If you’re looking for a simple and adorable holiday project that adds instant cozy charm to your kitchen, this DIY Dollar Tree Hot Chocolate Station is about to become your new favourite festive hack. It’s budget-friendly, takes less than an hour to make, and is the perfect way to display everyone’s favourite winter treats.

Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, setting up a holiday movie night, or just want to make everyday cocoa-time feel a little more magical, this tiny “pantry-style” station checks all the boxes.

And the best part: every supply comes from Dollar Tree!

What You’ll Need

All items below were found at Dollar Tree unless noted otherwise:

• 4 small wooden crates
  Greenbriar International Inc. Wood Crate — SKU #639277793027
• 2 small wooden trays
  Greenbriar International Inc. Wood Tray — SKU #639277793089
• Fix-All Cement adhesive
• Rich Art Acryology premium acrylic paint
  (We used red, but choose any colour that matches your decor.)
• Mod Podge matte finish
• 2 glass topping shakers
  (They come in various styles — pick your favourites!)
• Hot chocolate supplies of your choice
  Our picks:
  • hot chocolate packs
  • latte packs
  • chocolate crunch topping
  • cheesecake crunch topping
  • mini-marshmallows
  • candy cane spoons

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Paint all your wooden pieces

Start by painting the four crates and two trays. One coat may be enough, but feel free to add a second coat for richer coverage. Red looks ultra-festive, but neutrals, pastels, or classic black also look amazing depending on your home decor.

Let everything dry fully before moving on.

2. Seal with Mod Podge

Once the paint is completely dry, brush on a thin, even layer of Mod Podge matte finish. This helps protect the paint, gives a smooth finish, and keeps your cocoa station looking cute through the whole season.

Let dry again.

3. Build the bottom shelf section

Take two of the crates and stand them on their long sides, so the open fronts look like little cupboards or shelves.

Use Fix-All Cement to glue the two crates together side by side. Hold in place until secure or allow them to dry according to the package instructions.

This forms the sturdy base of your hot chocolate station.

4. Attach the first tray

Glue one small wooden tray directly on top of the stacked crates.
This tray becomes a flat surface for your topping shakers, mini-marshmallows, or drink packets.

Allow the glue to set.

5. Build the “pantry towers”

Take the remaining two crates and stand them on their short sides so they look tall and narrow, like mini pantry slots.

Glue them on top of the tray, side by side.
This creates the vertical storage that gives the whole station its adorable “mini kitchen cabinet” style.

Fun tip: Some crates have small holes or slats on the top — you can slide candy cane spoons into these for extra cuteness and easy access.

6. Fill Your Hot Chocolate Station

Now the fun part: stocking your station!

Here are ideas for what to place where:

Inside the bottom “cupboard shelves”:

• Hot chocolate packets
• Latte packets
• Mini pouches or toppings
• Wrapped chocolates

On the middle tray:

• Glass topping shakers
• Mini bowls with marshmallows
• Chocolate chips or crunch toppings

Inside the tall top crates:

• Candy cane spoons
• Stir sticks
• Napkins
• Extra packets or mix-ins
• Poseidn hot chocolate bombs for an extra bougie feature

Feel free to get creative! Add labels, holiday stickers, or small decorative touches to personalize your setup.

Display It and Enjoy!

Place your hot chocolate station on a coffee bar, kitchen counter, or dining room sideboard. Add a few twinkle lights or a small Christmas sign, and you instantly have a Pinterest-worthy cocoa corner that your kids (and guests!) will absolutely love.

It’s charming, practical, and totally customizable.

This DIY Dollar Tree Hot Chocolate Station is proof that festive magic doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little paint, glue, and imagination, you can create a cozy, functional centerpiece for all your winter warm-ups.

Check out my full video tutorial here:

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If you try this project, tag me @gratefulheartcollective — I’d love to see your version!

xoxo Chelsea Dyan