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Ballarat's Hot Choc Showdown

Ballarat's Hot Choc Showdown

Drink your way through the city and experience the delicious range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic hot chocolates before voting for the ultimate winner. This year will see a trail of over 30 custom creations from local vendors including cafe’s, bars and bakeries.

Cast your vote in the People's Choice - not only will you help crown Ballarat's best hot chocolate, but you'll also go into the draw to WIN a Winter Prize Pack valued at $1500.

Ballarat's Hot Choc Showdown 2026 competition prize is brought to you by Grounded Pleasures.

Hot Chocolates

Blushed Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at Drive Café image

27 Jun–19 Jul

8:00am - 3:00pm

Blushed Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at Drive Café

A smooth Grounded Pleasures Pink Salted Caramel hot chocolate topped with a soft blush pink foam, finished with…

Boatshed White Chocolate & Butterscotch Indulgence at The Boatshed image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Boatshed White Chocolate & Butterscotch Indulgence at The Boatshed

Indulge in our rich and velvety blend of creamy white chocolate and golden butterscotch, gently warmed with milk,…

Burnt Butter Brittle Hot Chocolate at Johnny Alloo image

27 Jun–19 Jul

7:00am - 3:00pm

Burnt Butter Brittle Hot Chocolate at Johnny Alloo

Our creation is hot chocolate, all grown up. A refined balance of sweet and savoury, crafted with premium…

Butter Me Up! at Kilderkin Distillery image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

Session times vary

Butter Me Up! at Kilderkin Distillery

Our chocolatey spin on a hot buttered rum – rich, silky and choc full of sweet spices, rounded…

Caramilk Unicorn Hot Chocolate at Beechworth Bakery Ballarat image

27 Jun–19 Jul

7:30am - 5:30pm

Caramilk Unicorn Hot Chocolate at Beechworth Bakery Ballarat

Our Caramilk Unicorn Hot Chocolate is a creative and colourful twist on a classic winter favourite, designed to…

Dutch Noir Chocogato at The Shared Table image

Session times vary

Dutch Noir Chocogato at The Shared Table

Decadent Dutch hot chocolate ‘affogato’ served over house made vanilla ice cream, with a chocolate tuille. Guests 18+…

El Origen: Colombian Dark Chocolate Ritual at East QTR Coffee Bar image

27 Jun, 29 Jun + more

Session times vary

El Origen: Colombian Dark Chocolate Ritual at East QTR Coffee Bar

A traditional Colombian-style dark hot chocolate crafted with water, organic panela, and rich Colombian cacao. This dairy-free recipe…

Espresso Martini Hot Chocolate at Market Hotel image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Espresso Martini Hot Chocolate at Market Hotel

Rich Koffee Pirates Coffer Chocolate made with Inglenook dairy milk, spiked with Vansetta Coffee Liqueur and topped with…

Gold Rush Hot Chocolate at Café at Provincial image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Gold Rush Hot Chocolate at Café at Provincial

Crafted with love by our talented baristas, our Gold Rush Gold Hot Chocolate is indulgent and sweet, perfect…

Honeycomb Hot Chocolate at La Miette Patisserie image

27 Jun, 2 Jul + more

Session times vary

Honeycomb Hot Chocolate at La Miette Patisserie

Our delicious Grounded Pleasures hot chocolate infused with our house-made honeycomb and served with our house-made fluffy honey…

Hot Chocolate Bombs at Mondegreen Café image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

8:00am - 3:00pm

Hot Chocolate Bombs at Mondegreen Café

Our award-winning Hot Chocolate Bombs are back for the Hot Chocolate Showdown — with brand new flavours, hidden…

Italian Hot Chocolate Affogato at Turret Café image

27 Jun–19 Jul

7:00am - 3:00pm

Italian Hot Chocolate Affogato at Turret Café

A rich Italian Hot Chocolate poured over Il Piccolo vanilla ice cream with Turret Bakehouse mini chocolate croissant.…

Le Chocolat  at Hideaway Coffee Bar image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Le Chocolat  at Hideaway Coffee Bar

A rich traditional Hot Chocolate designed to transport you to a Parisian alfresco, this Hot Chocolate is crafted…

Matcha Hot Chocolate at The Red Lion Hotel image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Matcha Hot Chocolate at The Red Lion Hotel

Rich velvety cocoa, whipped mascarpone, earthy matcha & So Soft Marshmallow co. marshmallow. Perfect for a cozy moment…

Melt Me Hot Chocolate at Table 48 image

27 Jun, 30 Jun + more

Session times vary

Melt Me Hot Chocolate at Table 48

Mug of hot milk with a side spoon of set chocolate decorated with chocolate snow flake and marshmallow,…

Milo Melt at Cornerstone Café image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

Session times vary

Milo Melt at Cornerstone Café

Steamed milk poured over chocolate coated Milo melts served with crunchy choc milo cookies. Takeaway and dine-in available.

