though. x

      Delete
  9. Omg it looks mmmmmm can't wait to try this out xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks amazing! Was it cocoa powder or hot chocolate powder? Fabulous idea x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its was Cadburys Drinking Chocolate but I have used Cocoa before and it just much richer and chocolatley...like a dark choccy version ha ha! x

      Delete
  11. mmm lovely. would work well as a giant chocolate fondue maker too :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. You know that you can do pavlova's in your slow cooker

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a fab idea! Might try an after 8 version, add a couple of cap fulls of mint extract, it works on chocolate cake so worth a try on this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw it would be lush ive done this a few times and I will try to update with my other ideas asap but Cointreau is lush for grown ups like a Chocolate Orange! x

      Delete
  15. Love this idea! Does the milk curdle?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope give it a good stir before serving but it was fine. x

      Delete
  16. Love this idea! Does the milk curdle?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks what a clever idea! I am going to do this for my boys xmas evexxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Would love your mulled wine recipe, it's a fantastic idea !!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Promise I will get it out asap or at least for christmas! x

      Delete
  19. Yummy,I can't wait to get my slow cooker on the go now,I will definitely be trying it xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Loved this we are going to use this at our schools Christmas Carol event, we have mulled wine for adults but the children will love this plus it doesn't need much looking after so more adults free to join in with carols!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey love this idea. Can't wait to try :-) do you need to use the single cream or can you leave it out if you want a healthy version?

    ReplyDelete
  22. I so cant wait to make this! How excitin:-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. That looks fab. Love your ideas. Can you clarify if you used pure cocoa powder or drinking chocolate? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  24. You have just made my day. I drink hot choc every day, this is great. Thanks. X

    ReplyDelete
  25. Omg! Looks lovely, will be trying this out over the festive season
    Thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Came across this on my FB feed!! Wow.....I love the pioneer woman and you are so ,I have like her, but British yeah !!! The pound land shopping gave it away lol.

    Keep up the good work...love the poo bit. Keeps,it real

    ��

    ReplyDelete
  27. That is an excellent idea, think i will add Baileys to mine to make an adults hot chocolate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...mmm Baileys-covered marshmallows...yummy!
      So good to be a grown-up (child) haha :D

      Delete
  28. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful idea. I have now gone out and bought everything, including a slow cooker. :D Quick question if that's ok. How many cups did you get out of it? xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This makes me sooo happy!! I have updated the blog above now but 9-10 mugs or 15-20 of the little cups pictured. x

      Delete
  29. Totally need your mulled wine recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Totally need your mulled wine recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Brilliant idea - might steal this for our Christmas party :) Mulled wine recipe also interesting to see :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. What biscuits did you use for your s'mores as the only place I have found Grahams are the Uk is in a major supermarket but its not very local and there really pricey (£5 a pack). Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  33. Question from California : Is there any added sugar in the cocoa?

    ReplyDelete
  34. the recipe looks lush!! i am going to try this over christmas all though i think a lot of it will go to waste!!! but im sure the guys at work will enjoy

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is fab Ashlie! Oh wow I can see an AMAZING afters school treat for the monsters coming up and I will definitly add something like this to our Christmas movie night!! FAB FAB FAB!!! (pinned of course!) X

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great idea! Will be trying this Christmas time! Thank you for posting! Christmas in Bermuda is chilly too. But not as cold as most places! Love the addition of Cointreau!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw thank you! Maybe Malibu would be nice in the Carribean ha ha. Rather be there than here xxx

      Delete
  38. Gorgeous can't wait to try! Hubby has a slight addiction to Cointreau so think he will be very interested to try that version! X

    ReplyDelete
  39. kids are having friends for a sleepover tonight so having a "trial run" ready for christmas eve... il keep you posted :-)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great idea! I'll be following you from now on x

    ReplyDelete
  41. Made this today and it smells lovely, just the wait now til it is ready. Going to make this on Christmas Eve too xx

    ReplyDelete
  42. Does it work well with half the amount? Might try this for my teenagers get together..

    ReplyDelete
  43. Ohh, love my slow cooker but would never have thought of doing hot chocolate in it! With two small children who love it, it would go down a treat. I'd probably have to halve the amount though.
    Some chocolate sprinkles and marshmallows and all ready to go, love it...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hey, looks incredible! Little tip when adding the milk/cream: don't dump all the liquid in at once!! As shown in the pic, awkward to mix and risks of lumps. Instead, add a little milk at a time into the powder, stirring until you have a choc paste. Then gradually keep adding all the milk and cream until its all mixed! Much easier :).

    ReplyDelete
  45. This looks amazing. I might try it just for myself. Or, great excuse to have a party. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'll be trying the hot chocolate for my family tomorrow hope it goes to plan looks amazing on pictures...thankyou for sharing your ideas...hope to see more.

