Paul Kushner
Discovering hot chocolate cocktails 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 cocktails is a must.
This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy
1
Rum Hot Chocolate
Warm up with a rich and creamy Rum Hot Chocolate, a cozy drink perfect for winter nights. Made with dark rum and raw cacao, this decadent treat is finished with frothy milk and chocolate sprinkles, adding a luxurious touch to each sip. It’s a festive, grown-up twist on a classic favorite.
View Recipe
2
Raspberry Hot Chocolate
Raspberry Hot Chocolate—a delightful delicacy I’ve whipped up just for you. When the weather becomes cold or when someone may use a cup of comfort, I whip up this particular drink. When you combine the creamy richness of hot chocolate with the sweet and sour raspberry flavor, you get Raspberry Hot Chocolate. It tastes much like your favorite warm blanket, except in a glass. When it comes to warming up, this drink is sure to be a hit with everyone who gives it a try. No matter if you’re looking to unwind after a fun day or simply want to brighten someone’s day, Raspberry Hot Chocolate is the perfect choice.
View Recipe
3
Cherry Bourbon Chocolate
Warm up with the decadent Cherry Bourbon Chocolate, a luxurious blend of rich hot chocolate and bold cherry bourbon. This indulgent cocktail is topped with whipped cream and garnished to perfection, making it the ultimate cozy treat for cold evenings or special winter gatherings.
View Recipe
4
Chocolate Hot Buttered Rum
This drink offers a perfect blend of sweetness and warmth. The chocolate adds a silky, luxurious texture, while the rum provides a gentle heat that’s not overpowering. Hints of vanilla and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg give it an aromatic depth. Each sip is like a comforting hug, ideal for relaxing after a long day.
View Recipe
5
Dirty Snowman
The Dirty Snowman is the ultimate winter indulgence, combining the richness of hot chocolate with creamy vanilla ice cream, Baileys Irish Cream, and chocolate liqueur. Topped with whipped cream and mini chocolate chips, this decadent dessert drink is perfect for cozy evenings by the fire or festive celebrations.
View Recipe
6
Drunk Reindeer
The Drunk Reindeer is a boozy twist on a classic hot chocolate that’s perfect for warming up during the holiday season. Creamy, rich, and delightfully indulgent, this drink combines vodka, chocolate liqueur, and hot chocolate, finished with festive garnishes that make it a holiday favorite.
View Recipe
7
thespruceeats.com
Adult Hot Chocolate
This adult hot chocolate recipe is a great place to start if you are new to making hot chocolate cocktails. 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.
View Recipe
8
gastronomblog.com
Spiked Hot Chocolate
While you can add any liquor to hot chocolate and call it a hot chocolate cocktail, 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.
View Recipe
9
liquor.com
Boozy Hot Chocolate Cocktail
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 cocktail 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.
View Recipe
10
donjulio.com
Mexican Hot Chocolate
A Mexican hot chocolate cocktail 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.
View Recipe
11
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 cocktail. This recipe also suggests garnishing the martini with roasted marshmallows for a classy finish.
View Recipe
12
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.
View Recipe
13
bellyfull.net
Dirty Snowman Drink
A Dirty Snowman is a magical winter cocktail for anyone hoping to connect with their inner child. This hot chocolate cocktail 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 cocktail.
View Recipe
14
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.
View Recipe
15
delightfulemade.com
Amaretto Hot Chocolate
While many hot chocolate cocktail recipes rely on vanilla vodka or Irish cream, this cocktail 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 cocktail to guests, top it with whipped cream and almond slices.
View Recipe
16
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.
View Recipe
17
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.
View Recipe
18
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 cocktails to have more flair, add whipped cream and a sprig of mint.
View Recipe
19
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.
View Recipe
20
princesspinkygirl.com
Drunken Rudolph
A Drunken Rudolph is the ideal cocktail 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.
View Recipe
21
sugarandsoul.co
Campfire S’mores Hot Chocolate Cocktail
A campfire s’mores hot chocolate cocktail is a whiskey-based drink that leans heavily on the marshmallow aspect of the hot chocolate experience. You’ll love this delicious cocktail 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.
View Recipe
22
aspiringwinos.com
Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Unicorn hot chocolate is a truly original cocktail 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.
View Recipe
Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.
