Cocoa with a kick for winter coziness. Interesting ideas and recipes at a glance.
Cocoa with a kick: More than just a trendy drink
Who doesn't remember it from their own childhood: sitting comfortably with the family in the cold season and enjoying a warm cup of cocoa. It tastes best with a generous portion of cream and perhaps a few chocolate or sugar sprinkles.
But it's not just children who are enthusiastic about this classic. Adults also enjoy a warm chocolate drink. Cocoa with a kick is a popular companion in the cold and dark season.
Warm cocoa enhanced with a shot of Amaretto is very well-known and frequently drunk. But this isn't the only type of alcohol that's perfect for this sweet and warm temptation.
We have compiled the best recipes for cocoa with a kick for you. There are no limits to experimenting and trying things out. Feel free to try out the new and familiar creations with friends or family. You can find the right liqueurs for this in the delicando shop.
Classic hot cocoa with a kick
Before you reach for a simple and quick cocoa powder, you should try this variant of hot chocolate. Cocoa with a kick is not only more intense in taste, but also has unique and seductive aromas.
Ingredients:
- 380 ml whole milk
- 200 g dark chocolate
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
- 100 ml liquid cream
- 60 ml whipped cream
- 1 shot of Baileys
Preparation: For the cocoa with a kick, first chop the dark chocolate into small pieces. The smaller and finer the pieces, the better they will melt in the milk later. So it's worth being a little more precise here.
Now heat the milk together with the icing sugar in a saucepan. Constant stirring is very important here, as the milk can quickly boil over. The liquid cream is also added.
Once everything is nice and warm (but not boiling), the pot can be removed from the stove. The chocolate is now added and, stirring constantly, it combines with the milk and cream.
Stirring during the melting process ensures that the contents of the pot reach an ideal drinking temperature. As soon as the chocolate is liquid, everything can be divided into two cups.
The shot of Baileys is added according to taste. We recommend Baileys The Original Irish Cream 17% Vol. 0.7l. The light taste of whiskey, cream, a hint of cocoa, chocolate and vanilla goes perfectly with cocoa with a kick. To finish, drape the whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate with a kick and the drink is ready to be served.
Choco Glow 43
Would you like something special and a little surprise in your cocoa? Then unusual recipes are required. Unusual surprises in the aromas and type of alcohol make the small but fine difference in cocoa with a kick.
Ingredients:
- 80 ml hot cocoa
- 50 ml Licor 43
- 1 espresso
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate for decoration
Preparation: The warm cocoa can be prepared either in the classic way with milk and dark chocolate or with simple cocoa powder. However, it is important that the temperatures are in a pleasant and not too high range, so that the cocoa with a kick ultimately has a pleasant drinking temperature.
Now add the Licor 43 and a cup of espresso to the cocoa. For those who love vanilla, Licor 43 CUARENTA Y TRES ORIGINAL 31% Vol. 0.7l is ideal. The liquids are thoroughly mixed with a small spoon so that the flavors and aromas can combine wonderfully.
Whipped cream is perfect for decoration. Raspberries or other fruits can also be used here as a garnish, which emphasizes the fruity note of the Spanish liqueur. Small shavings of light or dark chocolate perfectly round off the cocoa with a kick.
Cocoa with a kick and a hint of mint
Everyone knows the familiar small chocolate thins with a creamy mint filling. The combination of fresh and sweet aroma is a true experience not only for the tongue. You can also use this for your cocoa with a kick.
Ingredients:
- 200 ml warm cocoa
- 2 cl peppermint liqueur
- Orange liqueur
- Cream
- Hazelnut brittle
Preparation: The base here is also warm cocoa. It is up to you, even with this recipe using herbal liqueur, which variant you choose. With a suitable cocoa powder, the cocoa with a kick is prepared faster, but the taste suffers greatly.
Once the cocoa is prepared and has the ideal drinking temperature, the peppermint liqueur can be added. It pays off here to have opted for the intense taste of dark chocolate. The sweet aroma does not get lost.
The drink is rounded off and made significantly more Christmassy with a shot of orange liqueur. However, this fruit liqueur is optional and can therefore also be omitted. For decorating the cocoa with a kick, cream and a few sprinkles of hazelnut brittle are also suitable in this case.
Cocoa with a kick: Open questions
The variations with this delicious drink are diverse. Cocoa with a kick is particularly popular in the cold season.
Preparation is quite simple, and in just a few minutes you can serve the most wonderful creations with a little creativity and ingenuity. But there are still some questions that arise during preparation.
Is every type of alcohol suitable for cocoa with a kick?
Basically, there are no limits. Whatever you like can also be served in combination with warm chocolate. Tastes and preferences differ.
Liqueurs that already have a very sweet aroma are particularly popular, of course. Alcoholic beverages based on the taste of coffee, chocolate or similar aromas, such as coffee liqueur or chocolate liqueur, are also well suited.
Whiskey or even vodka are also popular alcoholic beverages that are often and very frequently used in cocoa with a kick. This results in a rather tart taste and less sweetness.
Why shouldn't cocoa be prepared from powder?
Of course, cocoa can be prepared much faster and easier with the appropriate powder. However, this method is not a very good choice for cocoa with a kick, as the aromas are not very intense.
Some types of alcohol, such as peppermint liqueur, have a very intense inherent taste. With the powder variant, the chocolate is completely lost. If you, on the other hand, opt for dark chocolate, the aromas can combine wonderfully.
Cocoa with a kick should always be prepared according to the classic and old-fashioned method. The minimal extra effort in preparation will definitely be worth it in the end. As an alternative, there is already cocoa powder made from natural dark chocolate. This is poured over with boiling water and has an intense taste. However, it lacks the creaminess of milk, which slightly detracts from the experience.
What decorations are suitable for cocoa with a kick?
Basically, there are no limits to decorating cocoa with a kick. Cream is always part of it. People who suffer from an intolerance can switch to alternatives for both cream and milk.
For the other decorative elements, you can orient yourself by the type of alcohol. With an amaretto, almond slivers go very well. If you have opted for a whiskey, it harmonizes very well with dark shavings of a dark chocolate.
If you want something sweeter and more playful, you can also use small marshmallows. These also dissolve in warm cocoa and leave a pleasant and sweet aroma in the cocoa with a kick.
When garnishing, however, you should only set accents. Too many elements can spoil the actual taste of cocoa with a kick. Highlights and minimal aromas, on the other hand, emphasize the overall composition.
FAQ – Questions and Answers
Are there non-alcoholic alternatives with a similar enjoyment factor? +
Yes - non-alcoholic cream liqueurs or syrups with hazelnut, vanilla, or caramel flavors provide the same warmth and sweetness, completely without alcohol.
Which spirit is suitable for a particularly creamy result? +
Liqueurs with milk or cream content - such as Irish Cream - give the cocoa a particularly soft texture. They combine well with the chocolate and provide a well-rounded mouthfeel.
What unusual combinations are there for cocoa with a kick? +
In addition to classics like rum or amaretto, some connoisseurs try herbal liqueurs, chili spirits, or fruit brandies. This creates exciting contrasts between sweet, spicy, and hot.
How can you make cocoa with a kick more wintry? +
Spices like cinnamon, cloves, or cardamom, as well as toppings like whipped cream or grated chocolate, enhance the feel-good factor and are ideal for the cold season.
Where can I find inspiration for different cocoa with a kick variations? +
Those who want to try new ideas can find inspiration at delicando: There you will find suitable spirits to create classic or creative variations to your own taste.
