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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drinks ยป Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    Published: Jan 18, 2021 ยท Updated: Jan 26, 2021 ยท This post contains affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    orange mug with hot chocolate and marshmallows on blue and white towel with bottle of bourbon and cocoa powder
    blue and white towel under orange mug with hot chocolate and marshmallows with bottle of bourbon and cocoa powder

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate is an easy winter bourbon cocktail for a cold night. A spiked homemade hot chocolate that will warm you up for Valentine's Day or any chilly evening.

    orange mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and bottle of bourbon with container of cocoa powder on blue and white towel
    • About Bourbon Hot Chocolate
      • Ingredients
        • Cost of Recipe
    • How to Make Bourbon Hot Chocolate
      • How to Make Bourbon Hot Chocolate in the Microwave
    • Recipe Tips
      • Variations
        • Ingredient Options
        • Flavor Substitutions
        • Alternative Prep & Cooking
        • How to Make Allergy Friendly
        • How to Fix a Mistake
      • Make Ahead Ideas
      • Storage Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Nutrition Benefits
      • What to Serve with Hot Chocolate with Bourbon
        • Watch the Story

    About Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    If you've ever thought is bourbon good in hot chocolate? you've come to the right place because I'm here to tell that that yes, yes it is!

    I mean who doesn't love a good mug of homemade hot chocolate? I seriously can't think of anything I'd rather have on a cold day. And if it's nighttime, I love a good mug of hot chocolate with a little extra fun thanks to bourbon.

    Bourbon typically has chocolate and maple flavors (like this homemade hot cocoa), and since I only have summer bourbon cocktail recipes, I knew I needed a winter recipe.

    This hot chocolate is so lovely... It's incredibly rich and satisfying, plus it warms you up from the inside out.

    Maple syrup and cocoa powder pair so incredibly well together, and you can really tell when you taste this homemade bourbon hot chocolate.

    The bourbon and a little vanilla extract take this hot chocolate from good to a comforting boozy cocktail for the cold months.

    Feel free to top this tasty drink with some marshmallows for extra fun.

    Note that it's very easy to make this dairy-free and vegan if desired. Simply use almond milk or coconut milk in place of dairy milk. It won't be as rich or sweet, but it's still delicious. You can also add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup or marshmallows.

    bourbon, cocoa powder, milk, salt, marshmallows, water, vanilla extract, maple syrup with text overlay

    Ingredients

    Maple Syrup: Make sure to get real maple syrup. You could also use honey, but I think the honey flavor would be too strong. Plus, maple syrup pairs really well with the bourbon and cocoa powder, so I don't recommend leaving it out.

    Cocoa Powder: I used regular cocoa powder from the store. No need to use something fancy or hard to find.

    Salt: It might feel weird to put a small amount of salt in a sweet recipe, but the salt helps intensify the sweetness in a good way. You can use sea salt, kosher salt, or table salt.

    Milk: Any milk will work. My preferred milk of choice is whole milk or 2% dairy milk. I have also tested it with coconut milk, but it needed an extra tablespoon of maple syrup per serving to get it to be sweet enough. Almond milk and oat milk are other good options. However, the dairy milk will be richer than the dairy-free alternatives, and they might not be as sweet. So have extra maple syrup and/or marshmallows for sweetening if needed.

    Vanilla extract: Be sure to use real vanilla extract as imitation extract will give this Bourbon Hot Chocolate a funny taste. If you need to skip it, you can. However, I highly recommend the vanilla to deepen the flavor.

    Bourbon: The bourbon you use is a personal preference. I use a good bourbon that I would enjoy in any other cocktail but not one that is too fancy or expensive. Don't waste your money on something too costly because you won't be able to appreciate it as much since the cocoa powder, milk, and maple syrup add a lot of flavors.

    two white mugs of hot chocolate with bourbon and Valentine's confetti

    Cost of Recipe

    • Maple Syrup 1/4 cup: $0.59
    • Cocoa Powder 1/2 cup: $0.80
    • Salt 1/8 tsp: $0.01
    • Milk 4 cups: $2.56
    • Vanilla extract 1 tsp: $0.59
    • Bourbon 6 ounces: $7.20

    TOTAL COST: $11.75 or $2.94/serving (Based on San Diego stores 2020)

    Note this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Be sure to scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

    cocoa powder and water in a white mug with a silver spoon, cocoa powder and water mixed together in white mug, milk being poured into white mug, hand stirring milk into cocoa powder in white mug, bourbon pouring into an orange mug of hot cocoa, orange mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top

    How to Make Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    Time needed: 15 minutes.

