Ah Christmas, or if you’re not a Christmas person, then the holidays in general. A time to cuddle under a blanket with a loved one and watch awful rom-coms until you fall asleep. Hot chocolate is one of the best holiday pastimes and drinks that I drink and that I know most of the people in my life drink. I really love adding a splash of peppermint into my hot chococolate, just to give it an extra kick, but if you’re up for it, try adding some booze!
One of the great things about adding something into hot chocolate is that unlike many other drinks, you can actually add just about anything into it. I’ve seen it all. Everclear for those with a death wish, vodka for those without a liver, tequila for the party people, spiced rum for the cool kids, and bourbon for the classy lawyer in us all. I’ve decided that I’m going with bourbon this holiday season, just because I want to be a bit more fancy. I’ve also come to the realisation that I’m lactose intolerant, so I make mine with almond milk, but whole milk when I’m feeling daring.
*Note – Please Drink Responsibly. This drink can be made with or without the alcohol and enjoyed just the same!*
You can surely buy the Ghirardelli peppermint hot chocolate mix, but if you’re up for the fun of it, you can make it yourself from scratch. This recipe is from scratch, but if you’re just trying to booze up the mix, once you finish making the hot chocolate, pop it back on the stove, add a splash of your booze of choice and then let it simmer for a few minutes, then enjoy it!
Bourbon Peppermint Hot Chocolate
— 4 cups Whole Milk or the Milk of Your Choice (Soy/Almond/etc.)
— 3 cups Half & Half
— 2 cups of milk chocolate chips
— 1 tsp Peppermint Extract
— 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
—Optional: Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky OR Spiced Rum (ex. Sailor Jerry)
— Toppings: Candy Canes, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, Cinnamon, Graham Crackers, Chocolate Sauce
Steps:
- Add the milk and half and half into a medium soup pot and heat until simmering, but do not bring it to a boil.
- Whisk in chocolate chips and continually mix until melted.
- Add in the peppermint and vanilla extract and mix until blended.
- Bring to a low boil, taste after 30 minutes, if needed, add the remainder of the cranberry juice and a couple tbsp of sugar to taste, stir to dissolve
- Once fully mixed and dissolved, sweeten to taste using more chocolate chips. Once tasting as desired, add in a splash of bourbon or your alcohol of choice and let simmer for 2 minutes. If serving without alcohol, serve warm and serve it as is! You’ll have a simple, yet tasty hot chocolate!
- Set up your serving glasses how you would like and pour the hot chocolate into the mugs and top with the toppings of choice! I like a little whipped cream with a graham cracker sprinkling on top and some chocolate sauce! Or maybe a marshmallow or two!
Prep Time: 0 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 8-10
