Hot Chocolate Stations - how does it work?

[DiamondBright]

I'm not criticising anyone, I just don't understand how they fit into Christmas.

If you have one is hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes etc. a regular thing in your house in the winter anyway, so it makes sense to keep all the fixings on display? Is it a daily treat?

I get maybe setting one up for a party or maybe on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day if you have guests but I gather they go up with the tree and stay up all December in some homes.

I don't have snacks out all December either and I know people have Christmas snack baskets, in the world of Instagram and YouTube anyway. Maybe I'm just the wrong demographic, I'd like to be eating treats and drinking hot chocolate all December but i already have a weight problem and wouldn't trust myself.

I bake and put out chocolates but not usually until around the 22nd or 23rd.

We live in an old house, with exposed original floorboards, even our ever ravenous, rodent murdering cat couldn't keep up with the influx that would encourage. I just don't get it, that one with everything in paper tubs, surely it all just gets stale and a bit sticky?

@RJnomore1

For me not having stuff put isn’t a space thing, we have quite a big kitchen and everything’s mostly in drawers ( how I regret the cupboards thst are not drawers now) so it’s just there but not sitting out needing cleaned all the time. Basically I’m a lazy mare and the less cleaning the better.

See I think that my liking for having things out is me being lazy, I like having things like my food processor and stand mixer to hand, not having to get them in and out every time I want to use them. I also prefer the way a kitchen looks with appliances, teapot, butter dish etc on the counters, it feels more homely to me and only takes a moment to move and wipe them, I'd have to do it before putting them away anyway.

We have a tray with the coffee pods, hot chocolate and mini marshmallows out all year next to the coffee machine. The children can help themselves. I like how it looks.
In December I add a jar of those mini tree shaped shortbreads from M&S or some mini lebkuchen and the many Christmas mugs we have amassed over the years because they won't fit in the mug cupboard.
I don't bother with candy canes etc but I have bought a cinnamon shaker because I love it and have a coffee with baileys frothed in the milk frother every morning after school drop off in December.

@mafted

We have a tray with the coffee pods, hot chocolate and mini marshmallows out all year next to the coffee machine. The children can help themselves. I like how it looks. In December I add a jar of those mini tree shaped shortbreads from M&S or some mini lebkuchen and the many Christmas mugs we have amassed over the years because they won't fit in the mug cupboard. I don't bother with candy canes etc but I have bought a cinnamon shaker because I love it and have a coffee with baileys frothed in the milk frother every morning after school drop off in December.

Out of interest how often would your children have one? If I allowed mine to help themselves I would be concerned it would be every day and I'm not keen on that idea. Plus, for myself it'd be more tempting too.

Been thinking it over and I’m not one for ornaments of any sort unless they have a purpose eg candle holder or vase (that’s about it). Stoor collectors the lot.

I was also trying to think what it reminded me of and I got it! All inclusive hotels. That’s it!

Christmas snack baskets?
Are they what have hitherto been known as Christmas food shop but in a basket with cellophane and twice the price?

@OhMyCrump
Nothing like everyday for the younger two 11&9 maybe once or twice a month. They swipe a few mini marshmallows here and there but nothing over the top.
They have one a week in a cafe which they prefer, I think because they know they have to make it themselves at home it takes the shine off.
Teen DS went through a phase of having a daily hot chocolate when he was about 14/15, then discovered coffee and now only has one or two a week.
DD now an adult has never really liked hot chocolate after a bad experience with the 'skin' as a child!
The hot chocolate doesn't really interest me at all, I like the idea of it but only like the first few sips as it's sickly and makes me thirsty. I love the Lebkuchen though.

@mafted why on earth have all that shite sitting out not being used then 🤷🏻‍♀️?

Haha op when i read the title i was imagining a road side hot chocolate station popup 🤣
We have a hot chocolate/milkshake machine (basically a cheap version of the new hotel chocolat velvetiser we have had for years and before the fad) It is actually better as well as more versatile, keep warm setting, milkshakes as can be used without heat and also suitable for choc chips or any latte/coffee even instant and can be made hotter too. We have a kind of homemade station next to that and dulce gusto machine with acouple glasses for morning coffees, jars of sugar cubes, mini marshmallows, choc sprinkles and monins sauce next to it, dc love homemade hot chocolate! Im going to add candy canes and choc stirrers!