    It's so simple to make Bourbon Hot Chocolate on the stove or in the microwave. The photo collage is shown as making one serving in the microwave. However, the steps are exactly the same when making the full recipe on the stove. I recommend the stovetop if possible.

    1. Stir together the water, maple syrup, and cocoa powder.

      Heat over medium in a saucepan.

    2. Cook until the cocoa powder is completely stirred into the water.

    3. Pour in milk.

    4. Stir until completely combined.

      Remove from heat, and add vanilla. Pour into heat-proof cups or mugs.

    5. Pour in bourbon.

      Stir.

    6. Top with marshmallows, and enjoy!

      two white mugs one with a lipstick stain that have hot chocolate on white and grey towels, with heart confetti underneath and bourbon bottles in background

    How to Make Bourbon Hot Chocolate in the Microwave

    Hot Chocolate in the Microwave is better made to serve one. Follow the steps above except use the microwave instead of the stovetop.

    1. Stir together the cocoa powder and water in a microwave-safe mug.
    2. Microwave for 30 seconds.
    3. Pour in maple syrup and milk.
    4. Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds until warm.
    5. Pour in the bourbon, and enjoy!

    Recipe Tips

    Variations

    Ingredient Options

    Milk: Any kind of milk will work.

    Flavor Substitutions

    If you want to make this a peppermint bourbon hot chocolate, add 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract to the mixture when you add the vanilla extract. Taste and add more if needed by 1/8 teaspoons.

    For a little sweeter flavor without adding extra sugar, add 1/8 teaspoon almond extract.

    bourbon pouring into an orange mug of hot chocolate on a blue and white towel with marshmallows

    Alternative Prep & Cooking

    You can make this hot chocolate with bourbon on the stove or in the microwave. It can also be made to serve one or four, or increase the ingredient amounts (and the size of your saucepan) to serve more if needed.

    How to Make Allergy Friendly

    This is already gluten-free, egg-free, and soy-free. You can make it dairy-free by using coconut milk, almond milk, or oat milk. Regarding non-dairy types of milk, I've only tried it with coconut milk, and it was delicious.

    How to Fix a Mistake

    Too sweet: Add extra maple syrup my the tablespoon until it is sweet enough. Also, adding marshmallows will make this sweeter.

    Not sweet enough: Whisk in another tablespoon of cocoa powder and/or add another tablespoon of bourbon. Taste and add more as needed. You can also add water or milk by the tablespoon.

    Make Ahead Ideas

    You can technically make this ahead of time, but I think it's best to enjoy right after making. If you do decide to make this ahead of time, follow directions but do not add the bourbon until just before serving.

    Storage Suggestions

    Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat until warm.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the best bourbon for hot chocolate?

    Use a good bourbon that you'd enjoy in any other cocktail. But don't waste your money on something too costly because you won't be able to appreciate it as much since the cocoa powder, milk, and maple syrup add a lot of flavors to the spiked hot chocolate.

    Nutrition Benefits

    While alcoholic beverages don't usually offer many nutrition benefits, this Bourbon Hot Chocolate does have a few. The cocoa powder gives each glass 3 grams of fiber, and if you use dairy milk, you'll get about 9 grams of protein per serving.

    What to Serve with Hot Chocolate with Bourbon

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate is great as a dessert after a nice meal, like steak and blue cheese mushroom sauce with a baked potato or roasted sausage and veggies.

    Since there is alcohol, I recommend at least having some appetizers with this spiked hot cocoa if nothing else.

