This Red Wine Hot Chocolate is sweet, just a touch boozy, and oh so decadent. Make a mug just for yourself or enjoy it with a loved one!
Interested in more cocktails made with wine? Try my Kalimotxo Cocktail or Cheerwine Sangria!
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🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
It's warm and cozy. This boozy hot chocolate is like a hug in a mug.
It tastes great. Chocolate and red wine play very well together.
It is very easy to make. It is so easy to make your own homemade hot chocolate, and just as easy to add a bit of red wine to the mix!
💭 What is Red Wine Hot Chocolate?
Red Wine Hot Chocolate starts with sweet and creamy homemade hot chocolate as the base. The drink retains its sweetness, but has a much more complex flavor than if you were just drinking plain hot chocolate. It's truly the grown up version of everyone's favorite cold day kid-friendly sip.
It's so easy to make on the stovetop! Do not be intimidated. Once the hot chocolate comes together, all you need to do is kill the heat and add some red wine!
📝 Ingredients
Just a handful of really good ones. Check 'em out below.
- Half and half - I've used half and half when making this hot chocolate, but I imagine that 2% or whole milk would also work. Heck, use heavy cream if you're feeling EXTRA decadent. I've never tried it with non-dairy milks, however.
- Chocolate - I used semi-sweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips. But use whatever suits you: milk or dark chocolate, chips, chunks, or chopped chocolate bars.
- Vanilla Extract - Just a splash of good quality vanilla extract.
- Red Wine - I made sure to use a red wine that paired well with chocolate. A Google search told me that Merlot, Zinfandel, or Syrah would be a good pick. Make sure you use something that you wouldn't mind drinking on its own.
- Whipped Cream - Freshly made or from a spray can. Either works. I whipped up some lightly sweetened whipped cream just for the occasion.
- Marshmallows - Make some marshmallows from scratch if you're feeling fancy! My store bought mini marshmallows did the trick, though.
👩🏻🍳 How does this recipe come together?
I always forget how easy and basically effortless it is to make homemade hot chocolate until I start actually making it again. All you'll need to do is heat some half and half on the stove until warm, but not boiling or scalded. Add some chocolate, and stir until everything is smooth.
From there, you just need to turn off the heat and add some vanilla extract and the red wine. Stir it all up and there you have it.
Just ladle the hot chocolate into a couple of mugs and top with whipped cream and marshmallows!
🍷 What kind of wine should I use?
A red one, for starters 😉
For the best results, I'd advise you to use a red wine that pairs well with chocolate. According to Google, that's something like a Merlot, a Zinfandel, or a Syrah. Regardless of what you choose to use, just make sure that it's something that you wouldn't mind drinking a glass or two of.
It doesn't have to be expensive, either! I picked up an $11 bottle of Merlot and it was great in this hot chocolate. And then it was great again when my husband and I finished the bottle later in the day.
🍫 What kind of chocolate should I use for this hot chocolate?
Preference comes into play here a bit more. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, because I tend to think of semi-sweet chocolate as being kind of an all-purpose chocolate. But if you dig dark chocolate (I bet it would be great in this recipe), use that instead. You could also use milk chocolate, if that's your preference. Just be mindful of the fact that the type of chocolate that you choose will dictate how sweet the hot chocolate is.
You could also use chocolate chips, chunks, or chopped up chocolate bars. You do you.
❓ FAQ
Use a red that pairs well with chocolate: Merlot, Zinfandel, or Syrah.
Whatever you prefer!
The recipe is written for 2 mugs of hot chocolate, but you can make more by multiplying the amount of ingredients by
🔗 Other drinks made with wine
Need more cocktails made with wine? Click on any of the photos below to go straight to the recipes!
✨ Recipe
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups half and half see notes
- ¾ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips see notes
- splash of vanilla extract
- ½ cup red wine see notes
- whipped cream and marshmallows for garnish
Instructions
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, set over medium-low heat, warm the half and half until beginning to bubble slightly around the edges. Be careful not to let it boil, and do not scorch it.
- Add the chocolate and whisk continuously until melted and smooth.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the vanilla extract and red wine. Whisk until combined and smooth.
- Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream and marshmallows, if desired.
Notes
- I've preferred half and half, but I believe that 2%, whole milk, or heavy cream would work, as well. I have not yet tried to make this with non-dairy milks.
- Use dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate, according to your preference. Also feel free to use chips, chunks, or chopped bars of chocolate.
- For best results, use a red wine that pairs well with chocolate (Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah would all be good picks) and that you wouldn't mind drinking a glass of on its own.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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