Mont Choc at The Green House Ballarat image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

9:00am - 3:30pm

Mont Choc at The Green House Ballarat

A warming delight infused with a hint of orange and topped with a light cream. A chocolate play…

Orange Spiced Hot Chocolate at Maggie & Kate image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Orange Spiced Hot Chocolate at Maggie & Kate

A rich spiced orange hot chocolate served with whipped cream and two warm, buttery orange madeleines on the…

Peppermint Hot Chocolate at Craigs Royal Hotel image

27 Jun–19 Jul

11:00am - 10:00pm

Peppermint Hot Chocolate at Craigs Royal Hotel

Our boozy Peppermint Dream Hot Chocolate is rich, indulgent, and made to warm you from the inside out,…

Pistachio Hot Chocolate at Sandwich Press Co image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Pistachio Hot Chocolate at Sandwich Press Co

A rich and creamy pistachio hot chocolate finished with a dusting of lighty shaved pistachios and chocolate flakes.…

Saigon Cocoa at Saigon Alee image

27 Jun, 29 Jun + more

Session times vary

Saigon Cocoa at Saigon Alee

Available hot or cold, this chocolate drink is topped with a layer of milk foam and dressed with…

Salted Caramel Nest at The Salty Sparrow image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Salted Caramel Nest at The Salty Sparrow

Our signature milk hot chocolate, luxuriously blended with velvety salted caramel, is poured rich and steaming before being…

Siam Tsokolate at Cattleya Signature image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

Session times vary

Siam Tsokolate at Cattleya Signature

A Thai inspired spiced hot chocolate with dark rum. A rich and velvety dark chocolate infused with classic…

Sultan’s Delight at Near East Kitchen image

27 Jun, 29 Jun + more

Session times vary

Sultan’s Delight at Near East Kitchen

Inspired by the rich flavours of the Near East, Sultan’s Delight is a luxurious dark hot chocolate crafted…

Sweet heart velvet hot chocolate at Coffee by Design image

27 Jun, 29 Jun + more

7:00am - 3:00pm

Sweet heart velvet hot chocolate at Coffee by Design

Red velvet flavoured hot chocolate topped with cream cheese whipped cream, red velvet cake crumbs & edible glitter.…

The Ballarat Chocolat Chaud at Eclectic Tastes image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

The Ballarat Chocolat Chaud at Eclectic Tastes

A rich Belgian chocolat chaud served in a teapot with Chantilly cream on the side to spoon in…

The Brulée Break at North Star Hotel image

27 Jun–19 Jul

10:00am - 10:00pm

The Brulée Break at North Star Hotel

A rich, silky hot chocolate infused with caramel and toasted marshmallow syrups, crowned with a delicate caramelized sugar…

The Caramel Indulgence Bomb at Ballarat Chocolate Experience Store image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

The Caramel Indulgence Bomb at Ballarat Chocolate Experience Store

Not for the faint-hearted…A melting caramel chocolate bomb, paired with creamy salted caramel gelato and a velvety milk…

The Chocolate Harmony at Roy Hammond & Grainery Lane image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

The Chocolate Harmony at Roy Hammond & Grainery Lane

Spices, coconut, raspberry, chocolate, rhubarb, black tea, orange & Biscoff – a wonderous combination that’ll take your taste…

The Golden Butter Brew at The George Hotel Ballarat image

27 Jun–19 Jul

8:00am - 12:00am

The Golden Butter Brew at The George Hotel Ballarat

Step into a world of magic with our Golden Butter Brew these winter school holidays. From Saturday 27th…

The Goldfields at Websters Market and Café image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

The Goldfields at Websters Market and Café

The Goldfields is Webster’s take on a winter hot chocolate, inspired by Ballarat’s gold rush history. A rich…

Toasty Praline at Hop Temple & Aunty Jacks image

27 Jun, 28 Jun + more

Session times vary

Toasty Praline at Hop Temple & Aunty Jacks

A vanilla and hazelnut boozy take on a hot chocolate! Topped with whipped cream and a dusting of…

Vanilla Bean Banjo Hot Chocolate at Ballarat Wildlife Park image

27 Jun–19 Jul

9:30am - 3:30pm

Vanilla Bean Banjo Hot Chocolate at Ballarat Wildlife Park

Using Grounded Pleasures quality made, silky vanilla bean drinking chocolate with added sweetness from a toasted marsmallow syrup,…

Velvet Ember Salted Caramel Chocolate at Lola Ballarat image

27 Jun–19 Jul

Session times vary

Velvet Ember Salted Caramel Chocolate at Lola Ballarat

The Velvet Ember Salted Caramel Chocolate presents a glossy, dark chocolate base that radiates richness. Golden streams of…

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