I can’t resist a play on words, yet some are a real struggle for me to get behind. Hot Chocuterie Boards was a big one. I loved the concept—hot cocoa fixings, toppings and snacks, all arranged on a platter—but the name? It’s brilliantly close to charcuterie. So much so that I kept thinking of…hot meat and chocolate.

“Excuse me, madam, but would you care for some prosciutto atop your whipped cream? Perhaps with a salami swizzle stick?”

Not so appealing, right? (Nevermind the fact that I have no idea who would be addressing me so formally and why that image, in particular, is conjured.) I soon made peace with the name when I set up a board for a Mandalorian watch party (and by “watch party,” I mean Nate, Emerie and I hanging out at home). That’s the magic of the chocuterie board—it can make a mundane night in magical. And it’s pretty simple to throw together.

Hot Chocuterie Board Ideas

• Ultra-rich hot cocoa (now’s the time to spring for Godiva or Jacques Torres!)
• Whipped cream (Perhaps an infused flavor, like peppermint?)
• Festive marshmallows (like these snowflake ones)
• Mini candy canes
• Holiday sprinkles or edible luster dust, if you’re feeling faaaancy
• Stuffed cookies (wrap an Oreo or Rolo in cookie dough and bake until golden)
• Hot Cocoa Bombs (chocolate orbs filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows — when you pour hot milk over them, the chocolate will melt, the ‘mallows will float, and you have an extra-special take on hot cocoa)
• Pretzels (you’ll need something salty to offset all that sweetness; how about peanut butter-stuffed ones?)
• Salted roasted nuts

But really, there’s no wrong way to go about it. (Unless, perhaps, you go with the “hot meat” angle.) Make it your own.