in Drinks
byPaul Kushnerupdated 0 Comments
Discovering hot chocolate co*cktails changed the game for me. They blend the comforting warmth of traditional hot chocolate with a spirited kick, offering a cozy, adult twist to a childhood favorite. These recipes play with flavors, from peppermint and bourbon to spiced rum and hazelnut liqueur, making each sip a celebration of taste. They’re not just drinks; they’re warm hugs in a mug, with the added joy of a little buzz. Every recipe I’ve tried has been a hit, perfect for gatherings or quiet nights in. Trust me, exploring this roundup of hot chocolate co*cktails is a must.
This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy
Photo Credit:thespruceeats.com
Adult Hot Chocolate
This adult hot chocolate recipe is a great place to start if you are new to making hot chocolate co*cktails. For alcohol, the recipe calls for a small amount of peppermint schnapps. The peppermint works perfectly with the hot chocolate, adding a candy cane flavor with just enough of a kick while not being too strong.
Photo Credit:gastronomblog.com
Spiked Hot Chocolate
While you can add any liquor to hot chocolate and call it a hot chocolate co*cktail, you can make a truly good drink by putting extra effort into preparing the hot chocolate part of the recipe. Instead of using a powdered mix, use this spiked hot chocolate recipe to make hot chocolate using milk and a chocolate bar, then add the alcohol of your choice.
Photo Credit:liquor.com
Boozy Hot Chocolate co*cktail
For another variation on the classic hot chocolate and liquor combination, check out this easy recipe for a boozy hot chocolate. You won’t need any extra sugar or salt for this co*cktail since the recipe calls for semisweet chocolate, an already balanced flavor.Add mini marshmallows and top it off with Irish cream if you want an extra treat.
Photo Credit:donjulio.com
Mexican Hot Chocolate
A Mexican hot chocolate co*cktail is a great mix of sweet and spicy, and an excellent option for a festive party. The recipe uses oat milk as a base—making it a great choice for dairy-free folks—and seasons the chocolate with cinnamon and chili powder. Naturally, the recommended liquor is a generous serving of tequila.
Photo Credit:food.com
Hot Chocolate Martini
Hot chocolate martinis are a swanky twist on the hot chocolate concept. Instead of a regular hot chocolate recipe, the martini version uses vanilla vodka, cold hot cocoa, and dark creme de cacao to create a refreshing and decadent co*cktail. This recipe also suggests garnishing the martini with roasted marshmallows for a classy finish.
Photo Credit:foodnetwork.com
Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini
If you like slushies or milkshakes, you’ll love this frozen hot chocolate martini recipe. Making this drink is a simple process, requiring you only to mix vanilla vodka, hot chocolate mix, and ice in a blender. You can easily make this drink in a big batch for your next holiday party.
Photo Credit:bellyfull.net
Dirty Snowman Drink
A Dirty Snowman is a magical winter co*cktail for anyone hoping to connect with their inner child. This hot chocolate co*cktail has yummy ingredients, such as chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles. The drink also features the popular sweet liquor Kahlua, making a Dirty Snowman almost more of a sundae than a co*cktail.
Photo Credit:acouplecooks.com
Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate
This peppermint schnapps hot chocolate pays attention to the details when it comes to flavor. Rather than only using a cocoa mix, this recipe also calls for chocolate chips, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sugar, resulting in a complex chocolate concoction. For the peppermint schnapps, the recipe recommends using either 30 or 60-proof schnapps, depending on your preference.
Photo Credit:delightfulemade.com
Amaretto Hot Chocolate
While many hot chocolate co*cktail recipes rely on vanilla vodka or Irish cream, this co*cktail recipe uses amaretto. Amaretto is an almond-based Italian liqueur, and when you mix it with hot chocolate you get a nutty, chocolatey treat. If you’re serving this co*cktail to guests, top it with whipped cream and almond slices.
