["learn"]

11 Chocolate Liqueur Cocktails to Elevate Your Evening

January 29, 2024 by

Jump to:

Let’s be honest – chocolate is nothing short of a blessing to the human race. It’s really no wonder that chocolate liqueur cocktails are so popular at the moment. Did you know that aside from being ridiculously tasty, it can even make you happy? No kidding! Real cacao contains an amino acid that helps the brain to make serotonin; the literal thing that makes us feel good. 

So, whether you are looking for a deeply delicious Valentine’s Day cocktail, a dessert drink to wow your guests, or a sensational sipper to enjoy around a roaring fire, there’s a dapper drink that will fit the bill. Here are a few of our favourites.  

1. Chocolate Martini

Lush Chocolate Martini cocktails garnished with chocolate sprinkles

The Chocolate Martini makes for an indulgent nightcap that’s sure to impress your dinner party guests. In this cocktail sweetness and booziness come together for a tasty hit of chocolate in a glass. We love serving it with a salty accompaniment like roasted nuts, or small pieces of fruit cake for a truly decadent after-dinner moment. 

You might also like: 10 Cocktails to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth 

2. Coffee Amaretto Hot Chocolate

Top view of three mugs of Ancho Reyes Hot Chocolate being poured. presented on a rustic wooden surface partially covered in a raw linen table cloth, with small cookies scattered around

Winter would not be winter without a hot cocktail with chocolate liqueur. To make this dreamy Coffee Amaretto Hot Chocolate, heat 120-140 ml full cream milk, 30 ml caramel syrup, and 30 ml amaretto in a saucepan or microwave. Pour into a double-walled glass or any glass suitable for serving hot drinks. Add 60ml coffee liqueur and stir well. Top with whipped cream and decorate with coffee beans or chocolate shavings. 

3. Mudslide

Two Mudslide cocktails in Martini glasses

Typically made with coffee liqueur, the Mudslide is also a treat with chocolate liqueur used as an alternative. It’s one of those cocktails that’s just so delicious and morish that it’s borderline illegal. Simply put, it’s an adult coffee milkshake, but calling it that doesn’t really do justice to all the tasty layers of feel-good flavours in this much-loved chocolate liqueur cocktail. 

Read next: 7 Boozy Puddings to Try this Weekend 

4. Chocolate Old Fashioned

Two Chocolate Old Fashioned cocktails on a table inside a modern home lounge next to a fireplace

If you’re keen to experiment with cocoa liqueur cocktail, but crave something a little more sophisticated, we recommend you try the Chocolate Old Fashioned. This riff on the classic Old Fashioned is super easy to shake up, and even easier to simpler to sip. To make one, add 45ml chocolate liqueur, 90ml Wild Turkey Bourbon, 30ml simple syrup, and three dashes of bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir to combine, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange twist.  

5. Viennese Chocolate Cake

Two Viennese Chocolate Cake shots on a table in a cosy warm kitchen with snow falling outside the window

We love ending off a meal with easy chocolate liqueur cocktails. A fun way to go is to serve a ‘shortie’, or small drink. To make a luxurious, yet petite, Viennese Chocolate Cake drink, combine 60ml chocolate liqueur, 30ml apricot brandy, and a teaspoon of apricot jam in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frosty, strain into a small serving glass, give it a topping of whipped cream, and sprinkle over chocolate shavings for extra yum. 

Sweet Sensations: 15 Classic Ice Cream Cocktails 

6. Chocolate Margarita

Two Chocolate Margarita cocktails with cocoa rims

Looking for a chocolate liqueur cocktail recipe with a tequila kick? We’ve got just the one. To make a dashing Chocolate Margarita, add 30ml chocolate liqueur, 30ml Grand Marnier, 60ml Espolòn Tequila Blanco, and 60ml cream to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frosty and strain into a cinnamon sugar-rimmed glass over fresh ice. Garnish with chocolate flakes if you’re feeling fancy, and enjoy. 

7. Mulled Hot Chocolate

Two Mulled Hot Chocolate cocktails on a table outside on the veranda of a cabin overlooking a lake

More chocolate liqueur cocktail recipes that are perfect for frosty days when you need a cosy hand-warmer of a drink? Here you go, bestie. To make a nice cuppa Mulled Hot Chocolate, add 120ml red wine, 30ml amaretto, and one teaspoon of sugar to a saucepan and heat on the stovetop (or pop it in the microwave in a microwavable container). Pour the warm liquid into a double-walled glass or a mug, add 30ml of chocolate liqueur, top it with a dusting of cinnamon, and sip the cold away! 

Garnish like a pro: The Best Cocktail Cherries to Garnish Your Favorite Cocktail  

8. Chocolate Gimlet

Two white Chocolate Gimlet cocktails with lime wheel garnish

This luxurious white chocolate liqueur recipe cocktail is a trendy twist on the classic Gimlet. To make a Chocolate Gimlet, add 60ml Bulldog Gin, 15ml lime cordial, and 60ml white chocolate liqueur to a mixing glass with ice. Give it a good stir, decant the drink into a serving glass, add a squeeze of lime, and serve. 

9. Chocolate Mint Julep

Mint Julep in a pewter cup with mint garnish

Chocolate cream liqueur cocktails pair well with a variety of flavours, and we especially like a touch of minty freshness to take it to the next level. To shake up a Chocolate Mint Julep, add 6 large mint leaves, 15ml chocolate liqueur, and a dash of bitters to a Julep cup and muddle. Add 60ml Wild Turkey Bourbon and fill the cup with crushed ice. Stir it a few times, add more crushed ice, and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or a chocolate mint cookie if you’re feeling extra lush. 

Buzz it up: 12 Honey Syrup Cocktails that Zzzing with Sweetness  

10. Frozen Brandy Alexander

Frozen Brandy Alexander

Now this is a classic cocktail recipe that’s been begging to be updated with a kiss of frosty goodness. To make two Frozen Brandy Alexander cocktails, add one cup of chocolate ice cream, one cup of coffee ice cream, a quarter cup of cold, strong-brewed coffee, 120ml chocolate liqueur, and two tablespoons of milk to a blender, and blitz until smooth. Divide into two chilled glasses, and garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, and chocolate shavings.   

11. S’mores Martini

Two S'mores Martinis for Halloween

Chocolate, marshmallow-infused vodka, bourbon, and cream are the main acts in this delicious S’mores Martini. Sure, it’s a little over the top, but that’s exactly the point! It’s perfect for cosy nights in front of the fire, or whenever you feel like a little something extra sensational to sip on. 

Which chocolate liqueur cocktail do you think you’ll try first? We’d love to see your pics, so remember to tag us on Instagram if you share them online. Oh, and do sign up for our newsletter if you’d like more tasty articles like these to shimmy into your inbox. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Chocolate liqueur is a versatile spirit often employed in cocktails and desserts. Its rich, sweet flavour enhances a variety of mixed drinks, such as Chocolate Martinis and Mudslides. Additionally, it can be used in culinary applications, adding depth and sweetness to desserts like chocolate truffles, cakes, and sauces.

Various liquors pair seamlessly with chocolate, creating delectable combinations. Common choices include vodka, whiskey, and rum. These spirits complement chocolate's flavour profile, contributing depth and complexity to cocktails like Chocolate Martinis or whiskey-infused chocolate beverages. Experimenting with different liquors allows for the creation of diverse and enjoyable chocolate-infused drinks.

Stay in the mix

Sign up to our drinkspiration newsletter.