Baileys Hot Chocolate is nothing but your classic hot chocolate spiked with Baileys (Irish cream liqueur). This rich, creamy, and chocolaty drink comes together in just 5 minutes using simple ingredients (vegetarian, gluten-free).
Here are some more hot chocolate recipes that you may like – Espresso Hot Chocolate, Instant Pot Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate, and Frozen Hot Chocolate.
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About Baileys Hot Chocolate
Baileys Hot Chocolate is nothing but your regular hot chocolate spiked with Baileys.
This rich, creamy and comforting hot beverage comes together in just 5 minutes using simple ingredients and is perfect to sip on cold winter days.
Baileys adds a boozy deliciousness to this creamy hot chocolate drink. Its chocolate and vanilla notes with a fruity finish make this hot chocolate a perfect beverage to serve for your winter parties.
Don’t forget to top it with your favorite toppings such as whipped cream, marshmallows, or sprinkles.
You can easily double or triple the recipe if making it for a crowd.
This hot chocolate with baileys recipe can be made in a pan over the stovetop, in an instant pot, in a microwave, or in a slow cooker. Choose the method that suits you the best, I am sharing them all in the post below.
Ingredients
Milk – Whole milk (full-fat milk) is the best choice to make hot chocolate as it makes it rich and creamy. Having said that, you can make it with skim, low-fat, or plant-based milk like coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, etc.
Baileys – This is the star ingredient of this recipe. Baileys is Irish cream liqueur. It is an alcoholic drink flavored with cream, cocoa, and Irish whiskey. It tastes sweet and milky with notes of chocolate and vanilla and has some fruity notes from Irish whiskey.
Heavy Cream – It makes the drink very creamy.
Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder is my preferred choice to make hot chocolate and it gives the best results. In this recipe, I have used Hershey’s but you can use any brand that you like.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – This hot chocolate recipe uses semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can go for dark chocolate chips as well to make this hot cocktail richer and chocolaty.
Brown Sugar – Adds a caramelized flavor and adds sweetness to the drink. You can also try other alternatives such as white sugar, maple syrup, honey, or sugar-free substitutes like stevia or monk fruit.
Vanilla Extract – Go for a high-quality one!
How To Make Baileys Hot Chocolate
Pour 4 cups of whole milk, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and ¼ cup heavy cream into a pan and stir well to combine.
Cook on medium heat until the milk comes to a boil, stirring frequently.
Add ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and cook until they dissolve and the hot chocolate is creamy, stirring very frequently to avoid scorching at the bottom of the pan.
Tip – If you like your hot chocolate thicker in texture, then stir in 2 tablespoon cornstarch in 4 tablespoon milk and add it to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Remove the pan from heat.
Note – You can strain the hot chocolate at this stage if you like it very smooth.
Stir in 4 fl oz (120 ml) baileys.
Pour in serving mugs and garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make it in an instant pot, press the SAUTE button. Add milk, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and heavy cream into the inner pot. Mix it well and let it cook until the milk comes to a boil.
Add in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract and cook until the chocolate chips dissolve. Press CANCEL and stir in the Baileys. Top with your favorite toppings and serve.
Add cocoa powder and brown sugar to a microwavable cup. Add a little milk and blend it nicely using a whisk. Now add the remaining milk, heavy cream, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract, and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until the chocolate melts. Mix well and microwave again (preferably in bursts of 1 minute) until the milk boils.
Stir in the Baileys and top with your favorite toppings and serve.
Just dump all the ingredients except baileys in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. Stir in the baileys and serve your crockpot hot chocolate.
Yes, you can. Prepare hot chocolate mix according to the box directions. Stir in Bailey’s Irish Cream. Garnish and serve.
Serving Suggestions
This boozy hot chocolate should be served right out of the pan, hot and steamy! Top it with whipped cream, mini marshmallow, chocolate flakes, chocolate shavings, or sprinkles.
A drizzle of chocolate sauce (chocolate syrup), caramel sauce, or melted chocolate is also great.
You can give a candy cane as a stirrer along with the drink.
This spiked hot chocolate is perfect to serve on a cold winter day during holiday season, cold evenings, or for a holiday party.
Storage Suggestions
Leftovers can be stored for about 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
While serving, reheat the hot chocolate, top it with your favorite toppings, and serve.
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Recipe Card
Baileys Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk (full-fat milk) (you can use skim, low fat, or plant-based milk too)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 fluid ounce Baileys (120 ml, increase the quantity as per your preference)
Instructions
- Pour milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and heavy cream into a pan and stir well to combine.
- Cook on medium heat until the milk comes to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Add chocolate chips and vanilla extract and cook until they dissolve and the hot chocolate is creamy, stirring very frequently to avoid scorching at the bottom of the pan.
- Tip – If you like your hot chocolate thicker in texture, then stir in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 4 tablespoons of milk and add it to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat.
- Note – You can strain the hot chocolate at this stage if you like it very smooth.
- Stir in baileys.
- Pour in serving mugs and garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Notes
Add in the chocolate chips and vanilla extract and cook until the chocolate chips dissolve. Press CANCEL and stir in the Baileys. Top with your favorite toppings and serve. Microwave Recipe – Add cocoa powder and brown sugar to a microwavable cup. Add a little milk and blend it nicely using a whisk. Now add the remaining milk, heavy cream, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract, and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until the chocolate melts. Mix well and microwave again (preferably in bursts of 1 minute) until the milk boils. Stir in the Baileys and top with your favorite toppings and serve. Slow Cooker Recipe – Just dump all the ingredients except baileys in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. Stir in the baileys and serve. You can easily double or triple the recipe if making it for a crowd.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!