One of my favorite nights during the Christmas season is the evening we head out to see our local Christmas light display. I like to set-up a hot cocoa bar on our bar cart so everyone can make their own hot cup to take with them in the car. Over the years, everyone has a favorite cocoa concoction.

Here’s some pictures of this year’s cocoa bar set-up and I’ll share our favorite cocoa versions too…

Over the years, I’ve learned to make two big batches of cocoa ahead of time and to keep them hot in carafes or a couple of thermoses. I have to-go cups on the cart for our holiday light outing and then cocoa and egg nog cups ready for when we get back home. The night usually ends with us by the fire playing a game or watching a Christmas movie.

On My Cocoa Bar Cart

• hot cocoa

• eggnog

• peppermint schnapps

• whipped cream

• caramel drizzle

• cinnamon

• sea salt

• candy canes (mini & crushed)

• marshmallows

• peppermint bark

• cinnamon sticks

Everyone has a favorite. Eggnog from Arethusa Farms is a family winner and it’s so good alone, mixed in cocoa, or even coffee. Coffeenog has become one of my holiday regulars! Our family cocoa staples are peppermint cocoa (sometimes spiked), eggnog cocoa, sea salt caramel cocoa, and classic cocoa and marshmallows.

We repeat the cocoa bar on Christmas Eve night when our neighborhood puts on Luminaria. This year, they are predicting snow for that evening so it will be so pretty with the whole neighborhood aglow with all the lights.

Merry Merry,

Kristy