Spiked Hot Chocolate

Warm up your winter nights with a decadent Spiked Hot Chocolate! This rich and creamy treat combines velvety hot cocoa with a splash of your favorite spirits. It’s the ultimate cozy indulgence for holiday gatherings, days outdoors or quiet nights by the fire. Boozy hot cocoa is a drink that always feels like a hug in a mug.

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About this Spiked Hot Chocolate recipe

Hot cocoa is a mainstay this time of year. It’s an absolute must-have for cozy nights, chilly tailgates and fireside chilling.

But what makes hot chocolate even warmer? A little bit of boozy fun! Adding a little tipple of your favorite spirit will make it warm your spirit as well as the hands holding the mug.

Whether you like to add straight spirits like whiskey or rum or liqueurs like Baileys and Kahlua, the method for spiking hot chocolate is much the same. We’ll get into the best alcohol to add to hot cocoa — you can even try them all at a hot chocolate party.

You can do this with any hot chocolate recipe, whether it’s a big batch of Instant Pot hot chocolate to share or a mugful of hot cocoa mix or a single hot chocolate bomb kept all to yourself.

More warm drink recipes: Mulled Cider • Russian Tea • Spiked Apple Cider • Wassail • Hot Toddy

Why you’ll love this recipe

You’ll love this recipe, for a few reasons:

• Hot chocolate is already oh-so-cozy, and adding a shot of booze makes it warm your spirit too.
• A little alcohol is the perfect way to level up a simple mug of hot cocoa. Adults only, of course.
• Great for holiday parties or home sipping, hot chocolate is always a crowd-pleaser. Set up a hot chocolate bar at your next party with a few options for guests to enjoy.

Tools & glassware

To make boozy hot chocolate, the tools you need depend a bit on your method of making hot chocolate.

• Hot chocolate is typically made by warming milk and chocolate on the stove. You can also make it, or keep it warm, in a slow cooker.
• Hot cocoa is made with hot water or warm milk, stirred together with a powdered mix that contains cocoa powder.

However you like your hot cocoa is up to you, but I know that when I want a mugful, I want it right now! the powdered mix is the fastest way to get it into my belly! The recipe I make below is kind of a combination of the two — a bigger batch on the stovetop with hot cocoa mix, but you can also do it by the glass if that is your preference.

You’ll also need a jigger or some way of measuring the alcohol you add to your mug. Oh, and you’ll definitely want a heat-proof mug or thermos!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the grocery store to make this recipe:

• whole milk and/or water: If you’re using hot cocoa mix, you can mix it with hot milk, hot water or both. I like both so it’s not too thick!
• hot cocoa mix: If you have another way you like to make hot chocolate go for it! I just like a mix when I’m in the mood for cocoa right now.
• alcohol: We’ll get into this in a second, but you’ll want some kind of booze that goes with chocolate, like whiskey, rum or a liqueur.
• toppings: Add some whipped cream or mini marshmallows, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder! A homemade bourbon marshmallow would be lovely too!

Best alcohol for Spiked Hot Chocolate

When you are spiking hot chocolate, you want something that goes with chocolate. Think about chocolate bar flavors like nuts, spices, coffee and peppermint. Creamy liqueurs are nice too.

• straight spirits: rum, whiskey, Irish whiskey, brandy, vodka
• coffee: Irish cream liqueur, coffee liqueur
• chocolate-y: crème de cacao, chocolate liqueur or white chocolate liqueur
• nutty: peanut butter whiskey, amaretto (almond liqueur), Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
• spiced: Rumchata, spiced rum, cinnamon whiskey or cinnamon schnapps
• minty: crème de menthe, peppermint schnapps or peppermint vodka
• vanilla: vanilla vodka
• caramel: caramel vodka (with caramel sauce)
• fruity: coconut rum, orange vodka or strawberry cream liqueur

Substitutions & variations

Dairy-free hot chocolate: You can spike any hot chocolate recipe! But if dairy and/or animal products are a concern, steer clear of the creamy liqueurs or use Baileys Almande which is plant-based.

Boozy peppermint hot chocolate: Use a mint-flavored spirit to make the ultimate spiked holiday drink. Add a splash of espresso and you’ve almost got a boozy peppermint mocha!

Baileys hot chocolate: Creamy Irish cream makes for a delicious twist with hints of vanilla, chocolate, whiskey and coffee.

Peanut butter hot chocolate: Use peanut butter whiskey or even stir in some real peanut butter and bourbon!

Coconut hot chocolate: This one calls for coconut milk and spiced rum for all the White Christmas and Mele Kalikimaka vibes!

Spiked white hot chocolate: Stir in something light in color to keep this white chocolate drink white! White chocolate liqueur, Baileys or vanilla vodka would be lovely.

Instructions

Here’s how to make this easy spiked hot cocoa recipe:

First, get out a saucepan. Heat up the milk and water, whisking occasionally.

Once warmed through, whisk in hot cocoa mix until combined. Remove from heat.

Stir in alcohol to the hot mixture, or add 2 ounces of alcohol to each glass individually. Ladle hot chocolate into glasses.

Garnish with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. Marshmallows work too!

Tips & tricks

• Use all milk, not milk and water, for a richer, thicker texture of cocoa.
• Play around with different liqueurs until you find a fave! You can even do combinations.
• Stir in other ingredients like espresso or chocolate syrup for more flavor.

Food pairings

Hot chocolate cookies are the ultimate hot chocolate pairing! Something with marshmallows like avalanche cookies would also be fitting.

Salty foods go well with chocolate too. Try snacking on some chex mix or popcorn along with your cocoa.

FAQ

More hot chocolate recipes

• Boozy Hot Chocolate Bomb Gift Sets
• Rose White Hot Chocolate
• Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa Bombs
• Peppermint Hot Cocoa Bombs