    ReplyDelete
  47. We made this last yr for our school fete WA I would suggest is to use hot chocolate powder instead of co co powder as it was quite bitter X

    ReplyDelete
  48. Going to try this for sure! One question - I have a family of 3. I could try to cut down the recipe I suppose but wondered if anyone had any left over, refrigerated and then heated up the next day? :) thanks x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm no expert but due to the dairy content I would say no for hygiene reasons and that it might curdle : ( I would just half the ingredients xx

      Delete
  49. I'm going to make this on Saturday night for my guests

    ReplyDelete
  50. How many cups does this make please planning on making this for our xmas fayre next week xx

    ReplyDelete
  51. Love this I did it last year ready for everyone after Christmas eve mass but I added the giant marshmallows in the slow cooker about 15 min before service so there all gooey definitely a bit hit in this house doing it again this year thank you for the sugar coma lol

    ReplyDelete
  52. Looks brilliant. Will definitely be trying this. Would love ur mulled wine recipe please. Thank u xxx

    ReplyDelete
  53. This is the 4th time I’ve used your recipe and it’s always a huge hit. Thank you so much for making life easier and more enjoyable x

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thank you so much for posting this! It gave me the confidence to make hot chocolate for a community event (about 22 families) and it was loved! I had never been confident that hot chocolate was scale-able (is that a word??) and no milk was burnt in the making of this delicious experience. What a treat! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Excellent information on your blog, thank you for taking the time to share with us. Amazing insight you have on this, it's nice to find a website that details so much information about different artists. best hot tub gazebos for sale

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hotel Pankaj is another of the good hotels in Trivandrum near the station. It is a 3-star hotel and is located at a distance of just 1.5 km from the Railway Goods Depot which makes you save on time as well as transportation costs. It is located opposite to the Government Secretariat, and close to major government, business and shopping centers in Tiruvantapuram. 

    ReplyDelete
  57. When it comes to weathering, most people only consider the trains and not the model train scenery. If you are purchasing scale scenery from a store, you will want to weather them as well in order to keep with the appearance. After all, it will look odd for the weathered train to be traveling through a pristine environment. If the train is traveling through the city, the train and the city should both look just as worn by smog and graffiti artists in order to make it look as real as possible.

    ReplyDelete
  58. The use of floor scale depends upon the industries and the large type floor scales are used in heavy weight industries whereas the smaller ones are used in small scale industries. Floor scales are indeed expensive and the prices invariably depend on the sizes and the different features. HO scale model railroad buildings

    ReplyDelete
  59. informative site. Very informative article. Keep up the good work. thanksgivingdayonline.com/

    ReplyDelete
  60. Hi, you used to write magnificent articles about seattle plumbers, but the last several posts have been kinda lackluster… I miss your tremendous articles. Past several posts are just a little out of track! Seattle Plumbing Happy Halloween Day 2018

    ReplyDelete
  61. Hiya, this looks amazing! Do you have a recipe for a white chocolate version at all? Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  62. All pools and hot tubs have filtration frameworks. In the event that yours doesn't, make a telephone call to the individual who assembled or introduced your pool or hot tub and shake them energetically, in light of the fact that it's conspicuous why your water is messy. infltabale hot tub repair kits

    ReplyDelete
  63. All pools and hot tubs have filtration frameworks. In the event that yours doesn't, make a telephone call to the individual who assembled or introduced your pool or hot tub and shake them energetically, in light of the fact that it's conspicuous why your water is messy. infltabale hot tub repair kits
    Best Eztv Latest Proxy Sites
    Best Coke And Popcorn Latest Alternatives

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thanks for the tips guys. They were all great. I have been having issues with being fat both mentally and physically. Thanks to you guys i have been showing improvements. Do post more. Newton MRT Station

    ReplyDelete
  65. Acquiring such a guide will let you with cutting down the start or maybe destruction of ones handle by fingernails or toenails or maybe crud on the external surfaces. That element helps make this lift up worthy of the prices because of which protects will not be low-priced to interchange. https://pressurewasherguides.com/best-hot-tub-cover-lifter/

    ReplyDelete
  66. When your website or blog goes live for the first time, it is exciting. That is until you realize no one but you and your. sexy gays

    ReplyDelete
  67. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Put together a Hot Chocolate Station for your next holiday party – it will be the hit of the party!! Best Pressure washer for home

    ReplyDelete
  69. informative site. Very informative article. Keep up the good work. Best air purifier reviews

    ReplyDelete
  70. I'm going to make this on Saturday night for my guests. Digital Hearing Amplifier Reviews

    ReplyDelete
  71. This looks amazing. I might try it just for myself. Or, great excuse to have a party. Thanks for sharing.Best Blood Pressure Monitor Reviews

    ReplyDelete
  72. Thanks for sharing such a nice Blog.I like it. How to Find ​Best Pressure Washers

    ReplyDelete
  73. Great! It sounds good. Thanks for sharing..Wearing Your Lapis Lazuli

    ReplyDelete
  74. It is the intent to provide valuable information and best practices, including an understanding of the regulatory process. หนังโป๊

    ReplyDelete
  75. This would go great with a little coffee hutch in the corner of my dining area!

    ReplyDelete
  76. Very informative and useful post. You have nice command on the post and have explained in a very great way. 바카라사이트
    (mm)

    ReplyDelete
  77. Thanks for sharing such an amazing information with us. Get Philippines Import Export Trade Data by Philippineseximp. Visit our website for more information about philippines import export.
    Philippines Import Export Data

    ReplyDelete
  78. Unleash the power of play and ignite your imagination. Hawkplay

    ReplyDelete

WONDERLAND TEMPLATE CREATED BY PRETTYWILDTHINGS