Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini

Celebrate Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day in style with a homemade Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini. Sweet, chilled and utterly delicious, this dairy-free twist on a classic martini goes down smooth and makes a perfect dessert cocktail!

Two cocktail glasses of Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martinis on red napkins

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Valentine’s Day is this weekend!

Make a martini that tastes like a hot chocolate (except it’s cold!) for your date! Or for your friends!

They’ll be thankful you did… especially if this drink is served after dinner as a dessert cocktail.

Angled overhead view of vanilla hot chocolate martini in glass

I know Valentine’s Day is a love/hate holiday for most people.

I’m one of the weird ones who is indifferent about it.

Winston and I have a long-standing tradition of not celebrating Valentine’s on the actual day. We’ve always enjoyed trying a new restaurant around the fabled day of love, but we like to stay in the night of and make ourselves a fancy dinner.

This year, we’re having a cocktail dessert because that’s how we roll.

Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini in cocktail glass

Valorie and I whipped this cocktail up the last time she was here making coffee cocktails. It was a complete accident, really, but we were both pleasantly surprised with it.

It’s darn good.

It’s tasty.

And this particular martini doesn’t taste like it has any booze in it, even though it’s actually swimming in booze.

So. Proceed with caution, but prepare to be delighted by this dessert cocktail.

Close up of vanilla hot chocolate martini in glass with seasoned rim

Essential Tools for the Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini

Other Awesome Valentine’s Drinks

Two different views of vanilla hot chocolate martinis in cocktail glasses

I meaaaaaaaan… it’s basically perfect.

And the recipe is just below.

Two cocktail glasses of Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martinis on red napkins
Yield: 2 martinis

Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes

Celebrate Valentine's or Galentine's Day in style with a homemade Vanilla Hot Chocolate Martini. Sweet, chilled and utterly delicious, this dairy-free twist on a classic martini goes down smooth and makes a perfect dessert cocktail!

Ingredients

Martinis

  • 4 oz. cashew milk, , unsweetened (or other non-dairy milk)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
  • Pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 2 oz. vodka
  • 1 ½ oz. white creme de cocoa
  • 1 oz. vanilla simple syrup

Vanilla Simple Syrup

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 vanilla bean, , split

Instructions

Make the Vanilla Simple Syrup

  1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the water and sugar.
  2. Heat over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved into the water. (Don't bring it to a boil, just gently heat until the mixture is clear.)
  3. Pour into a mason jar, and add the vanilla bean.
  4. Steep overnight in the refrigerator, then remove the vanilla bean.
  5. Store for up to three weeks before mixing the martinis.

Make the Martinis

  1. Mix the unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar and cinnamon in the bottom of a microwave-proof glass until well-mixed and combined. Pour the cashew milk on top, then heat for 1-2 minutes until the milk warms through. Mix in the dry ingredients, stirring until everything is combined.
  1. In a cocktail shaker, add several pieces of ice. Pour the hot chocolate cashew milk on top of the ice, then add the vodka, white creme de cocoa and the vanilla simple syrup.
  2. Shake until the drink is well-chilled and combined, then pour into two martini glasses, which have been rimmed with additional unsweetened cocoa powder/sugar mixture.
  3. Enjoy chilled!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 680Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 141gFiber: 3gSugar: 132gProtein: 3g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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5 Comments

  1. I’ve decided 2017 is going to be the year I make more cocktails and this looks like a great place to start!

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