hot chocolate

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate

December 20, 2019 by Natalie Leave a Comment

There’s nothing I love more than a hot chocolate on a cold night. In fact, that’s about all I love about cold nights because I hate the cold! I made this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate the other night when we had a snow squall. What’s a snow squall you might ask? I had to ask google the same thing. It is a very abrupt and short-lived snowstorm with blizzard and whiteout conditions. Thankfully I had my friends over at Exotico Tequila to help me through it and this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate to keep me warm.

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate, makes 2 cups

2 cups milk

4 oz. Exotico Tequila

2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp. demerara sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1/8 tsp. chili powder

1/8 tsp. ground cayenne (you can omit this if you don’t want it too spicy)

bittersweet chocolate shavings, for garnish

marshmallows, for garnish

To make your Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate whisk cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, chili and cayenne together until combined. Add your milk to a small saucepan and place on the stove over low heat. Add in your dry ingredients and stir until all ingredients are incorporated and the cocoa has melted into the milk, about 10 minutes. Stir in your vanilla extract.

Add 2 oz. of tequila to your serving vessel, I used enamel mugs, and then pour the hot chocolate. Garnish with mini marshmallows and chocolate shavings.

I love sweet and savory dishes and drinks and this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate checks all those boxes. It’s decadent and rich and warming from the chili and cayenne. I have a very high tolerance for spice and while I don’t find this overwhelmingly spicy, you can omit the cayenne if you think this recipe will be too spicy for your taste. Exotico Tequila is so perfect for this drink. Chocolate and spices complement the sweet earthy notes in tequila and other agave spirits.

This is not only a great drink to serve on Christmas Eve or for dessert on Christmas Day but you can also enjoy it all winter long. A hot cocoa bar is a great idea to set up for a party or gathering and I put together some ideas in this post. While I will be enjoying this Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate for as long as the temperature dips below 45 degrees there’s nothing like sipping on a warm drink in front of the Christmas tree.

I hope you decide to make this drink and Happy Holidays from me and Exotico Tequila! xo

Boozy Chai Hot Chocolate

February 28, 2019 by Natalie 1 Comment

Since snow is in the forecast for this weekend I thought it would only be appropriate to make something warm. I recently made this Boozy Chai Hot Chocolate for Kerrygold Irish Cream and it was too good not to share on the blog. The warming spices from the chai mixed with the rich decadence of cocoa and Irish cream make this Boozy Chai Hot Chocolate the perfect snow day treat.

Boozy Chai Hot Chocolate, makes 2 servings

1 1/2 cups chai concentrate

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

4 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream

whipped cream, for garnish

grated cinnamon, for garnish

cinnamon stick, for garnish

In a small saucepan, combine chai concentrate, milk, and cocoa powder over medium heat. Heat until steaming, about 5 minutes. Add 2 oz. of Kerrygold Irish Cream to two mugs and then pour the hot chai mixture on top. Stir to incorporate and then top with whipped cream, freshly grated cinnamon, and a cinnamon stick.

I love staying inside. Especially on a cold snowy day with a mug of hot chocolate. I don’t want to go out there!

But adding booze to your hot chocolate is just genius. I have another boozy hot chocolate recipe here and also how to set up a hot chocolate bar for a holiday/winter party here. What can I say? I think hot chocolate gets me through every winter. This one is thankfully almost over.

Tomorrow is officially March and Spring is so darn close. We’ve had mild parts of Winter and really cold parts too. It was 5°F and 60°F within the same week. Isn’t that just nuts? The weather wasn’t the thing making this Winter hard although it certainly didn’t help. Adjusting to my new life alone and dealing with the fallout has been a challenge, to say the least. I’m trying to rebuild, work on my self-love, and just allow myself to feel whatever it is that I’m feeling. Sometimes you have to do small things that make you happy even if it’s just enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. The sun is going to shine in my life again once more. I can feel it. xo

Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar

December 6, 2017 by Natalie 1 Comment

I’m not a huge fan of the weather getting colder but there are a few perks. Enjoying warm drinks at this time of year is definitely one them! I put together this cute, colorful, and festive Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar for us to enjoy while Ethan and I decorated our Christmas tree. It did the trick for putting us in the holiday spirit.

