BellaGrey Designs: hot cocoa
hot cocoa
Do your kids have the Elf on the Shelf? We have TWO! One for each of the kiddos. Last year, Sabrina and Frosty came to visit us on December 1st for the first time that Christmas season. My kids were so excited when they woke up to a Hot Cocoa Bar hosted by their elves! 

As I was thinking about the design for the return of the elves, I remembered I had purchased this tablecloth a few years back and thought it would be fun for a Vintage Christmas party. I created all the designs with a very similar Tartan pattern. I'm so excited how it came out - it matches perfectly! 



As any fabulous Hot Cocoa Bar should have, we chose some seasonally delicious treats to add to our hot cocoa this morning. 


Several different types of marshmallows are a must have for a successful Hot Cocoa Bar. We decided on the mini {aka snowball}, Peppermint and Vanilla Snowmen marshmallows. As an added treat, I made some hot cocoa marshmallow mugs. 


The kids had their choice of cold white or chocolate milk or hot milk to dip the chocolate sticks into. They chose a little bit of everything, of course. Add a mini candy cane to the hot cocoa and you instantly have hot chocolate mint! 


Both of my kids thought is was so great to have hot peppermint cocoa and reindeer donuts before school! The added bonus was the "candy" factor! 


These little cuties were so easy to make and made a great impression on the kids too! Four ingredients are all you need - mini chocolate donuts, mini pretzel twists, red hots and candy eyes - that's it! 


Frosty and Sabrina left behind some Dear Santa cards for the kids to fill out so Santa knows what to bring them. This past weekend my kids made their lists and each have about four pages! I'm hoping they will pick their top three and write them here for Santa to see. 



Each one of the kiddos received a personalized Elf Report telling them, their elves would be reporting back to the North Pole each night with a report and to be good! My son had an issue with temper tantrums last year and this really helped!


We hope you enjoyed our Hot Cocoa Bar as much as the kiddos did this morning! 
You can find all this Party Suite in our shop today! 
The Elf Hot Cocoa Bar Party Suite includes: 

Welcome Sign
Elf Report Card
Dear Santa Card
Straw Flags
Food Labels

How do you celebrate the arrival of your elf? 

Vendors: 

Styling + Design + Photography| Jennifer Kirlin, BellaGrey Designs
Marshmallows | Kraft Jet Puffed
Mini White Mugs + Saucers | IKEA
Square Milk Bottles | Hoopla Events
Chocolate Sticks | Home Goods

Elf Hot Cocoa Bar + Breakfast

Do your kids have the Elf on the Shelf? We have TWO! One for each of the kiddos. Last year, Sabrina and Frosty came to visit us on December 1st for the first time that Christmas season. My kids were so excited when they woke up to a Hot Cocoa Bar hosted by their elves! 

As I was thinking about the design for the return of the elves, I remembered I had purchased this tablecloth a few years back and thought it would be fun for a Vintage Christmas party. I created all the designs with a very similar Tartan pattern. I'm so excited how it came out - it matches perfectly! 



As any fabulous Hot Cocoa Bar should have, we chose some seasonally delicious treats to add to our hot cocoa this morning. 


Several different types of marshmallows are a must have for a successful Hot Cocoa Bar. We decided on the mini {aka snowball}, Peppermint and Vanilla Snowmen marshmallows. As an added treat, I made some hot cocoa marshmallow mugs. 


The kids had their choice of cold white or chocolate milk or hot milk to dip the chocolate sticks into. They chose a little bit of everything, of course. Add a mini candy cane to the hot cocoa and you instantly have hot chocolate mint! 


Both of my kids thought is was so great to have hot peppermint cocoa and reindeer donuts before school! The added bonus was the "candy" factor! 


These little cuties were so easy to make and made a great impression on the kids too! Four ingredients are all you need - mini chocolate donuts, mini pretzel twists, red hots and candy eyes - that's it! 


Frosty and Sabrina left behind some Dear Santa cards for the kids to fill out so Santa knows what to bring them. This past weekend my kids made their lists and each have about four pages! I'm hoping they will pick their top three and write them here for Santa to see. 



Each one of the kiddos received a personalized Elf Report telling them, their elves would be reporting back to the North Pole each night with a report and to be good! My son had an issue with temper tantrums last year and this really helped!


We hope you enjoyed our Hot Cocoa Bar as much as the kiddos did this morning! 
You can find all this Party Suite in our shop today! 
The Elf Hot Cocoa Bar Party Suite includes: 

Welcome Sign
Elf Report Card
Dear Santa Card
Straw Flags
Food Labels

How do you celebrate the arrival of your elf? 

Vendors: 

Styling + Design + Photography| Jennifer Kirlin, BellaGrey Designs
Marshmallows | Kraft Jet Puffed
Mini White Mugs + Saucers | IKEA
Square Milk Bottles | Hoopla Events
Chocolate Sticks | Home Goods
It's mid November and even though it is 70° here in Dallas, I am dreaming of snow flurries like Colorado is having! I miss the white fluffy cold snow and all the activities that come with it. So even though I can not bundle up in my fleece pjs and snuggle under my fluffy throw blanket next to the fire, I am going to enjoy a hot beverage that reminds me of my childhood.


