16 Spiked Hot Chocolate Recipes to Drink Over the Holidays (2024)

Ingredients

1.25 oz Ancho Reyes Original
4 oz half & half
2 oz chocolate mix*

Instructions
In 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

Ingredients

2 oz Drambuie
9 oz hot milk
3 oz hot cocoa mix
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp kosher salt

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

More: Hot co*cktails to Help You Face the Cold

(Serves 2)

Ingredients

1 cup skim milk
1 packet hot cocoa mix
2 marshmallows
3 oz. vodka
2 oz. chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva)
1 cup ice

Instructions
Heat broiler. In a small saucepan over low heat, heat milk. Stir in hot cocoa until no lumps remain, then pour mixture into a co*cktail 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

Ingredients

1.5 oz Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
1.5 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
3 oz hot chocolate
Dash of orange bitters

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

Ingredients

.25 oz Peppermint Schnapps
.5 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 cup hot chocolate
Whipped cream, for serving
Crushed peppermint candy, for serving

Instructions
Add 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

Ingredients

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

Instructions
Combine 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

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

.25 cup melted chocolate
.5 cup crushed graham crackers, plus more for garnish
1 pint vanilla ice cream
4 cups chocolate milk
8 large marshmallows
Chocolate syrup, for drizzling

Instructions
Preheat 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

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.

(Serves 2)

Ingredients

12 oz. chocolate stout beer
2 cups whole milk
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
4 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
1 tbsp. sugar
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Instructions
In 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

Ingredients

1 cup milk
2 oz milk chocolate
1 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 tbsp light brown sugar
.75 tsp cinnamon
.25 tsp ground ginger
.25 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of salt
1.5 oz spiced rum
Marshmallows for garnish

Instructions
Add 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 co*cktail Life

Ingredients

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

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

Recipe from Delish

Ingredients

2 parts The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
5 parts hot coffee
2 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)

Ingredients

1 oz mint vodka
1 cup white hot chocolate
3 Oreo mint cookies, plus more for garnish
3 marshmallows

Instructions
Add 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

Ingredients

2 oz Partida Añejo
6 oz hot chocolate
Ground cinnamon, to taste
2 tsp chili powder
.5 tsp salt

Instructions
Use 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.

Ingredients

1.75 oz Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
.25 oz Peppermint Schnapps
4.5 oz hot chocolate

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

Ingredients

2 oz of chocolate
6 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.