Take Your Hot Chocolate From Good to Great With These Spiked Hot Cocoa Recipes
While some people love Winter and all the things that come with it (Skiing! Sweaters!), it's also the time of year where the cold makes you want to bundle up, put on a pair of cozy socks, and plop yourself on the couch. Luckily, there's another Winter staple to add to the mix: hot chocolate. Since childhood, the sweet treat is something to enjoy on a cold night or during a snow day. Now that we're all adults here, we can do what we want, and you know what that means? Boozy hot chocolate. Adding vodka, bourbon, or other liqueurs to hot cocoa elevates it to fancy cocktail level without losing its comforting traits.
So whether you're snuggling up solo under your blanket, with your sweet pet, or next to the person who makes your heart skip a beat, here are some spiked hot chocolate recipes that you'll want to make all season long.
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Adult Gingerbread Spice Hot Chocolate
The spice of gingerbread plays off the chocolate to take this Southern Comfort-spiked beverage to the next level.
Get the recipe: adult gingerbread spiked hot chocolate
Fluffernutter Hot Chocolate With Roasted Peanuts
Hot chocolate, peanut butter, and vodka — can it get any better? We say probably not.
Get the recipe: fluffernutter hot chocolate with roasted peanuts
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Birthday Cake Hot Chocolate
While the recipe doesn't directly call for booze, one can't not think this birthday cake hot chocolate would be great with a shot of vanilla or whipped vodka. (We may be onto something!)
Get the recipe: birthday cake hot chocolate
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Stovetop Spiked Hot Chocolate
Add spiced rum or marshmallow vodka to this spiked hot chocolate for two distinct flavors, depending on how hard your day has been.
Get the recipe: stovetop spiked hot chocolate
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Kahlua Hot Chocolate
This hot chocolate is actually made from scratch and then elevated with some coffee and Kahlua liqueur for a decadent treat.
Get the recipe: kahlua hot chocolate
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Boozy Peppermint Slow-Cooker Hot Chocolate
Take your hot chocolate game to the next level by not only just adding peppermint (because that's already a winning combination) but by putting a shot or two of peppermint Schnapps into this slow-cooker hot chocolate.
Get the recipe: boozy peppermint slow-cooker hot chocolate
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Bourbon Cream Hot Chocolate
Bourbon cream, available in both regular and peppermint, adds a layer of warmth to a cup of hot cocoa that should only be paired with snuggle sessions — with yourself or others!
Get the recipe: bourbon cream hot chocolate
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Butterscotch Whiskey Hot Chocolate
Two kinds of chocolate combined with butterscotch, booze, and caramel sauce makes this spiked hot chocolate a flavor infusion that one should only drink topped with whipped cream.
Get the recipe: butterscotch whiskey hot chocolate
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Pecan-Infused Spiked Hot Chocolate
This version of spiked hot chocolate not only has Kahlua, but adds in another layer of flavor with a pecan-infused vodka.
Get the recipe: spiked hot chocolate
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SoCo Spiked Hot Chocolate
A little Southern Comfort brings extra warmth to this glass of hot cocoa. And the best part? You can make it in the slow cooker, so it's ready as soon as dinner is done.
Get the recipe: SoCo spiked hot chocolate
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Tijuana Tippler
Chocolate, cream, coffee, and brandy combine to make a spiked hot chocolate that will warm you from the inside out.
Get the recipe: Tijuana tippler
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Red Wine Hot Chocolate
A tale as old as time? Wine and chocolate pairings. This one, though, is even better than expected.
Get the recipe: red wine hot chocolate
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Orange and Whiskey Hot Chocolate
Dark chocolate combined with orange zest is the basis for this whiskey-infused spiked hot chocolate, making it a bit of sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Get the recipe: orange and whiskey hot chocolate
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Indulgently Boozy Hot Chocolate
Almond liqueur, vodka, and an extra helping of whipped cream take this hot chocolate from basic to over-the-top delicious.
Get the recipe: indulgently boozy hot chocolate
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Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
Again, while this recipe doesn't exactly tell you to put booze in, a shot of salted caramel or whipped vodka could really take this salted caramel hot chocolate to the next level.
Get the recipe: salted caramel hot chocolate
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Dairy-Free Spiked Hot Chocolate
Yes, you can opt to make hot chocolate with water if you're not big on dairy, but this recipe brings both the creaminess and the booziness one would expect from spiked hot chocolate.
Get the recipe: dairy-free spiked hot chocolate
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Tequila Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate
Chocolate and tequila-lovers unite! This boozy cocktail includes both, as well as cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a certain amount of heat.
Get the recipe: tequila spiked Mexican hot chocolate
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Spiked Vanilla Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
Lighten up a rich hot chocolate with ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a splash of Bailey's.
Get the recipe: spiked vanilla cinnamon hot chocolate
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Chocolate Raspberry Boozy Hot Cocoa
A bit of tart from the raspberries, complemented by Chambord, and the smoothness of the chocolate makes for a sweet combination.
Get the recipe: chocolate raspberry boozy hot cocoa
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Spiked White Hot Chocolate
Crushed candy canes for a touch of peppermint and whipped vodka make this white hot chocolate sweet and indulgent.
Get the recipe: spiked white hot chocolate
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Naughty Nice Hot Cocoa
This recipe combines so many good flavors — coconut, hazelnut, and eggnog — that it's a spiked hot chocolate you will want in your cup night after night. Top it with homemade eggnog marshmallows for an extra treat.
Get the recipe: naughty nice hot cocoa
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Spiked Hot Chocolate Irish Whiskey
This spiked hot chocolate combines Irish Whiskey and dark chocolate for a flavorful combination.
Get the recipe: spiked hot chocolate Irish whiskey
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Andes Mint Hot Chata
Andes mints (Hello, chocolate and mint!) and rumchata combine with half and half in the Crock-Pot for this version of hot 'chata you will want in your drink rotation all Winter long.
Get the recipe: Andes mint hot chata
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Spiked Nutella Hot Chocolate
As if there weren't already enough uses for the magical hazelnut spread, Nutella now combines with milk, Frangelico, and Kahlúa for an extra indulgent treat. (Hack: Pour the mixture in an almost-empty Nutella jar for some extra flavor — and to make sure you don't leave any behind!)
Get the recipe: spiked Nutella hot chocolate
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Pumpkin Spice Spiked Hot Chocolate
For the Fall fanatics everywhere who still can't get enough pumpkin spice (raises hand), this pumpkin spice hot chocolate combines brown sugar, pumpkin spice extract, and bourbon. Yum.
Get the recipe: pumpkin spice spiked hot chocolate