Baileys Hot Chocolate
The most popular drink during the cold season around my house gets an upgrade for adults this year as I discovered Bailey’s hot chocolate. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner! The rich chocolate and creamy taste of Baileys are just the perfect match, and it only takes me five minutes to make this recipe.
With my recipe, the flavors are tailored so everyone can have it as sweet as they like it or with as much alcohol as they want. Either way, every cup of this decadent hot chocolate is rich, creamy, delicious, and easy to make. Serve it with my sweet and boozy rum balls; they go perfectly together.
Table of contents
I adore hot chocolate, and this adult version is up my alley. I always make this luxurious drink to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and I also recommend having it part of bridal showers or ladies’ brunches! Believe me, everyone will ask for a refill!
Why you will love this recipe
- The most popular winter drink: Everyone drinks hot cocoa during the winter where I live. Now that I have this recipe for Baileys hot chocolate, it is going to be my new favorite winter cocktail too!
- I can tailor it to my needs: I can make it extra sweet for me and mildly sweet for my husband. Also, for those who do not want as much alcohol, it can be changed in that way too.
- It is chocolate after all: Anything chocolate is good to me, so I am in love with this new cocktail. And it can be made into a mocktail easily by leaving out the Baileys as well.
- It is so fast and easy: It takes just five minutes and just five ingredients to make this hot chocolate.
What you will need to make Baileys hot chocolate
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – The main ingredient in hot chocolate, I always get the best, which is Hershey’s.
- Dark chocolate – I use 70% cocoa for a richer more complex flavor with a deeper cocoa taste.
- Whole milk – The high-fat content in whole milk makes this a richer and creamier drink with a velvety texture compared to a lower-fat option.
- Baileys Irish Cream liqueur – Adding this to hot chocolate is a no-brainer because of its chocolatey taste and creamy smooth texture.
- White granulated sugar – Granulated sugar balances out the bitter taste of the cocoa powder and dark chocolate. I add sugar to taste and let others do the same because I like my hot chocolate sweet while others like theirs not as sweet.
How to make it
- Heat it up: First, I heat up the milk in a small saucepan on medium-low until it is steaming (not boiling). Then, I whisk in the chocolate and cocoa powder until the chocolate is melted.
- Add the liqueur: Now, I turn off the heat and add the Baileys Irish Cream liqueur.
- Add sugar: Also, I add the sugar a little at a time, and taste it to adjust it to my preference.
- Serve: I like to top mine with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate shavings.
Expert tip
The importance of good chocolate
When making this hot chocolate recipe, Baileys is an important ingredient, but it is simple and easy to find. But cocoa powder and the chocolate to make the hot cocoa itself are each equally as important because they make up the complete flavor profile of the drink itself. I insist on using unsweetened organic cocoa powder to control the sweetness of the drink.
However, when it comes to buying melting chocolate, I prefer Ghirardelli or Belgian chocolate. I prefer dark chocolate, but milk chocolate will work too. I also recommend using high-quality melting wafers, they are are so smooth and creamy, with the perfect balance of high-quality chocolate.
More tips to consider
- Be sure to stir the milk constantly to keep it from burning.
- Do not let the milk come to a boil. This can cause it to scorch and give it a burnt taste.
- Get the best chocolate you can afford. It is the most important ingredient.
- Using a whisk prevents lumps better than using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- For a shortcut, this can be made with a packet of hot cocoa, one cup of milk, and two ounces of Baileys.
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Different chocolate: Instead of dark chocolate, I sometimes make this with milk chocolate for a sweeter taste.
- Peppermint chocolate: To give this hot chocolate a peppermint flavor, I like to add a dash of peppermint schnapps.
- Strawberry chocolate: Another way to make this drink taste different is to add a teaspoon of strawberry extract. In fact, any kind of extract can be used to jazz it up.
- Marshmallows: Don’t forget the marshmallows! I always add a handful of mini-marshmallows to my hot chocolate and they taste great in these cocktails as well.
- Coffee flavor: To add a hint of coffee flavor, I add one ounce of Kahlua to this delicious hot chocolate.
Serving suggestions:
Here are some serving suggestions that I have enjoyed.
- For a dessert to go with this scrumptious chocolate cocktail, my quick 3-ingredient chocolate mousse is perfect. It is creamy, rich, and easy to make.
- Another sweet treat that would pair well with these drinks is my chocolate turtle apples. They are tangy, sweet, and topped with crunchy pecans. We love these at my house. They are so much easier to make and eat than regular caramel apples because they are sliced.
- Everything does not have to be sweet when serving these drinks. They also taste wonderful when I serve them with a dinner of beef stew or chili.
- Treat the kids and non-drinkers to a Spanish hot chocolate or Santafereno. It has no liquor in it and only needs three ingredients.
- When I serve these mugs of hot chocolate to everyone, I always make sure there are plenty of snacks around, so they do not get tipsy. These persimmon toasts are unique appetizers with ricotta, fruit, honey, and pistachios on grilled sourdough bread.
How to store leftovers:
- Refrigerate: These are best enjoyed right away but leftovers can be kept in a covered container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Freezing: I do not recommend freezing these drinks.
Frequently asked questions
It is probably not mixed thoroughly enough. To thicken it, add a teaspoon more cocoa powder and stir again. Reheat it in the microwave or pour it back into the saucepan and heat it back up until it thickens. If this does not help, add a little more. A tiny bit of cornstarch can also be added if it is still too thin.
This is why I recommend adding sugar to taste. The cocoa I use is unsweetened, so it needs sugar added to it. Also, my recipe calls for 70% dark chocolate, which is not very sweet. In fact, it is bitter. So, if you like sweeter hot chocolate, get something sweeter like semi-sweet chocolate or milk chocolate. If not, just add sugar at the end until it is sweet enough.
When this happens, it is usually because the chocolate has seized. This means that it came into contact with moisture (water), which caused the cocoa solids to clump together. This will cause it to have a gritty texture. It can also happen if poor-quality chocolate is used or if the chocolate is overheated.
Bailey's hot chocolate takes just five minutes to make. It's rich, creamy, full of dark chocolate, and perfectly spiked with Bailey's liqueur.
- 1 cup milk for a richer taste, use half milk, half heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup Bailey’s Irish cream
- 3 oz dark chocolate or milk chocolate – chopped
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream cold
- 1 tablespoon Bailey’s Irish cream
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar
- Chocolate sauce
- Chocolate shavings
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In a small saucepan, over medium heat, heat the milk. Add cocoa powder and chopped chocolate and stir with a whisk until the chocolate has melted.
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Turn off the heat and add Bailey’s liqueur.
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Taste the mixture and add sugar as needed.
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Using a hand mixer, beat the whipped cream ingredients in a cold bowl until stiff peaks form.
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Top the hot chocolate with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate shavings, and serve.
Recipe Video
2 Comments
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Amber Myers
I do love hot chocolate. This version sounds amazing! I will have to make it for sure.
Tara Pittman
Sounds like a great drink. I need to make this recipe.