Adding a little chocolate to a cocktail makes for a delicious, dessert-like drink. However, not all chocolate cocktails are sweet and frothy confections, although some most definitely are. With the right chocolate cocktail recipe, you'll find there's something for everyone.
Chocolate Old-Fashioned
An old-fashioned is a classic cocktail. This chocolate twist is lightly sweet and complex with the addition of chocolate bitters. The recipe makes one cocktail.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, muddle sugar, chocolate bitters, and orange peel until sugar is crushed and orange twist releases oils.
- Add bourbon and splash of water.
- Stir to mix.
- Add ice or king cube.
- Garnish with cherry.
Chocolate Mint Julep
The trick to a tasty mint julep is plenty of finely crushed ice. To make it, you can place ice in a zipper bag and whack it with a mallet until it is finely crushed. This chocolate twist on the Kentucky Derby classic makes one drink. It gets its chocolate flavor from chocolate mint. If you'd like a version with even more chocolate, add a half-ounce of white creme de cacao when adding club soda and ice.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
- 10 fresh chocolate mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
- ⅛ ounce club soda, plus soda to top off
- 2 ounces bourbon
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- In a julep cup, muddle sugar, mint, and splash of club soda.
- Gently stir in bourbon.
- Add crushed ice
- Top off with remaining club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with a sprig of chocolate mint.
Chocolate Malt
If you ever had a chocolate malt with a burger, then you'll love the nostalgia of this tasty cocktail. It uses delicious rum cream liqueur, such as RumChata. The recipe makes two drinks, should you feel like sharing.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces rum cream liqueur
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- ¼ cup chocolate syrup
- ¼ cup milk or cream
Instructions
- In a blender, combine all ingredients
- Blend until desired consistency, adding additional milk to thin if desired.
Mexican Hot Chocolate
This isn't your grandmother's hot chocolate - unless grandma enjoyed hers spiked with some cayenne, a bit of cinnamon, and a nice shot of tequila. This warming drink will leave you wanting more. The recipe makes two drinks, perfect for grandma to try.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 12 ounces milk
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash cayenne, to taste
- 2 ounces tequila
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat chocolate, milk, sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, and vanilla on medium-low heat, whisking constantly.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In each mug, add the equila.
- Pour in chocolate mixture.
- Stir to combine.
- Serve topped with whipped cream and additional cinnamon sprinkles if desired.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry
While no strawberries are actually covered with chocolate in the making of this drink, the flavor brings to mind this delectable combo. Of course, you can feel free to garnish with a chocolate-dipped strawberry if you're feeling super fancy.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce white creme de cacao
- 1½ ounces strawberry liqueur
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- Strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add creme de cacao, strawberry liqueur, and cream
- Stir well to mix.
- Garnish with a strawberry.
Chocolate Mudslide
If you're looking for straight-up dessert in a glass, then the mudslide may just be your drink of choice. Made with Kahlúa (or another coffee-flavored liqueur), vodka, cream, Irish cream, and chocolate syrup, this is a twist on the chocolate-free classic. The recipe makes two drinks.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce Irish cream
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- 1 ounce crème de cacao
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder, optional
Instructions
- Chill cocktail or wine glasses.
- In two large wine or cocktail glasses, drizzle one tablespoon of chocolate syrup and swirl the glass to distribute it around the inside edge of the glass.
- In a blender, combine the vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, heavy cream, crème de cacao, and ice.
- Blend until smooth.
- Carefully pour mixture into prepared cocktail glasses.
- Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate cavings or cocoa powder if desired.
Chocolate Cake Cocktail Shot
Make yourself a quick and easy shot with a flavor reminiscent of the favorite cake flavor.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounce hazelnut liqueur
- ¾ ounce vanilla vodka
- Ice for shaker
- Sugar and lemon wedges for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, hazelnut liqueur, and vanilla vodka.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared shot glass.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Chocolate Martini
Sweets-loving sophisticates know there's absolutely no way to go wrong with a chocolate martini. Made with vodka and chocolate, this drink is lightly sweet and oh-so-chocolatey and easy to vary to your tastes. Plus, you get to walk around like James Bond carrying a martini glass. What could be better?
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces creamy chocolate liqueur
- 1¼ ounces crème de cacao
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce cream
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, vodka, and cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
Chocolate Cocktail Bliss
If you love chocolate, then you'll love these spiked chocolate beverages. Regardless of whether you're seeking a drink that's a full-on dessert or something a little lighter, you're sure to find the perfect chocolate cocktail for your tastes.