This year I’m more excited than ever for the holidays. It’s the first time in my adult life that I have space for a regular sized Christmas tree and to do holiday decorating at all. I bought the pink Christmas tree of my dreams and I can’t wait to reveal it in all its glory! Perhaps I can even throw a little holiday party since I’m so proud of how everything came out. I don’t know about you but I love a “build your own anything station” at a holiday gathering. Today I’m sharing how to build a simple Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar for your own winter or holiday gathering.

You can make your own hot chocolate like the recipe I made here or put a Keurig out if you own one. I did both that way people could choose what they wanted. The Keurig route is definitely easier but I love making fresh hot chocolate from scratch. I put my fresh hot chocolate in an enamel serving pot and left out a jar of hot chocolate pods for the Keurig.

You can use little glass jars to house all your hot chocolate toppings. My favorite hot chocolate toppings include:

mini chocolate chips
mini marshmallows (I bought regular and peppermint)
sprinkles
crushed peppermint
flavored stirring spoons or straws
marshmallow snowflakes and snowmen

I don’t like to add booze to the hot chocolate mix. Since it’s hot it can burn the alcohol off. It’s nice to put out a few bottles that go best with hot chocolate. Guests can pick their favorite spirit and mix it to their own taste. It also allows the hot chocolate to be non-alcoholic. Hello children, non-drinkers, and pregnant ladies! They all need a holiday treat too! My favorite spirits to leave out on my Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar are:

Irish cream (like Kerrygold)
Licor 43
whiskey (bourbon, rye, or Irish)
rum (spiced or dark)
brandy (American, French, or Spanish)
sherry (Pedro Ximenez)
creme de cacao (I love Tempus Fugit)
coffee liqueur
amaretto or biscotti liqueur (Faretti)

This is an easy and delicious treat when you’re having holiday guests over. It takes the pressure off of you while you’re entertaining and guests get to make their own delicious wintery treat! I hope you consider putting a Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar together for your festivities. Don’t forget to include some fun holiday decor as well!

Be Merry Balloon Banner / Hot Cocoa Pot / Pink Marble Mugs / Bottle Brush Trees from Target and Homegoods / My Cinema Lightbox / Pink Tree

Boozy Hot Chocolate

November 28, 2017 by Natalie 1 Comment

The history of hot chocolate dates back to Aztecs and Mayans, but it was the Spanish who first experimented with adding sugar and milk, in addition to a host of modifiers, including cinnamon, orange peel, and even ambergris, to spice it up. Spirited variations on the hot chocolate can take many forms. My favorite things to mix in Boozy Hot Chocolate is whiskey, rum, tequila, cream liqueur, vanilla liqueur, creme de cacao, coffee liqueur, or even sherry.

I created this Boozy Hot Chocolate variation with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur to promote their Holiday Contest where those who enter the contest will be up for a chance to win a trip to NYC for St. Patrick’s Day complete with a cash prize and tickets to an exclusive, VIP event with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur. Contestant’s cocktails will be judged, based on visual aspects, creativity, and overall execution. This contest will run from mid-November through the end of December, with the winner being announced in January. For more details on the contest and to enter, visit: www.kerrygoldirishcream.com/NYC. Rules and restrictions apply. US entrants only. Must be 21 years or older to enter.

Boozy Hot Chocolate, serves 1

1 oz. Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur

1 oz. Irish Whiskey

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar

pinch of salt

1 cup of milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, salt, and about 2 tablespoons milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until all ingredients have dissolved and then whisk in the remainder of the milk. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot. Add the vanilla extract and whisk until completely incorporated.

Once the hot chocolate is prepared you can build your drink. Add the Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur and whiskey to your desired serving vessel. Pour the hot chocolate on top, stir, and garnish with marshmallows or whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

This recipe multiplies very easily in case you want to make a larger batch. Add the hot chocolate and your spirits to an enamel pot or pitcher so that it stays warm for serving. This Boozy Hot Chocolate is a breeze to make and is sure to keep you nice and toasty on a cold day. I hope you try this one at home or come up with your own recipe. If you do don’t forget to enter the contest. I’d love to see you in NYC for St. Patrick’s Day. Happy sipping and good luck! xo

hot chocolate

Boozy Chai Hot Chocolate, makes 2 servings

Boozy Hot Chocolate, serves 1

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