15 Alcoholic Hot Chocolate Recipes For A Cold Winter Night

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There's not much better when it's chilly out than settling in with a steaming hot cup of cocoa. It's an instant dose of nostalgia that will warm you from the inside out. But if you find yourself hankering for a slightly more grown-up twist on the classic sip, well, you're not alone. Luckily, jazzing up your hot chocolate couldn't be easier. Just add a little warm brandy or some tequila, and you've got the perfect holiday drink—just take the spiked hot chocolate recipes below as inspiration!

Ancho Reyes Original Hot Chocolate

Courtesy

Ingredients

1.25 oz Ancho Reyes Original4 oz half & half2 oz chocolate mix*

InstructionsIn a saucepan, bring half and half to a simmer (almost boiling). Add chocolate mix and heat, bringing the combined liquids to a simmer. In a coffee cup, pour Ancho Reyes, followed by hot chocolate milk mixture. Garnish with a whole cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

*Chocolate mix:Combine Valrhona brand 100% cacao powder with turbinado sugar at a 1:3/4 ratio (1 part cacao powder to ¾ part turbinado sugar). Add hot water lightly while stirring, to reach a thick, rich, liquid consistency. Final ratio should be approximately 1 part cacao powder to ¾ part turbinado sugar, to ¾ part water (by volume) Store refrigerated in a sealed container.

From the Bon Vivants

Cocoa Buie II

Courtesy

Ingredients

2 oz Drambuie9 oz hot milk3 oz hot cocoa mix1/8 tsp ground cinnamon1/8 tsp kosher salt

InstructionsIn a saucepan combine all ingredients and warm over medium heat. Stir slowly until simmering. Serve hot, garnished with miniature marshmallows if desired.

More: Hot Cocktails to Help You Face the Cold

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Naughty Hot Chocolate

Liquid, Martini glass, Ingredient, Drinkware, Serveware, Alexander, Stemware, Kitchen utensil, Delicacy, Distilled beverage,

(Serves 2)

Ingredients

1 cup skim milk1 packet hot cocoa mix2 marshmallows3 oz. vodka2 oz. chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva)1 cup ice

InstructionsHeat broiler. In a small saucepan over low heat, heat milk. Stir in hot cocoa until no lumps remain, then pour mixture into a cocktail shaker.

Place marshmallows on a baking sheet and broil until browned, 1 to 2 minutes (keep an eye on them!).

Add vodka, chocolate liqueur, and ice to shaker and shake until combined. Pour into glasses and top each with a toasted marshmallow.

Recipe from Delish

Sailor Jerry & Hot Chocolate

Courtesy

Ingredients

1.5 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum1.5 oz Butterscotch Schnapps3 oz hot chocolateDash of orange bitters

InstructionsAdd equal parts liquor to hot chocolate, top with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and garnish with a cinnamon stick or candy cane.

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Food, Serveware, Cup, Drinkware, Cuisine, Sweetness, Dessert, Dishware, Ingredient, Dish,

Ingredients

.25 oz Peppermint Schnapps.5 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur1 cup hot chocolateWhipped cream, for servingCrushed peppermint candy, for serving

InstructionsAdd peppermint schnapps, chocolate liqueur, and hot chocolate to a sauce pan. Heat mixture then add to serving glass. Garnish with whip cream and crushed peppermint candy.

Recipe from Delish

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

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Ingredients

.75 cup semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Ghiradelli).75 cup dry red wine.5 cup milk.5 cup half and half2 tbsp sugar (optional)Pinch of salt.5 tsp vanilla extractOrange peel, to zest (optional)

InstructionsCombine the chocolate chips, wine, milk, half-and-half, and sugar (if using), in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is hot.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour into mugs and serve.

Recipe from Wholefully

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Bailey's S'mores Floats

Joe Spit/Delish

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

.25 cup melted chocolate.5 cup crushed graham crackers, plus more for garnish1 pint vanilla ice cream4 cups chocolate milk8 large marshmallowsChocolate syrup, for drizzling

InstructionsPreheat broiler. Place marshmallows on a small baking sheet and broil until golden on top, about 4 minutes.

