At some point, you've likely seen a video, picture, article or something about red wine hot chocolate. It was viral for awhile. And let me just say, it deserves ALL.the.hype. Before making my own batch of red wine hot cocoa, I had never tried it and now I don't know how I got along all this time without a spiked hot cocoa recipe in my life! Red wine hot chocolate is everything you would expect from combining dessert, wine, and winter comfort plus more. And, like most of the recipes I share here on the blog, it's simple to make. Just five ingredients and about 20 minutes stand between you and your life being forever changed by creamy hot cocoa so let's get into it!
You might be wondering if red wine goes with hot chocolate, and it definitely does. I'm actually not a milk chocolate fan. The darker the better, in my opinion. 🙂 For this reason, I use 60% cacao baking chocolate and 100% cacao cocoa powder to develop this red wine hot chocolate recipe but feel free to use whatever suits your preference. I will say that it's perfect as is because any bitterness in the dark chocolate is balanced out by the sweetness in the fruity red wine. If you do opt for a sweeter chocolate variation, I recommend using a drier wine instead. It's all about balance.
A few hot drink recipes to try:
What Goes into Red Wine Dark Chocolate?
- Dark or Bittersweet Chocolate Bars
- Cocoa Powder
- Fruity Red Wine
- Heavy Cream
- Sugar
Is it Hot Cocoa or Hot Chocolate?
In case you're wondering "What's the difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa?" let me drop a little knowledge on you. Hot cocoa uses cocoa powder whereas hot chocolate typically uses creamy chocolate that you'd get from melting chocolate chips or chocolate bars. As you might have gathered, my recipe has both. So I kind of refer to it as red wine hot cocoa or red wine hot chocolate interchangeably. Cuz it is technically both. It's definitely a unique hot chocolate recipe that has become part of my holiday tradition.
- Creamy Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa
- Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate Frappe
- Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
- Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Cocoa
At first sip, I thought "This is too good!" I looked around suspiciously like I was clasping an earth-shattering secret in my little mug. I could not believe how perfectly it turned out the first time I made it so...I made it again. And again. And it's good, y'all. Really good.
The consistency is rich, creamy, and so decadent. The flavor is chocolatey, fruity, and not overly sweet. This alcoholic hot chocolate recipe makes about two and a half normal-sized mugs or two heaping mugs full. I think it's perfect for just about anybody who is of legal drinking age. You can tailor the flavor profile by using the type of chocolate and wine of your choice.
Drinking a cozy mug of red wine hot cocoa has been a nice moment of indulgence in the midst of a very busy season for me. I'm currently balancing work, blogging, getting more involved in my church, and prepping for the holiday season. I'm reaching the end of my home buying journey, so would definitely appreciate any prayers and positive thoughts for a smooth closing process! And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this red wine hot chocolate recipe on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
P.S. More red wine and chocolate recipes you'll love:
How to Make Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate broken into pieces
- 2 cups sweet red wine
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar or to taste
Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Keep an eye on the chocolate to prevent burning.
- Once most of the chocolate is melted, add in heavy cream and stir until incorporated.
- Add cocoa powder and sugar and stir vigorously to get rid of any lumps. Cook mixture for two minutes or so, allowing it to thicken.
- Add red wine to saucepan and continue cooking for no more than another minute, stirring continuously. Do not bring to a boil. Remove from heat and serve warm.
Notes
Britney says
I made this to watch the election and it really helped with the anxiety of it all because it was so good. Hot chocolate and red wine = perfect combo!
Chenée Lewis says
HOW had I never heard of red wine hot chocolate before??? This was so good -- definitely gonna be a big part of my wintertime happy hours at home!!
Samantha says
This is definitely a decadent and delicious treat! You can't go wrong with red wine and hot chocolate. YUM!
Crystal says
Ok I must be living under a rock but I have never heard of red wine hot chocolate, but as soon as you mentioned I knew I had to try it! Delicious. And interesting about hot cocoa and hot chocolate! Didn’t even know there was a difference!
Capri says
I am soooo excited to share this with my family! It’s such an amazing recipe!
Samiah Nicole says
This is absolutely the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had. I’ll definitely be making this regularly!
Barry J. says
I've been looking for a spiked hot chocolate recipe with red wine for so long now! This was perfect and I absolutely love it. I was always uncertain as to when to add the wine, but I loved how you whisked it in last while making this recipe. I'm going to try making a red wine syrup and see how it works with this recipe.
Kate Hahnel says
We had the ingredients in stock by chance and tried this red wine hot chocolate. Soooo yummy!!! It was so worth trying it. It will now be one of our winter drinks.
Krysten says
I had red wine hot chocolate once and was desperate to find the recipe. So happy I tried this one, it is perfect! I’m such a sucker for chocolate and red wine together, so naturally this tastes amazing. Perfect for cozying up with my husband!
Aline says
OMG what a great idea!! I always use premium chocolate too, but never added wine!! Excited to try!
Renia says
Literally would have never made this if I'd not seen this recipe. Substituted carob for the chocolate and am truly in love with this!!
SHANIKA says
This Hot Chocolate looks so good! I'm loving the use of premium chocolate and the addition of Red Wine! Killer combo!
LaKita says
This is the perfect combination of my two favorite things, red wine and chocolate!!!!
Mila says
This will most certainly soothe my soul during the holidays. GREAT recipe, Jazzmine!
Adri says
This sounds absolutely amazing. I'm glad I saw this in time, being that it's the week before Thanksgiving. My family is in for a treat!
Calysta says
This is definitely hot chocolate for the grown and sexy! I love it!!