The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (2024)

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A co*cktail that doubles as dessert? We’re in. This recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate with Red Wine is so incredible, we can’t think of a better reason to toast marshmallows.It’s from our friends at California Wines – and they know a thing or two about wine co*cktails!

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (1)

This inviting, toasty adults-only cocoa is made with a bottle of fruit-forward California red wine, like Merlot or Zinfandel. It can be prepared in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, so you can choose the wine and the method that suit you best. Use dairy, almond, or coconut milk to truly make it your own.

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (2)

What wine is best for making homemade hot chocolate with red wine?

Why Merlot or Zinfandel? Well, they’re food-friendly varietals that can stand out in a crowd (or a hot chocolate recipe.)

California Merlot is known for being luscious and approachable, but the right bottle can go glass-to-glass with the biggest, boldest Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bold and rambunctious, Zinfandel can take your palate on an odyssey of flavor, from raspberry to black pepper, cloves, and licorice.

One of our oldest and most revered vines, it’s known as both California’s signature grape and America’s Heritage Grape. You can learn more about the wines made in the Golden State on the California Wines website here.

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (3)

Now, about that hot chocolate…

California Wines suggest that you serve their recipe for homemade hot chocolate alongside fresh California Walnuts for cracking. Seems like the perfect pairing to us. Plus the marshmallows, of course.

When you make this recipe for homemade hot chocolate, be sure to tag us on Instagram at @cagrownofficial and use #CAGROWN

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (4)

Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate with Red Wine

K.C. Cornwell

This homemade hot chocolate with red wine is a co*cktail that doubles as dessert! This adults-only warm co*cktail comes together easily and can sit in the slow cooker or on the stovetop during a party, adding an incredible fragrance and equally delicious treat. Marshmallows or whipped cream are optional, but encouraged.

4.23 from 53 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 10 servings

Calories 365 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dark or semi sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup brown sugar packed
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • teaspoon salt
  • 5 cups whole milk or almond or coconut
  • 1 750- ml bottle fruit-forward California red wine such as Merlot or Zinfandel
  • Marshmallows or whipped cream for serving

Instructions

Slow Cooker Method:

  • Whisk the chocolate chips, brown sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, salt and milk together in a slow cooker set on high. Cover and allow to come to temperature (10-15 minutes), then whisk again and add wine. Cook on high for one hour, stopping to whisk every 20 minutes. Reduce to warm to hold.

  • Ladle hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows and enjoy.

Stovetop Method:

  • Whisk the chocolate chips, brown sugar, cocoa, cinnamon and salt together in a large saucepan or stockpot. Add milk and bring to a low simmer over medium-low heat, whisking often. Once hot chocolate is blended and smooth (about 8-10 minutes), reduce to low heat and add wine. Cook for 5 minutes more.

  • Ladle hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows and enjoy.

Notes

Toasted marshmallows are optional, but encouraged.

Nutrition

Calories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 82mgPotassium: 430mgFiber: 1gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 199IUVitamin C: 0.004mgCalcium: 195mgIron: 1mg

Keyword hot chocolate, red wine, wine

Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

Recipe by K.C. Cornwell for California Wines. See more of K.C.’s work on her blog G-Free Foodie

Red Wine Hot Chocolate Photos by Meg van der Kruik. See more of Meg’s work on her blog This Mess Is Ours

Ready for more warm co*cktail recipes? We are too!

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (5)

Get ready for your new favorite winter co*cktail: theWarm Sugar Plum!

Sweet dreams are made of…. spiced rum. Well, spiced rum, orange & prune juices, and some spices. You won’t believe the incredibly Christmas-y smell thiswarm winter co*cktailfills your home with. And your friends will be begging for the recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Mulled White Wine: You’ll love this.

Aromatic white wines such as Riesling, Muscat (Moscato), or Chenin Blanc are all great choices for making mulled white wine.

For this pumpkin spice-inspired version fromThis Mess is Ours, she opted for a nice butteryChardonnay.

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (6)
The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (7)

Hot Buttered Rum: YUM!

Hot buttered rum contains a variety of spices that are combined to create a warm and inviting flavor that’s ideal for the winter months. Be sure to look for butter with the Real CA Milk seal!

Mulled Red Wine: Warm California Goodness!

Our easy recipe for Mulled Wine was inspired by Vin Brulé – a popular spiced wine recipe served in Italy. Make mulled red wine and let us know what you think!

The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (8)
The Best Recipe for Homemade Hot Chocolate With Red Wine (2024)

FAQs

What is the best alcohol to put in hot chocolate? ›

You'll feel super cozy with a cup of hot chocolate with any of these boozy mix-ins: peppermint schnapps, mint schnapps, vanilla schnapps, butterscotch schnapps, Frangelico, Kahlua, Rumchata, peanut butter whiskey, Triple Sec, Godiva chocolate liqueur, Fireball, brandy, Grand Marnier, Rumplemintz, orange liqueur, ...