In a small dish, pour melted chocolate. In another small dish, pour crushed graham crackers. Dip glasses into chocolate sauce to rim the mugs, then dip in crushed graham crackers.

Scoop ice cream into each glass, then pour chocolate milk on top and add a splash of Baileys. Top each float with two marshmallows, then drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with more crushed graham crackers.

Recipe from Delish

Mantuano Diplo Mocha

Diplomatico

Ingredients

1 oz Diplomático Mantuano 1 oz fresh espresso Steamed hot chocolate milk

Instructions

Combine Diplomático Mantuano and espresso in a glass coffee mug. Top with steamed hot chocolate milk and garnish with dark chocolate gratings.

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Stout Hot Chocolate With Ice Cream

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(Serves 2)

Ingredients

12 oz. chocolate stout beer2 cups whole milk3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder4 oz. dark chocolate, chopped1 tbsp. sugar2 scoops vanilla ice cream

InstructionsIn a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the chocolate stout to a simmer. Cook the stout for about 10-15 minutes, or until it's reduced to about 3/4 of a cup. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a separate sauce pan, warm the milk over medium heat, being careful not to bring it to a boil. Add the cocoa powder, chocolate and sugar, whisking until everything is well combined and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the reduced beer. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Divide the ice cream between two mugs. Pour the stout hot chocolate over the ice cream. Serve immediately.

Recipe from Floating Kitchen

Spiked & Spicy Hot Chocolate

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Ingredients

1 cup milk2 oz milk chocolate1 oz semi-sweet chocolate1 tbsp light brown sugar.75 tsp cinnamon.25 tsp ground ginger.25 tsp nutmegPinch of cayenne pepperPinch of salt1.5 oz spiced rumMarshmallows for garnish

InstructionsAdd the milk, sugar and chocolate to a small pot and cook on a low heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate and sugar have dissolved. Whisk in the spices. Remove from the heat, stir in the rum and pour into a mug or glass. Stir in the marshmallows and they will begin to melt and enrich the cocoa. Serve hot and repeat!

Recipe from A Cocktail Life

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Toasted Coconut Hot Chocolate

Natalie Migliarini/Delish

Ingredients

1 oz rum.25 cup toasted coconut, plus more for serving1 cup prepared white hot chocolateWhipped cream, for serving

InstructionsCombine rum, half of toasted coconut, and white hot chocolate mixture. Serve garnished with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Recipe from Delish

Kilted Coffee

The Glenlivet

Ingredients

2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old5 parts hot coffee2 parts hot cacao powder mix

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and stir.

If desired, top with cream cheese foam: Cream together cream cheese and sweetener with a hand or stand mixer until smooth. Add chilled heavy cream and half & half to the whipped cream cheese mixture until a smooth foam forms (less than 5 mins)

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Oreo Mint White Hot Chocolate

Natalie Migliarini/Delish

Ingredients

1 oz mint vodka1 cup white hot chocolate3 Oreo mint cookies, plus more for garnish3 marshmallows

InstructionsAdd mint vodka, white hot chocolate, and Oreo mint cookies to a blender. Blend mixture then reheat. Add heated hot chocolate to serving glass. Garnish with Oreo and marshmallows.

Recipe from Delish

Mexican Hot Chocolate

authentic mexican style spicy cayenne chili pepper hot chocolate with cinnamon and whipped cream

Liliboas

Ingredients

2 oz Partida Añejo6 oz hot chocolateGround cinnamon, to taste2 tsp chili powder.5 tsp salt

InstructionsUse your desired method to brew hot chocolate with cinnamon, chili powder, and salt. Add spiced hot chocolate to heated glass, top with tequila and stir.

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The Skrew-dolph

Courtesy of Skewball

Ingredients

1.75 oz Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey.25 oz Peppermint Schnapps4.5 oz hot chocolate

InstructionsBuild all ingredients together in a mug and stir. Garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Mezcal Hot Chocolate

Ojo de Tigre

Ingredients

2 oz of chocolate6 oz of milk 1.5 parts of Ojo de Tigre Mezcal

Instructions

Heat up milk in a medium pot. Add in chocolate and still until completely dissolved in milk. Pour mixture into a cup, add mezcal, and stir to mix. Garnish with some cinnamon and marshmallows.

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