Your Guide to the 2024 Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival
Posted on: January 23, 2024
They say that chocolate is happiness that you can eat – but what about if you drink it?
From February 1st to the 22nd 2024, get ready to dive deep into the tantalizing world of delicious hot chocolate once again at the 4th Annual Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival. Chocolate lovers from the Sea to Sky, throughout the Lower Mainland and beyond, rejoice!
Are you ready to taste the unique and delicious hot chocolates dreamed up by Squamish's finest local craft creators? PLUS, some have added dessert pairings that will tempt your taste buds and awaken your senses.
Be sure to make the rounds and visit each locale, sipping and appreciating each hot chocolate for its presentation, flavour, creativity and overall appeal. In the end though, the only judge in this devilishly decadent experiment is you.
TIPS TO DO IT RIGHT:
- Make a plan
- Pace it out
- Share with friends
- Post on social!
We have more participants than ever this year - 22 in total - and you've got exactly 22 days to try them all.
Need some help? We've created a special 2-day itinerary to help guide you through the festival!
Grab a sweet deal during the festival on activities and hotels! See all the special offers HERE.
NEW THIS YEAR:
Be sure to download the official Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival Tasting Passport. Cross off each tasting along the way to be entered to win a SWEET grand prize!
Download printable Squamish Hot Chocolate Tasting Passport (Colour)
Download printable Squamish Hot Chocolate Tasting Passport (Black & White)
If you collect 10 or more stamps and submit your tasting passport*, you're name will be entered to win a sweet, pre-loved, custom designed Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival Cruiser bike named 'Cocoa'!
You can also grab a Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival Tasting Passport from the Squamish Adventure Centre (limited supply) or screenshot it from Instagram stories. Be sure to follow @SquamishHotChocolateFestival and tag us in your posts.
Pro Tip: In addition to tagging the festival, there is a special GIF! Just search 'Squamish' in the GIF search bar and you'll see several options for the Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival.
*Please submit your tasting passports at the Squamish Adventure Centre. Digital passports can be submitted via DM to the @SquamishHotChocolateFestival Instagram account.
SOUTH SQUAMISH:
Chatterbox Café at the Britannia Mine Museum:
After Eight Mint Hot Chocolate: Mint Hot Chocolate paired with After Eight Mint Chocolate Thin. The Chatterbox Café is located just outside of the museum. While admission isn't required, we do recommend a visit to the underground wonders of this National Historic Site.
The Fireball or The Marshmallow Toasty: Indulge in the rich fusion of Schoki dark chocolate paired with a hint of cayenne pepper, embraced by a torched marshmallow crust, and crowned with a decadent chocolate-dipped pepper OR Hide from the heat with the luxurious blend of Schoki chocolate infused with the sweetness of toasted marshmallow syrup, nestled under a torched marshmallow crust, and topped with a sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs. New to the festival this year!
Summit Lodge at the Sea to Sky Gondola:
Cookies & Cream Hot Chocolate: A blend of white chocolate, milk chocolate and steamed milk, topped with vanilla whip, Oreo cookie crumble and a double stuffed Oreo cookie. You will need to head to the summit of the Gondola to snag this tasty concoction. Chocolate with a stunning view is something dreams are made of.
Cookies & Dreams: Winter spiced dark chocolate mix (green cardamom, allspice, ginger), vanilla whipped cream and cookie crumbs. This one can be spiked with Peppermint Vodka for adults that want a little extra zing to their beverage!
Foraged Porridge - Mushroom Hot Chocolate: Reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps, turkey tail, and chaga mushrooms blended with coconut, vanilla and chocolate create a delicious and brain boosting concoction. Paired with an incredibly realistic looking mushroom shaped shortbread cookie. This spot always provides a unique and yummy drink!
DOWNTOWN SQUAMISH
Citrus Red Velvet Hot Chocolate: Red velvet hot chocolate with orange and lemon citrus. Available as a white or dark chocolate beverage. There's even a BONUS feature hot chocolate menu including an Orange & Skor Bar, Oak-aged Vanilla and Gingerbread hot chocolate options... plus ALL drinks can be levelled-up to a mocha including with a Bourbon Barrel Aged Espresso for the adults (alcohol-free).
The Classic: The classics never go out of style. A creamy rich hot chocolate smothered with whipping cream and overloaded with chocolate shavings paired with a thin slice of tuxedo cake. This is a great spot to sit back and enjoy the views, or visit The Squamish Store for gifts, Squamish merch, and more.
Queen of Hearts: Chocolate raspberry hot chocolate - house-made milk and white chocolate syrup, raspberry syrup, whole milk or oat milk option. House-made cake crumbles and whipped cream. Mini-cake doughnut with raspberry glaze and house-made cake crumbs
The Ned Flanders Hot Chocolate: Named after The Simpsons character who created the recipe in their full length film , this classic hot chocolate has a hint of marshmallow, graham cracker, torched fresh hand made marshmallow fluff, whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Praline and Cream: Sink into the tantalizing world of hazelnut and dark chocolate cream, topped with whipped cream and featuring a hazelnut and chocolate soil sprinkled on top.
