Bourbon Hot Chocolate is classic hot chocolate spiked with bourbon. It is rich, creamy, and has slight caramelly notes from the bourbon (vegetarian, gluten-free).
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About Bourbon Hot Chocolate
Bourbon Hot Chocolate is a rich and creamy winter cocktail drink with regular hot chocolate spiked with whiskey.
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that is barrel-aged and is made primarily from corn. It has a spicy caramelly flavor that goes very well with chocolate.
Bourbon also adds a boozy deliciousness to the hot chocolate and keeps you warm on a chilly evening.
This boozy Hot Chocolate with Bourbon is super comforting, made from scratch, and comes together in under 15 minutes.
Make it for your house parties or holiday dinners, or enjoy it as a dessert after an indulgent meal.
Double or triple the recipe for a bigger crowd.
Here are some more hot chocolate recipes that you may like
- Espresso Hot Chocolate
- Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
- Kahlua Hot Chocolate
- Oreo Hot Chocolate
- Baileys Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
Milk – Use whole milk (full-fat milk) for a rich and creamy hot chocolate. Having said that, you can make it with low-fat, skim, or plant-based milk too.
Bourbon – Bourbon is a whiskey that is primarily made from corn. The bourbon flavors mingle really well with the rich and creamy hot chocolate.
Heavy Cream – Unsweetened heavy cream makes the hot chocolate creamier.
Brown Sugar – Adds a caramelized flavor along with the sweetness. You can also use other sweeteners like sugar, maple syrup, and honey or sugar-free substitutes like stevia or monk fruit.
Cocoa Powder – I prefer unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder to make this hot chocolate. I like Hershey’s brand, but you can use any brand you prefer.
Chocolate Chips – I used semi-sweet chocolate chips in this recipe, but to make the drink richer, you can use dark chocolate chips too.
Vanilla Extract – Use a good quality one.
How To Make Bourbon Hot Chocolate
Add
- 2 cups of whole milk
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened heavy cream
- ¼ cup of brown sugar
to a pan and cook on medium heat until the milk comes to a boil.
Keep stirring frequently to avoid scorching the milk at the bottom of the pan.
Add 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder and ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and cook until the chocolate chips dissolve and the hot chocolate is thick and creamy. Stir very frequently while cooking.
Finally, add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon and mix well.
Pour the hot chocolate into serving mugs.
Note – You can pass the hot chocolate through a fine-mesh strainer to ensure no fat globules are coming into your mouth.
Garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows, and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon, and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, omit the bourbon whiskey and follow the recipe as directed to make a non-alcoholic hot chocolate.
To make a low-carb hot chocolate recipe, replace the sugar in the hot chocolate mix with a low-carb sweetener and replace regular milk and heavy cream with a low-carb option like almond milk, coconut milk, or macadamia nut milk.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this grown-up version of hot chocolate right out of the pan, hot & steamy. Top it with some toppings to make it more indulgent.
It is a great drink to serve on a cold winter evening.
Some of my topping favorites are whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, and chocolate chips.
Storage Suggestions
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
While serving, reheat the hot chocolate, top it with your favorite toppings, and serve.
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Recipe Card
Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk (full-fat milk) (you can also use skim, low-fat, or plant-based milk)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened heavy cream
- ¼ cup brown sugar (or any other sweetener you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ounces bourbon
Instructions
- Add milk, heavy cream, and brown sugar to a pan and cook on medium heat until the milk comes to a boil.
- Keep stirring frequently to avoid scorching at the bottom of the pan.
- Add cocoa powder, and chocolate chips and cook until the chocolate chips dissolve and the hot chocolate is thick and creamy. Stir very frequently while cooking.
- Finally, add vanilla extract, and bourbon and mix well.
- Pour the hot chocolate into serving mugs.
- Note – You can pass the hot chocolate through a fine-mesh strainer to make sure there are no fat globules coming into your mouth.
- Garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows, and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon, and serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!