We do hot chocolate through winter time with cream and extra toppings more into December! I buy one costco large squirty cream and open it in December and that lasts through for drinks and desserts.

Ooo and me and dh have hotel chocolat cream liquor stashed away to add to the adult's this year; looking forward to that!

having enlightened myself via google, it turns out we have all of the components, just in the cupboard or fridge. Nowt but kettle and bread bin on the worksurface here, not least because I have MN's smallest kitchen and wouldn't have room to cook otherwise.

I am beginning to understand why the UK has such a serious child obesity problem!! I mean there is nothing wrong with the occasional hot chocolate - milk, some plain cocoa powder snd a bit of sugar. Maybe add a lump of good quality chocolate or a marshmallow. But all this extra crap on a regular basis??

Why would you need a "station" unless you have like 12 kids?

Surely you make/drink one hot chocolate each. I wouldn't want more and more and more. It would be sickly.

Yes it does make sense for an event or party, not otherwise.

@inmyslippers

I believe you go to home bargains or b&ms buy more tatt you don't really need then post to other huns on Facebook.

This really made me laugh!

We do have a velvetiser and it's essentially just a fancy milk frother but I do love it and use is daily to froth milk for a latte each morning. It's used to make hot chocolate maybe a couple of times a month but the chocolate stays in the cupboard until it's needed. I get having marshmallows and squirty cream as a treat around Christmas but surely a candy cane stuck in a hot chocolate is rank? Maybe for tweens/teenagers I suppose.

[quote RJnomore1]@mafted why on earth have all that shite sitting out not being used then 🤷🏻‍♀️?[/quote]
What shite?
The coffee pods are used daily, as is the frother and coffee machine, the hot chocolate I buy comes in bulk so it's easier and cleaner to decant it. The same with the marshmallows and biscuits they stay fresh in a jar. Plus it's easily reachable for the children when they do want one, they'd be balancing on chairs to get it otherwise.
The mugs are arguably shite but the kids like them and they get used for teas and coffees.
I don't keep much else out tbh everything else has a drawer

'It's used to make hot chocolate maybe a couple of times a month but the chocolate stays in the cupboard until it's needed. I get having marshmallows and squirty cream as a treat around Christmas but surely a candy cane stuck in a hot chocolate is rank? Maybe for tweens/teenagers I suppose.'

Never tried it, does it not give the drink a peppermint flavour, i assumed it was used as more of a stirrer. I intrigued.

'Why would you need a "station" unless you have like 12 kids?'

Alot of people decant into small jars and have mini stations. We only have it in moderation and no overweight or obese children around here. They only have tiny glass wjen they do have it and it is a treat. We use it mainly for coffees.

have a coffee with baileys frothed in the milk frother every morning after school drop off in December
Festive way to keep the cold at bay

what shite

Mugs sitting getting dusty, jars of stuff you only use occasionally, not your coffee stuff you use all the time (even I have my coffee machine out!). Why would your children need to balance on a chair otherwise, do you have no base units in your kitchen?

I don’t get it either. If you want a hot chocolate just open the cupboard and take the ingredients out, why are they suddenly a decoration?

Why would you need a "station" unless you have like 12 kids?

Surely you make/drink one hot chocolate each. I wouldn't want more and more and more. It would be sickly.

To me it's no different to having tea and coffee in a canister or bread in a bread bin out on the worktop.

@RJnomore1 - this is how I am imagining your kitchen. Go on - there is space for a hot chocolate extravaganza - go on, you know you want to

I thought I understood these things and assumed it was a one off event type deal. I will be doing a "hot chocolate factory" for my DC in the evening of Christmas day as a bit of fun, I wouldn't leave it up all the time.

There is also this to raise the blood pressure of the Christmas clutter crowd: m.youtube.com/watch?v=EomaN3ZEC-c

I have one and it's a permanent feature, not done for the gram, I just think it looks nice