Baileys Hot Chocolate
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Bailey’s Hot Chocolate is nothing but your classic hot chocolate spiked with Bailey’s (Irish cream liqueur). This rich, creamy, and chocolaty drink comes together in just 5 minutes using simple ingredients (vegetarian, gluten-free).
About Baileys Hot Chocolate
Bailey’s Hot Chocolate is nothing but your regular hot chocolate spiked with Bailey’s (Irish Cream Liqueur).
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 at your winter parties.
Don’t forget to top this adult-only drink 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 on the stovetop in a pan, in an Instant Pot, in the 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. Bailey’s is an 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 – Unsweetened heavy cream makes the drink very creamy.
Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder is my preferred choice for making hot chocolate, as 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 Baileys 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 chocolatier.
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 the following ingredients into a pan and stir well to combine.
- 32 fl oz (4 cups) of whole milk
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 fl oz (¼ cup) unsweetened heavy cream
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 the chocolate dissolves and the hot chocolate is creamy, stirring frequently to prevent scorching at the bottom of the pan.
Tip – If you like your hot chocolate thicker, stir in 2 tablespoon cornstarch into 4 tablespoon milk, then add it to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Remove the pan from the 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 into serving mugs and garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Bailey’s Hot Chocolate FAQs
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 well and 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 whisk until smooth. 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, then microwave again (preferably in 1-minute bursts) until the milk boils.
Stir in the Baileys, 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 powder 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 marshmallows, 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 the holiday season, on 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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Baileys Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole milk (full-fat milk) (32 fl oz, you can use skim, low-fat, or plant-based milk too)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup unsweetened heavy cream (2 fl oz)
- 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.