This Hot Cocoa is not your traditional Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, that you grew up on! Don't get me wrong, I loved Swiss Miss as a kid, but since I created this recipe, I will NEVER go back! Honestly, I think I have become a Hot Cocoa snob! Once you try this, you will become one too!

You will find several Mexican Hot Cocoa recipes out there, but I created my own using my favorite Mi Huerta Vanilla. This Hot Cocoa is thicker than the Hot Cocoa you are use to, with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg and chili powder. Yep, I said chili powder. It doesn't make it spicy, it gives the Hot Cocoa a great flavor. With all the non-traditional ingredients mixed together, it will send your tastebuds over the top!

I used my mini slow cooker I typically use for hot dips, it was the perfect size.






Slow Cooker Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Raw Honey
1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup Hot Water
4 ounces Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoons Mi Huerta Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Chili Powder
4 cups Milk {2%  or Whole}

Instructions:

1. In the slow cooker, add the  honey, chocolate chips, vanilla, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, chili powder and milk. Stirring until well mixed.
2. In a small bowl combine the hot water and cocoa powder, stir until smooth.
3. Add cocoa powder water mixture to the slow cooker.
4. Heat on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve with marshmallows or whipped cream and top with chocolate syrup.



Love this recipe? Sign up to receive our newsletter here.

This is a sponsored post written by me. BellaGrey Designs has received trade, products and/or payment from Mi Huerta in exchange for promotion. All opinions and text are my own. 

Slow Cooker Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa

It's mid November and even though it is 70° here in Dallas, I am dreaming of snow flurries like Colorado is having! I miss the white fluffy cold snow and all the activities that come with it. So even though I can not bundle up in my fleece pjs and snuggle under my fluffy throw blanket next to the fire, I am going to enjoy a hot beverage that reminds me of my childhood.


This Hot Cocoa is not your traditional Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, that you grew up on! Don't get me wrong, I loved Swiss Miss as a kid, but since I created this recipe, I will NEVER go back! Honestly, I think I have become a Hot Cocoa snob! Once you try this, you will become one too!

You will find several Mexican Hot Cocoa recipes out there, but I created my own using my favorite Mi Huerta Vanilla. This Hot Cocoa is thicker than the Hot Cocoa you are use to, with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg and chili powder. Yep, I said chili powder. It doesn't make it spicy, it gives the Hot Cocoa a great flavor. With all the non-traditional ingredients mixed together, it will send your tastebuds over the top!

I used my mini slow cooker I typically use for hot dips, it was the perfect size.






Slow Cooker Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Raw Honey
1 tablespoon Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup Hot Water
4 ounces Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoons Mi Huerta Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Chili Powder
4 cups Milk {2%  or Whole}

Instructions:

1. In the slow cooker, add the  honey, chocolate chips, vanilla, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, chili powder and milk. Stirring until well mixed.
2. In a small bowl combine the hot water and cocoa powder, stir until smooth.
3. Add cocoa powder water mixture to the slow cooker.
4. Heat on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve with marshmallows or whipped cream and top with chocolate syrup.



Love this recipe? Sign up to receive our newsletter here.

This is a sponsored post written by me. BellaGrey Designs has received trade, products and/or payment from Mi Huerta in exchange for promotion. All opinions and text are my own. 


It's cold here in Dallas today and it's only suppose to get colder! So when I came across these divine cupcakes I knew I just had to share them with you! Two of my favorite things ~ hot cocoa and cupcakes!! Genius! 

Chocolate cupcakes filled with marshmallow fluff and topped with whipped cream frosting....I'm sold!! Where can I get mine? You can find the recipe here! 

Happy Monday, everyone!! Have a great week and stay warm! 

To stay connected with us and not miss any of our free printables or sales, be sure to: 

Subscribe to our Posts
Join us on Instagram
Pin with us on Pinterest
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Hang out with us on Google+



Hot Cocoa Cupcakes * Happy Monday


It's cold here in Dallas today and it's only suppose to get colder! So when I came across these divine cupcakes I knew I just had to share them with you! Two of my favorite things ~ hot cocoa and cupcakes!! Genius! 

Chocolate cupcakes filled with marshmallow fluff and topped with whipped cream frosting....I'm sold!! Where can I get mine? You can find the recipe here! 

Happy Monday, everyone!! Have a great week and stay warm! 

To stay connected with us and not miss any of our free printables or sales, be sure to: 

Subscribe to our Posts
Join us on Instagram
Pin with us on Pinterest
Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Google+



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Meet Jennifer
God made and Jesus saved! This Colorado girl is living in a Texas world. I'm a home decor enthusiast, sharing our home, fashion and entertaining tips.

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