The Santa Clause Hot Chocolate Cocktail
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Ho, Ho, Ho..! We’re bringing in some Christmas cheer with The Santa Clause Hot Chocolate Cocktail. A simple to make, creamy, double chocolate hot cocoa that’s finished with a mix of chocolate liqueur and vodka. Every sip is perfectly sweet, extra chocolate-y, boozy and makes you feel festive and cheerful! It’s the perfect cocktail to cap off a cold winter’s night.
About The Recipe
Happy Satuday!
I know it’s only November, but in anticipation of Christmas (and the new Santa Clause tv show on Disney+!!!), I thought it would be fun to make a cocktail inspired by one of our favorite Christmas movies.
This is my take on Judy’s hot chocolate from the first film! Though, I do admit, this hot chocolate is in-fact stirred, not shaken (trust me, I tried…I could not get the cocoa powder to combine with the rest of the drink!).
BUT, it is entirely delicious and I could not be more excited to share a recipe with all of you!
It’s not only a super cozy drink, but it’s made with two different types of chocolate (cocoa powder and chocolate chips) to give it the ultimate chocolate flavor, while also having MORE chocolate with the addition of chocolate liqueur.
I did add a shot of vodka to make the drink a little more boozy, as my family felt like it could use a bit more alcohol, but if you’re like me and don’t like the flavor of alcohol, the vodka is definitely more optional.
Either way, the drink is TOTALLY delicious and a real crowd pleaser! I mean, who doesn’t love a big mug of chocolate on a cold day?
Reasons You Will Love This Hot Chocolate Cocktail
- Inspired by The Santa Clause films!
- Extra chocolate-y and not too sweet.
- Perfectly boozy.
- A crowd pleasing cocktail to make, especially when decorating for Christmas!
Equipment Needed
Ingredients
(Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)
- Milk of choice
- Bittersweet Chocolate
- Granulated Sugar
- Cocoa Powder
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt
- Chocolate liqueur
- Vodka
How To Make This Hot Chocolate Cocktail
Step 1: Make hot chocolate
Combine milk, chocolate chips, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until chocolate chips and sugar have dissolved and milk is warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: Mix
Pour hot chocolate into two mugs (1 cup each).
Stir in 1 ounce of vodka and 1 ounce of chocolate liqueur into each mug.
Topping Ideas
For me, a mug of hot chocolate is not complete without some marshmallows! Though, here are a few things you can add to this hot chocolate to really make the drink POP!
- Chantilly Cream
- Chocolate Curls/Shavings
- Marshmallows (personally, I am a fan of jumbo! I placed one on skewer and attempted to pipe a polar bear on the marshmallow in the photo because one of the lines in the film is, “is that a polar bear directing traffic down there?”. Feel free to do this or just skip! Either way, it’s a fun project!)
- Candy Canes/Crushed Peppermint
- A light dusting of cinnamon over the Chantilly Cream!
Substitutions
- This recipe can be made vegan if a non-dairy milk is used, the chocolate chips are vegan, and if the chocolate liqueur is omitted. Though, since the chocolate liqueur is omitted, you may want to double the vodka in the cocktail!
- Semi-sweet chocolate may be used instead of bittersweet, but you may want to use 1 Tablespoon of sugar, as semi-sweet can be sweeter than bittersweet.
- The liqueur is to taste, feel free to adjust as you need, depending on how boozy or not boozy you want this drink to be.
Expert Tips
- When making the hot chocolate, you may need to use a whisk to help incorporate the melted chocolate and cocoa powder.
- Be careful not to overheat the milk!
- Serve this drink while it’s still warm for the best flavor.
When you make this Santa Clause Hot Chocolate Cocktail, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.
The Santa Clause Hot Chocolate Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk of choice
- ⅓ cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 2 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces chocolate liqueur
- Chantilly cream and marshmallows, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Combine milk, chocolate chips, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until chocolate chips and sugar have dissolved and milk is warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
- Pour hot chocolate into two mugs (1 cup each).
- Stir in 1 ounce of vodka and 1 ounce of chocolate liqueur into each mug.
- Top with Chantilly cream and marshmallows (optional).
Notes + Tips!
- This recipe can be made vegan if a non-dairy milk is used, the chocolate chips are vegan, and if the chocolate liqueur is omitted. Though, since the chocolate liqueur is omitted, you may want to double the vodka in the cocktail!
- Semi-sweet chocolate may be used instead of bittersweet, but you may want to use only 1 Tablespoon of sugar, as semi-sweet can be sweeter than bittersweet.
- The liqueur is to taste, feel free to adjust as you need, depending on how boozy or not boozy you want this drink to be.
- When making the hot chocolate, you may need to use a whisk to help incorporate the melted chocolate and cocoa powder.
- Be careful not to overheat the milk!
- Serve this drink while it’s still warm for the best flavor.
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