    Watch the Story

    Final thoughts:

    If you want a cozy, creamy, delicious spiked hot chocolate, you need this Bourbon Hot Chocolate. It would be a great cocktail to serve as dessert or to enjoy for Valentine's Day or another chilly evening.

    hand holding orange mug of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and a bottle of bourbon with cocoa powder

    MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Easy Chocolate Sauce
    • Mayan Hot Chocolate
    • Chocolate Protein Pancakes
    • Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • German Chocolate Brownies

    orange mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and bottle of bourbon with container of cocoa powder on blue and white towel

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate is an easy winter bourbon cocktail for a rich hot chocolate spiked with bourbon for a satisfying cold-weather cocktail.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4 cups
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $11.75 or $2.94/serving

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup water
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1/8 tsp salt
    • 4 cups milk any kind
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 6 ounces bourbon 3/4 cup

    Instructions

    • Stir together water, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat and slowly whisk in milk. Cook for 5 minutes until milk is hot; do not boil.
    • Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract.
    • Pour bourbon, 1.5 ounces each, into 4 mugs. Stir in hot chocolate and serve. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *Recipe has been tested using 2% milk, whole milk, and coconut milk. I don't recommend skim milk as it can easily curdle if heated for too long. Also, you want the richness from the higher fat milk, in my opinion.
    *If using coconut milk, almond milk, or oat milk, you might need to increase the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons per serving instead of one.

    What to Use in This Recipe

    Le Creuset Multifunction Pan
    Saucepan
    three whisks in different sizes
    Whisk
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo
    Click here for Bourbon Hot Chocolate Nutrition Facts

    *
    Nutrition Facts
    Bourbon Hot Chocolate
    Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
    Calories 298 Calories from Fat 54
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6g9%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Cholesterol 18mg6%
    Sodium 188mg8%
    Potassium 539mg15%
    Carbohydrates 31g10%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 24g27%
    Protein 9g18%
    Vitamin A 240IU5%
    Vitamin C 0.5mg1%
    Calcium 319mg32%
    Iron 1.5mg8%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *

    Meme

    This post was originally published on February 11, 2015. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.

    Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably share it:

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allie says

      February 13, 2015 at 7:16 am

      Please and thank you. I need this this weekend right beside a warm fire

      Reply
      • Meme says

        February 23, 2015 at 10:20 pm

        I know right?! SO perfect for cold weather!

        Reply
    2. Diane Boyd says

      February 13, 2015 at 7:28 am

      Sooo pretty! I just want to snuggle by the fire with this hot chocolate!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        February 23, 2015 at 10:22 pm

        Thanks Diane!! Me too! It's the perfect drink for that ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Deanna Segrave-Daly says

      February 13, 2015 at 7:51 am

      I'm totally digging these boozy posts (what does that say about me??) I'm totally trying this next time I'm making hot chocolate for my daughter (obviously will just be spiking my drink ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    4. Alanna says

      February 13, 2015 at 9:45 am

      A little bourbon will never hurt anything ๐Ÿ˜‰ These flavors sound so comforting it would be hard not to continue drinking this after Saturday!

      Reply
    5. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      February 13, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Mmm spiked ๐Ÿ˜‰ Think I'm old enough to get away with a sip? ๐Ÿ˜‰ Hahaha!

      Reply
    6. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

      February 13, 2015 at 11:38 am

      Boozy hot chocolate - what's not to love right?

      Reply
    7. Karen says

      December 05, 2017 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this. Added a couple homemade marshmallows. OMG! Yum!

      Reply
    8. amy griffiths says

      December 05, 2019 at 11:37 am

      i haven't tried this yet but it sounds wonderful! I have recently found a bourbon that is aged in tabasco casks. I may use that to give it a little bit more warmth. Thanks

      Reply
      • Meme says

        December 26, 2019 at 5:27 pm

        oooh cool! hope you get a chance to make it!

        Reply

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme -- a thirty-something girl from Alabama living in San Diego! Join me as I prove that living a guilt-free, healthy lifestyle can be budget friendly, delicious & fun!
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