Funfetti Birthday Cake Hot Chocolate: With their usual Sunflower flair, your sweet tooth will love their vanilla cake batter infused hot chocolate served with whipped cream, a mini vanilla cupcake & funfetti sprinkles! If the mini cupcake isn't enough, they'll be serving up regular sized Funfetti Birthday cupcakes during the festival too!
Treat Squamish at the Squamish Farmers' Market:
The Malteaser Hot Chocolate: A harmonious blend of hand crafted velvety chocolate syrup and malted goodness topped with whipped cream and crushed Malteaser. Accompanied by a crunchy decedent Malteaser bite bar- a sweet biscuit base filled with Malteasers and topped with white chocolate. This one is ONLY available during Squamish Farmers' Market hours on February 3rd and February 17th
Greener Pastures: A swirled dessert drink of rich white chocolate and fresh matcha, served with whipped cream, matcha garnish, and a pair of vanilla wafers. If you're interestedi in a boozy, late-night hot chocolate then you'll have to try the Trickster's Chocolate Orange (alcoholic): a play on the Terry's chocolate orange, this dark hot chocolate is made with Ghirardelli dark chocolate, Cointreau, Kahlua, whipped cream, crushed chocolate covered espresso beans, and is served with a house-made Cointreau truffle. Discover this 'speak easy' coffee shop/entertainment venue tucked away in the alley behind Cleveland Ave.
CENTRAL SQUAMISH
Sticky Toffee Hot Chocolate: A toffee infused hot chocolate, served with a mini toffee-caramel dipped ice cream cone of Alice & Brohm's *new* sticky toffee pudding ice cream.
Dark Chocolate + Raspberry Hot Chocolate: This one is Dairy-Free and is a rich, dark chocolate hot chocolate, made with oat milk and coconut whip. Served with a mini scoop of raspberry brownie ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone
BOTH are available at BOTH this location as well as their downtown Squamish location. They are spoiling us this year!
Toffee Crunch Hot Chocolate: Toffee Crunch topped with whipped cream and shattered caramel bits. Cannoli: Mini cannoli with creamy ricotta filling and decadent chocolate chips. These guys always roll out a super tasty treat!
Hot Chocolate Float with Brownie: House-made hot chocolate mixed with homemade ice cream (vanilla, caramel, Nutella) and a brownie. Make it even more decadent with a shot of Baileys!
Chagrin d'Amour and Elixir & Allegories: There is a non-alcoholic version with sweetened almond milk concotion with cocoa, beets, caraway, nigella and fenugreek seeds, topped with a layer of tawny cocoa coconut whipped cream. Add 1oz of French Brandy matured in Port casks for the adult cocktail 'Chagrin d'Amour'.
Another cocktail they will be serving is 'Elixir & Allegories', a Mezcal-infused Squamish roasted cocoa nibs (from Schoki), Green Chartreuse-washed white truffle oil, Marasca Cherry liqueur, Lime. The whole cocktail is clarified with chocolate coconut milk. Served on ice with its mirror garnish: cherry tree smoked maraschino cherry, dipped in Schoki dark chocolate 85%, sprinkled with truffle and lime zest.
Big Bicycle Biscotti: Biscotti/chocolate mixed with hell yea milk, some stoke coconut whip cream, a big grilled marshmallow, and a Biscoff cookie. Topped with a bunch of good times loam chocolate syrup.
Stoopwafel Hot Chocolate: A combination of smooth dark chocolate with sweet and spiced stroopwafel syrup, topped with whip cream and cinnamon paired with a classic Tall Tree house-made stroopwafel. We're excited to welcome them to the festival this year, a fabulous addition.
NORTH SQUAMISH
PB & J Hot Chocolate: A bonus, last minute entry, Bean Brackendale is featuring a Raspberry Hot Chocolate, topped with raspberry whipped cream and served with a house-made Reese's Pieces cookie.
Spiced Orange Hot Chocolate: Spiced Hot Chocolate with Orange, topped with whipped cream and candied orange. Two orange scented profiteroles served on a skewer in the hot chocolate. Come for the hot chocolate, stay for the breakfast!
Petit Mont Blanc: White chocolate, vanilla and coconut cream hot chocolate with a toasted coconut and chestnut 'nutella' rim, topped with coconut and vanilla snow, and served with a chestnut financier cake.
Spiced Chicita: A spiced hot chocolate, topped with whip cream, dolce caramel and served with Freebird's signature churro donut. A new participant this year, let's show them some love!
Level up your chocolate intake and see what that makes you:
1-5 Hot Chocolates: Crazy for Cocoa
6-14 Hot Chocolates: Chocolate Monster
15-22 Hot Chocolates: King/Queen of the Chocolate Kingdom
Tick off 10 or more drinks off your Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival Tasting Passport and you could win the GRAND PRIZE!
Once you've completed all your tastings, drop off your passport to the Squamish Adventure Centre OR DM the @Squamishhotchocolatefestival account with your completed screenshot.
You're name will be entered to win a sweet, custom designed Squamish Hot Chocolate Festival Cruiser bike! We call her 'Cocoa'.
Milky or dark, white or all the colours of the rainbow, pinnacles of whipped cream or foamed to perfection, we can’t wait to taste each location's dreamy confectionary concoctions.
