Transform your holiday party into an unforgettable feast of fun with DIY food stations that bring out the creative side of your guests. From a cozy hot chocolate bar brimming with marshmallows and peppermint sticks to a mousse parfait station stacked with sweet toppings, these interactive setups let everyone craft their own culinary creations. With mini charcuterie boards tailored to personal tastes, cookies decorated with Christmas flair, and even an ice cream station that turns frosty nights into delightful indulgence, these DIY stations are more than just food—they’re beautiful displays that add sparkle to your holiday celebrations!
DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
This DIY hot chocolate bar from Houston-area blogger Little Spice Jar is a perfect way to add a warm, festive vibe to your holiday party. No need for single serving packets here. This hot chocolate is made right in a crockpot! One batch makes 15 to 18 cups. Get creative with toppings: marshmallows, toffee bits, coarse sea salt, mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermints, candy canes, soft peppermint sticks, whoppers, Lindt truffles, pirouette cookies, whipped cream, dark chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, marshmallows, or anything that sounds yummy!
DIY Mini Charcuterie Board Station
A mini charcuterie board station like this one from The Lemon Bowl lets your guests design their own board to suit their tastes. It’s important to choose the right meats for your station – salami, prosciutto, capocollo, serrano ham, and Iberico ham all work great! Ask your local H-E-B deli guru for the best meats to add if you’re stumped. You also want a variety of cheese – hard cheese like gouda and Parmesan and soft cheese like burrata and Brie. You’ll need plenty of crackers, nuts, fruits, pickles, and even some dark chocolate or chocolate-covered pretzels. To serve: Buy some bamboo wood mini charcuterie boards like this set of 24 for $70, or try this pack of disposable, compostable, palm leaf plates as an economical alternative: $28 for 50 plates.
DIY Cookie Decorating Station
You can bake for hours in the kitchen alone and have all the cookies prepped ahead of time for your holiday party … or you can invite your friends and family to decorate their own Christmas cookies at a pretty DIY cookie decorating station like this one from My Baking Addiction. You can offer up pre-made Christmas cutout cookies (or ask guests to bring their own) and set out a variety of decorating ingredients like sprinkles, frostings, sanding sugars, and other festive edible bits and bobs.
DIY Mousse Parfait Bar
Who doesn’t love a parfait? A DIY mousse parfait station like this one from Helpful Homemade will be the most popular station at your holiday party! This easy dessert can be prepped in advance and set out just as your guests arrive. Along with a smooth, creamy mousse, set out bowls of toppings like specialty cookies, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, pretzel bits, and more.
DIY Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Who says you can’t have ice cream for Christmas? This DIY ice cream bar from About a Mom brings some lighthearted, summer fun to your holiday table. Choose a few different kinds of ice cream and then go nuts with the toppings – flavored syrups, hot fudge, sprinkles galore, small candies like M&Ms, Reese’s pieces and gummy bears, nuts, mini marshmallows, whipped cream (from spray cans of course) and maraschino cherries. Sliced bananas or other fruit work great too!
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