Hot chocolate for a crowd - how best to do it?

[Avocadowoman]

Thinking about having a party during the wintertime (outside) and would like to serve hot chocolate. What is the best way to do this? I have been looking at catering urns but most seem to be designed for heating hot water only, and I think making hot chocolate in them would gunge up the tap/be tricky to clean.

I could do it in a very large pan/slow cooker but then I would need to serve with a ladle.

You can get catering hot chocolate makers like this:
vevor.co.uk/products/10-litre-hot-chocolate-machine-dispenser-electric-commercial-chocolate-mixer but not sure if it is worth it or what to look for.

Any tips?

Oh sounds so nice, but sorry I’m of no help other than maybe find a company that can cater this for you as they do tea/coffee etc.

I've done it in a slow cooker - made it on sauté mode then it kept it warm and everyone helped themselves with a ladle

Oh and should have said that I put a plate next to it for the ladle to go on - worked well

@Avocadowoman

Thinking about having a party during the wintertime (outside) and would like to serve hot chocolate. What is the best way to do this? I have been looking at catering urns but most seem to be designed for heating hot water only, and I think making hot chocolate in them would gunge up the tap/be tricky to clean.

I could do it in a very large pan/slow cooker but then I would need to serve with a ladle.

You can get catering hot chocolate makers like this:
vevor.co.uk/products/10-litre-hot-chocolate-machine-dispenser-electric-commercial-chocolate-mixer but not sure if it is worth it or what to look for.

Any tips?

Is the party at home like in the garden or elsewhere? I would serve from the slow cooker if at home. You could set up a little station with marshmallows, squirt cream, flakes etc.

If it's at a park or something the only thing I can think of is a catering flask. They do sometimes have tea and coffee in them so there must be some suitable for something other than water

Slow cooker and ladle
Big saucepan and lable if you don't have a slow cooker

Slow cooker works well! I've done it this way before for my class in school (teacher)

On bonfire night I used Galaxy Chocolate instant powder made with water. I then added cold milk to each mug, much like adding milk to coffee.

How about a soup kettle depending on how many you are catering for?

Buy decent hot chocolate powder, that can be made with hot water.
Top up with milk and marshmallows.

That hot chocolate maker looks amazing

the downsides though of hot chocolate is the temperature for milk is lower to boil. If you;re outside it'll get cold quickly , especially if you add the squirty cream etc.
If it does boil, the flavour changes
And unless you are stirring constantly , it'll get skin on it

Be much easier with the instant (Cadbury ) hot chocolate . Then you'll just need the water urn.

How many are you catering for ?

Slow cooker, ladle into a jug and pour jug into mugs.

Big stainless steel water bottles or flasks - the bottles you can get 1 litre ones or even bigger?

Make at home, heat the bottles with boiling water and then pour hot choc in. Pour to serve and like PP said, have a little station for extras!

Slow cooker or saucepan on a camping gas stove. Ladle to serve. And then chocolate Matchsticks as stirrers. Especially orange and mint ones

Big pan and a ladle or dunk mugs.

@SilenceOfThePrams

Slow cooker or saucepan on a camping gas stove. Ladle to serve. And then chocolate Matchsticks as stirrers. Especially orange and mint ones

Oh that is a great idea!

Airpot? Big pump action thermal drinks thing,that that have for teas and coffees in catering?

How about an insulated jug?

NEW UNBREAKABLE 1.5L INSULATED VACUUM JUG FLASK TEA COFFEE STAINLESS STEEL TRAVEL HOT COLD www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DA2H3WW/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_9J1JWN5PEY5BHE6FQHC5?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Use a jug to serve, way easier than a ladle. Plastic measuring jug would be perfect. I’ve done it for kids on camp many a time.

The Aldi Chocuer instant chocolate is my favourite - no sweetener and you just add hot water. I've used that with access to either a water boiler or a couple of kettles before to serve lots of people. Just work out how much to add to each cup, eg three teaspoons, then top up with water. Alternatively you could easily make up any hot chocolate in one of the pump action flasks, which I've also done, but I prefer just using them for water if possible to save the taste hanging around!

A cauldron?

Big pan of whole milk on the stove to a comfortable drinking temperature.

Stir in nesquick chocolate milkshake mix. You'll need a lot but it's a gorgeous hot choc and dissolves easily with no lumps.

Use a jug to ladle it out and pour into cups.

Serve with mini marshmallows, cream in aerosol and some milkshake mix shaken over the top.

I used to do this for winter parties.

A cauldron would be perfect but a think a slow cooker would meet my needs best. Thanks everyone. I know a pan or a jug would work but I am aiming for a ‘help yourself’ thing so want something that somehow stays a bit warm.

Off to search for cauldron shaped slow cookers…..

There are some really good slow cooker hot chocolate recipes on the internet if you want to do something extra special.

Make proper cocoa in a big pan - asda had massive ones recently (in the party section rather than pans section) you then top up with milk to cool down

Look at soup kettles on amazon - looks like a cauldron ( and I think would be perfect for you.