Photo Credit:diycandy.com
Spiked Hot Chocolate Whiskey with Marshmallows
This recipe for spiked hot chocolate whiskey with marshmallows has a fun twist: apple pie spice. You wouldn’t think to put apple pie spice in hot chocolate, but the warm spice blend goes amazingly with the chocolate and Irish whiskey. For this drink, you’ll also want to buy large marshmallows so you can get that gooey, melted effect.
Photo Credit:tipsybartender.com
White Christmas Hot Chocolate
If you’re a fan of white mocha coffee drinks, you’ll want to try this white Christmas hot chocolate. This sugary drink features white chocolate, vanilla vodka, and white chocolate liqueur. In addition to being yummy, a white Christmas hot chocolate is also quite photogenic, with the red and green sprinkles contrasting against the white whipped cream.
Photo Credit:titosvodka.com
Tito's Hot Chocolate Recipe
Tito’s has a low-maintenance spiked hot chocolate recipe that will work well for any casual winter evening. The recommended ratio helps if you don’t have experience mixing vodka with hot drinks.If you want your hot chocolate co*cktails to have more flair, add whipped cream and a sprig of mint.
Photo Credit:totalwine.com
Frozen Boozy Hot Chocolate
Don’t miss out on the hot chocolate fun just because you live somewhere warm. This frozen boozy hot chocolate has all the sweetness and alcohol you need, blended with ice. The best part of this recipe is the Santa-approved suggested garnish: whipped cream and a cookie.
Photo Credit:princesspinkygirl.com
Drunken Rudolph
A Drunken Rudolph is the ideal co*cktail for impressing your guests at your next holiday party. The basic ingredients of the drink include Irish cream, cinnamon whiskey, ice cream, and hot chocolate. For the Rudolph theme, you add a maraschino cherry for the red nows and two rosemary sprigs for the antlers.
Photo Credit:sugarandsoul.co
Campfire S’mores Hot Chocolate co*cktail
A campfire s’mores hot chocolate co*cktail is a whiskey-based drink that leans heavily on the marshmallow aspect of the hot chocolate experience. You’ll love this delicious co*cktail if you enjoy sugary, creamy desserts.Although this beverage has a lot of added ingredients, all of them support the natural qualities of whiskey, such as honey and chocolate.
Photo Credit:aspiringwinos.com
Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Unicorn hot chocolate is a truly original co*cktail that will surprise and delight your loved ones. The clever trick for this beverage is to take white hot chocolate and add food coloring to create fantastical colors, akin to a magical unicorn. For alcohol, the recipe calls for two liqueurs: creme de cacao, for the chocolate flavor, and creme de Casis, which provides an interesting blackcurrant taste.
16 Hot Chocolate co*cktail Recipes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
5 from 2 votes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hot chocolate co*cktails
Servings: 1
Author: Paul Kushner
Sip on the perfect blend of warmth and indulgence with our hot chocolate co*cktails.
Ingredients
- Adult Hot Chocolate
- Spiked Hot Chocolate
- Boozy Hot Chocolate co*cktail
- Mexican Hot Chocolate co*cktail
- Hot Chocolate Martini
- Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini
- Dirty Snowman
- Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate
- Amaretto Hot Chocolate
- Spiked Hot Chocolate Whiskey with Marshmallows
- White Christmas Hot Chocolate
- Tito’s Hot Chocolate
- Frozen Boozy Hot Chocolate
- Drunken Rudolph
- Campfire S’mores Hot Chocolate co*cktail
- Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Instructions
Pick your favorite recipe]
Gather all the needed ingredients
Prep a hot chocolate co*cktail in less than 5 minutes
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and let us know how it was!
Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.
Leave a Reply
chocolatehot co*cktailswinter
Written by Paul Kushner
Founder and CEO of MyBartender. Graduated from Penn State University. He always had a deep interest in the restaurant and bar industry. His restaurant experience began in 1997 at the age of 14 as a bus boy. By the time he turned 17 he was serving tables, and by 19 he was bartending/bar managing 6-7 nights a week.
In 2012, after a decade and a half of learning all facets of the industry, Paul opened his first restaurant/bar. In 2015, a second location followed, the latter being featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Google Guide and MuckRack.