National Chocolate Day: a day that prior to college, I didn’t know about.
However, since finding out about this national day I’ve found myself gearing up to make a multitude of chocolate themed dishes and treats every year. This year, I’m over 21 for the first time and can have booze with my chocolate. But, why not combine my booze and chocolate rather than just drink it with it.
Here are 15 ways to booze up your chocolate as you ramp up for Chocolate Day, and every day.
1. Dark Chocolate Truffles with Liqueur
Photo by Maddie Lanier
We made a batch of this and split it up to make a variety of flavors. Remember, this is a very versatile truffle since a lot of flavors go with chocolate and the sheer multitude of flavored liqueurs (and liquors if you want them a bit harder than the recipe).
2. Sparkling Wine Truffles
Photo by Maddie Lanier
This might sound expensive, but you can buy a small bottle of champagne (about a cup size) or substitute it with another sparkling wine to cut the cost down. Or you could buy a whole bottle and have a nice buzz going while you make these. Also, these are super annoying to make if you don’t have patience as the white chocolate doesn’t set well all the time.
3. Chocolate Banana Shooter
Photo by Maddie Lanier
This isn’t a drink recipe you can order by name, you’d have to tell the bartender the ingredients. But, it’s easy to make at home and tastes like a chocolate covered banana. You can’t taste the alcohol at all and it feels like drinking juice. It’s one of my favorite ones to give a friend when they first turn 21 and we’re celebrating.
4. Salted Mudslide Cookies
Photo by Maddie Lanier
These cookies are definitely for those who need a huge chocolate fix, being double chocolate and using chocolate liqueur. But if you don’t like the taste of coffee watch out — these definitely have a hint of it.
5. Chocolate Stout Brownies
Photo by Maddie Lanier
For all you beer lovers, chocolate beer brownies exist. The dark, creamy stout combined with decadent dark chocolate makes this combination a great party pleaser and will have you wishing you brought a cold Guinness with you.
#SpoonTip: Add the stout to your glaze for an extra kick.
6. Chocolate Cherry Liqueur Ice Cream
Photo by Maddie Lanier
You can make this recipe with any flavored liqueur you want, but this reminds me of cordial cherries and tastes amazing. For those of you who know how to make traditional ice cream: this recipe doesn’t require eggs.
7. Chocolate Martini
Photo by Maddie Lanier
This drink is definitely only for those who can hold their liquor as there are only alcoholic components. There’s also a salted caramel variation included for those of you who can’t get enough salted caramel.
8. Wine Bark
Photo by Maddie Lanier
Now, I’ve wanted to try this forever, but that’s because I love red wine and chocolate. Make sure you pick a wine that can stand up to the sweetness of whatever chocolate you’re making this with. Also, I’m a lazy college student and decided to just mix the wine into the white chocolate instead of actually making a wine reduction and swirling that.
9. Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse
Photo by Maddie Lanier
If you ever wanted alcoholic Nutella, your dream has come true. This mousse tastes like Nutella with alcohol and dark chocolate, making it a decadent alternative to eating Nutella straight out of the jar (if you’re reading this, you’ve definitely done it).
10. Chocolate Pudding
Photo by Maddie Lanier
Pudding, the ultimate chocolate comfort food, has gotten an adult makeover by adding Bailey’s (or another cream liqueur) for an extra layer of complexity.
11. Grasshopper
Photo by Maddie Lanier
“It’s a thin mint in a cup” is the first thing my friend said to me when I made this drink for her birthday. It’s prefect for that after dinner drink if you want a dessert but are too full to have an actual dish, and — despite being made with milk — you can always substitute in a lactose-free milk if you want.
12. Grasshopper Tart with Chocolate Chips
Photo by Maddie Lanier
This is the dessert version of a grasshopper drink. Make this for a warmer day where you want to get boozy without being obvious, but make sure you keep it out of the hands of your younger siblings…
13. Razzmatazz Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
Photo by Maddie Lanier
Cheesecake and a brownie? I’m sold. Be sure to try this with whichever fruit flavor you like the most though.
14. Molten Chocolate Banana Cake with Chocolate Rum Glaze
Photo by Maddie Lanier
Imagine a molten lava cake, but this is a larger version you can share with your friends on a cold day. With the chocolate rum glaze, you’re guaranteed to have booze in your chocolate that hasn’t been baked out.
15. Boozy Hot Chocolate
Photo by Maddie Lanier
This boozy hot chocolate will warm you right up when winter sets in and you don’t want to go to a bar that serves only cold drinks. I personally love that the chocolate flavor stays predominant the whole time.