What makes hot chocolate taste better? ›

The 15 Best Things To Add To Hot Chocolate
  1. Add an extract. A quick and easy way to add flavor to your hot chocolate is by adding a splash of your favorite extract. ...
  2. Sprinkle in warm spices. ...
  3. Mix in Nutella. ...
  4. Swirl in caramel. ...
  5. Spike it. ...
  6. Infuse it with orange. ...
  7. Swap regular sugar for maple syrup. ...
  8. Add a shot (of coffee)
Dec 4, 2023

Which chocolate goes best with red wine? ›

Melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate is one of the most straightforward varieties to pair with wine because it's so velvety and neutral. Match with the sparkling sweet red wine Brachetto and wow your tastebuds.

Is red wine and chocolate good for you? ›

Red wine and dark chocolate can both provide numerous benefits when consumed in moderation. From improved heart health thanks to red wine's polyphenols to boost iron levels from eating dark chocolate, there are plenty of reasons why these decadent treats should be a part of your regular diet!

Does alcohol cook out of hot chocolate? ›

It is hard to believe but, once cooked, about 70-75% of its alcohol content remains on the plate. It is a different matter when alcohol is mixed with an ingredient and then heated to boiling point. After 15 minutes, 40% of the alcohol remains, after 30 minutes 35%, and only after two and a half hours 5%.

Is hot chocolate best made with milk or water? ›

Although hot chocolate doesn't necessarily need an even more creamy, decadent taste, using milk certainly enriches the experience. We suspect that milk adds a creamier taste than water alone, and when combined with the notes of chocolate, the smooth undertones of the milk simply add a delicious backdrop.

How do you reduce the bitterness in hot chocolate? ›

Use Milk or Cream

Adding milk or cream to dark chocolate can significantly reduce its bitterness. The fats in milk or cream soften the intense flavours of the cocoa, creating a smoother and less bitter taste. This method is especially effective when making hot chocolate or chocolate sauces.

What thickens hot chocolate? ›

Cornflour/Cornstarch: Mix a small amount with cold milk or water to create a smooth paste. Whisk this into your hot chocolate towards the end of the cooking process until it thickens. Double Cream: Stirring in a splash of double cream can instantly enrich and thicken your drink, giving it a velvety texture.

How do you mix chocolate and wine? ›

Something like a Merlot or even a Merlot-based Bordeaux will balance the chocolate's sweetness with light fruit and, in some cases, a slight earthiness. Red blends are natural pairing options due to their penchant for being a bit more fruit-forward. In fact, any fruit-forward wine will work.

Why does red wine and chocolate go together? ›

The first reason why red wine and dark chocolate work so well in combination is because they both contain tannins. Tannins are chemicals that create a “puckering” and drying sensation in one's mouth by binding the proteins in your saliva to make it less slippery. Technically this is called astringency.

Is red wine good or bad for liver? ›

This study defined modest alcohol intake as up to 70 grams (g) or less than 2.5 ounces (oz) per week. That said, the impact of red wine on liver health is complicated. Although it provides antioxidants and reduces oxidative stress, drinking can also increase uric acid and triglycerides, which damages the liver.

Does drinking red wine make you healthier? ›

Although more research is needed, some studies show that red wine is good for heart health because it helps reduce the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries. Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may reduce the risk of cancer by discouraging cancer cell growth.

What do chocolate and wine do to the body? ›

Cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, and alcohol, including red wine, contain antioxidants that have been shown to: Increase good cholesterol (HDL) Decrease bad cholesterol (LDL) Improve blood vessel and blood-clotting functions.

What alcohol is good for hot? ›

Gin. At home in any number of fizzy, refreshing drinks, gin is perhaps the perfect summer spirit. Classic drinks of the season include such venerables as the Tom Collins, the Gin Rickey and of course, the Gin and Tonic, along with a number of cooling relatives.

Is it good to mix chocolate with alcohol? ›

It depends on your tolerance to alcohol as much as the alcohol content of the chocolates, though. You're more likely to go into sugar shock (Diabetic hypoglycemia) from all the sugar in the chocolate, but you could do it.

Which rum is best for hot chocolate? ›

Issac: A dark rum would go well with hot chocolate. As for recommendations for someone who is new to rums, Don Q Anejo wins hands down as the best buy considering flavor and price.

What alcohol is good in hot coffee? ›

Whiskey, brandy, rum, and other dark liquors are favorites. They are versatile and easy to use in coffee co*cktail recipes. And if you've got more of a sweet tooth, you can not miss mixing coffee with Irish cream, amaretto, and other flavored liquors to make varied and tasty coffee co*cktails.

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