Hot Cocoa Bar

It's amazing how much fun you can have with mugs and cocoa mix, some mason jars, and a few festive toppings to jazz up your joe.  With a fire a'roarin on a cold Saturday afternoon, I threw together a little hot cocoa buffet for Cruz's very first cup.  He seemed a little surprised that his chocolate milk was hot, but nevertheless had worlds of fun throwing in marshmallows and stirring with his cookie stick after he decided to eat his candy cane stick.
 

Who knew there were so many marshamallow choices out there.  I chose to go with pink peppermint ones, and snowman shaped french vanilla ones.  

And what would be a cup of hot cocoa without a spoonful of whipped cream, right?  I made my own with three simple ingredients: 1/2 cup of whipping cream, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 tbsp. powdered sugar.  First, whip the cream with a electric mixer or wire whisk until it begins to set.  Then, mix in vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until you get the consistency you want.  Just don't mix too long or your cream will get lumpy.  Nobody wants lumpy whipped cream!

That's it!  A fun way to jazz up a cup of joe and easy addition to a family get-together, holiday party, or work treat.