A method for forming cooling channels in an interface for soldering to a semiconductor structure. The method includes: forming a metal seed layer on a surface of a substrate; patterning the metal seed layer into a patterned, plating seed layer covering portions of the substrate and exposing other portions of the substrate; using the patterned plating seed layer to form channels through the exposed portions of the substrate; and plating the patterned plating seed layer with solder. A heat exchanger having cooling channels therein is affixed to one surface of the interface and the semiconductor structure is soldered to an opposite surface of the interface. The cooling channels of the heat exchanger are aligned with the channels in the interface.