Cocktails to Warm Your Heart This Winter
There are simple to make hot chocolate cocktails along with a couple of more time consuming (yet still mouthwatering) hot chocolate cocktail recipes.
Whether you enjoy your hot chocolate with a hint of mint, enhanced with chocolate or a little nutty I have a hot chocolate cocktail recipe which you will simply adore.
These adult hot chocolates are like being given a big hug on a cold night, in fact they're so good I've been known to drink them during the summer too!
Celebrate Christmas with a Hot Chocolate Cocktail
Delicious - It's Like a Chocolate Hug!
While you're busy wrapping gifts......what could be better than sipping on a delicious hot chocolate cocktail at the same time? Personally I think it's a great way of spending Christmas Eve after the children are in bed while you're waiting for them to drop off to sleep so that 'Santa' can make his little visit.
Hot Chocolate Cocktail Menu
Your Ticket to a Very Happy Place!
On this page you'll find the following -
- Hot Chocolate with Peppermint
- Hot Chocolate with Coffee
- Hot Chocolate with Nuts
- Irish Hot Chocolate
- Hot Chocolate with Fruit
- Hot Chocolate with Rum
Hot Chocolate with Peppermint
Minty Heaven in a Mug!
The Snuggler
Make a mug of hot chocolate as per the instructions on the packet (I recommend Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate) and then add 1½ oz peppermint schnapps, stir and add whipped cream if desired.
Now if you want to get fancy there is another variation on Peppermint Schnapps flavored Hot Chocolate. This variation is delicious and a great 'holiday' cocktail or one to make when you're trying to impress.
Hot Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps
1 quart milk
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped or use chocolate chips
9 ounces peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream, for serving
6 peppermint sticks, for serving
Heat one cup of the milk over a low heat and while the milk is heating add the chocolate while stirring. Once the chocolate is fully melted add the remaining milk and increase the heat to medium. Do not let the milk boil. Whisk the hot chocolate as it warms up and serve in a mug or an irish coffee glass. Add 1½ oz peppermint schapps to the mug/glass and top with a dollop of cream and a peppermint stick - delicious!
Another way to get the flavor of mint into your hot chocolate is to use creme de menthe which is where the Midnight Snowstorm comes into play.
Midnight Snowstorm
2 oz white creme de menthe
Hot Chocolate
1/2 oz green creme de menthe
whipped cream
This is another cocktail where you use a store brought hot chocolate of your own choice. Make up the hot chocolate as per the packet instructions and pour into a glass with 2 oz of the white creme de menthe and stir. Next add the whipped cream and pour the green creme de menthe over the top for a festive look that makes this particular hot chocolate cocktail ideal for Christmas time :)
This next cocktail takes the peppermint chocolate trip on an even more intense turn combining not just schnapps, but creme de menthe for a mint explosion. Let's hear it for the Hot Peppermint Patty, which is essentially a warm version of the classic Peppermint Patty cocktail.
Hot Peppermint Patty
1 oz peppermint schnapps
½ oz dark creme de cacao
1 tsp creme de menthe
hot chocolate
whipped cream
shaved chocolate for garnish
Pour the peppermint schapps, creme de cacao and creme de menthe into the bottom of an Irish Coffee Glass and top up with your favorite hot chocolate. Add whipped cream on top and a little shaved chocolate (or cheat and crumble some Cadbury Flake bar over the top).
Hot Chocolate with Coffee
Hot chocolate and coffee is such a popular combination that it even has it's own name - Mocha! It's hardly surprising that there should be some Mocha cocktails then is it?
Hot Mocha Cocktail
4 ½ cups whole milk
4 oz coffee liqueur (I use Kahlua)
3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
3 cups espresso
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream
First place the milk and cinnamon sticks into a saucepan on a high heat and bring to a simmer, once that's done remove from heat, cover and leave for 15 minutes to allow the cinnamon flavor to really infuse the milk.
Whisk in the espresso (this should be cold), sugar and one cup of the cocoa, put the saucepan back on the heat and bring it up to a simmer whisking regularly.
Once the hot chocolate is simmering again you can take it off of the heat and remove the cinnamon sticks (it should be smelling delicious) and add the coffee liqueur.
Meanwhile place the powdered sugar and remaining cocoa powder in a bowl with the cream and whisk until it's thick.
Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs and spoon the cream mixture on top.....a little time consuming, but well worth it :)
A much easier version is called the Kahlua Java, I can't remember where I came across this recipe but it is named after one of my favorite liqueurs (even my dog is named Kahlua!) so I knew it would have to taste good.
Kahlua Java
Hot Chocolate
Coffee
1½ oz Kahlua
Mix hot chocolate and coffee in equal amounts into your mug (although to be honest I have often done 1/3 coffee to 2/3 chocolate which is also very nice) then add the Kahlua and stir. Whipped cream and marshmallows is also an optional garnish if you're trying to impress.
Hot Chocolate with Nuts
This hot chocolate will warm the cockles of your heart in no time, I call it hot chocolate with benefits and you'll see why once you taste it :)
Hot Nutella Cocktail
3 cups milk
½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup half-n-half
½ cup rum
½ cup sugar
½ cup hazelnut liqueur (I recommend Frangelico)
Melt the chocolate whichever way you're most comfortable with - I use my Chocolate Factory, but you can use the microwave or a double boiler.
Next in a saucepan heat the milk, half and half and sugar until it comes to a simmer - keep stirring until the sugar is totally dissolved. Add one cup of the milk mixture to the melted chocolate stirring well and then pour the chocolate into the remaining milk and stir until smooth.
Add the rum and hazelnut liqueur and then gently reheat before serving in some lovely mugs.
Irish Hot Chocolate
This is another really easy to prepare hot chocolate drink that is sure to be popular in your house once you've tried it.
Bailey's Hot Chocolate
1 oz Baileys
hot chocolate
whipped cream
Pour the Baileys into a mug or Irish Coffee glass and top up with your favorite hot chocolate, stir and add whipped cream to the top. I have also tried this with the Baileys Caramel which is even more divine.
Hot Chocolate with Fruit
Chocolate and fruit go together really well especially berries and oranges.
When I was given some Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) all kinds of delicious cocktails were created, but this hot chocolate cocktail was actually given to me by a friend. My friend’s recipe called for white creme de cacao, but I only had brown and it tasted delicious so I’m assuming it doesn’t matter which one you want to use.
Raspberry Hot Chocolate
8 oz Hot Chocolate
1 oz White Creme de Cacao
1 oz Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
Pour the Chambord and Creme de Cacao into a coffee mug and top up with hot chocolate - very berrilicious!
There’s something about orange and chocolate as well and when you’re using orange peel you get that bitter orange flavor that goes really well with hot chocolate – add cognac to the mix and you can feel the warmth spreading right down to your toes!
Bitter Orange Hot Chocolate
1 ½ oz. cognac
1 cup hot chocolate
1 Orange peel
1 tbsp. Whipped cream
Make up the hot chocolate according to the packet and then add the orange peal, next add warm cognac and stir well. Add whipped cream to the top of the hot chocolate and sit back and enjoy :)
Hot Chocolate Rum
Rum and chocolate – what more can you say? Black rum has an intense sweetness about it that really compliments the hot chocolate, although the cream is really needed this time to help cut into the sweetness for a delicious mug of cheer.
Black Hot Chocolate
8 oz. hot chocolate
1 1/2 oz. Black Rum
Whipped cream
Another extremely easy hot chocolate cocktail, simply prepare the hot chocolate according to the packet and then stir in the rum. Whipped cream on the top and you have a delicious hot chocolate cocktail.
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