A quick and easy recipe pairing red wine and hot chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth and warm you up

Make your next hot chocolate rich and boozy

I’ve had Baileys in my coffee, obviously. I’ve enjoyed many a cups of mulled wine. But when this popped up on Google, my mind was a little bit blown. Red wine hot chocolate. Let’s say it again: red. wine. hot. chocolate! Why did I never think of this? I think this one is up there in terms of decadence. I’m having a hard time thinking of another indulgence that will be as rich and bold. Except for maybe red wine hot chocolate served with red velvet cake! I’m thinking this one is to be sipped, not gulped. I drink mostly white wine but enjoy an occasional glass of red, especially on a cozy winter night. I think I can handle a mug of this cocoa while curled up on the couch. Add in a friend or two, and even better.

How to make a decadent red wine hot chocolate

Most of the recipes I browsed are pretty similar. Warm milk, cocoa powder, chocolate (bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate), maybe a dash of cinnamon and a pinch of salt. You can also try whatever hot chocolate base you normally use. Just remember, red wine and dark chocolate pair best (as you’ll learn in my post on everything you need to know about pairing wine and chocolate). A fruity red wine like Shiraz, Zinfandel, or Merlot will work well.

The rule of thumb is one cup of wine per three cups of milk, though some recipes I came across were one for one. Depends how boozy you want it!

So get your hot chocolate ready (from your mix or by combining your ingredients, and heating, melting, and whisking until all lumps are gone), mix in the wine, heat it all up some more, and enjoy!

Tip: you could also add a splash of vanilla, and/or a dash nutmeg. Be sure to top with marshmallows or serve with a cinnamon stick, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or even a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

This combination is not new, according to the internet. But it’s new to me and maybe to you too. This is the first time I’ve come across it. Enjoy red wine hot chocolate on a cozy night in or serve it as dessert at your next dinner party. Impress your guests and step up your next holiday party or mid-winter gathering with a boozy mug of hot chocolate! You could even throw all the ingredients into a crockpot (use a bottle of wine and 8 cups of milk) and let your guests ladle it straight into mugs. It’s going to be rich so keep smaller servings in mind.

I know what recipe I’ll be trying for my next après ski!

What you need for red wine hot chocolate
-Red wine - Shiraz, Zinfandel, or Merlot will work well. If using a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon, don’t go as dark with the chocolate
-Cocoa powder
-Bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks of your favourite chocolate
-Milk (almond or other nut milk would be fine too, complement wine with nutty notes - and nutty chocolate!)
-Cinnamon
-Salt
Toppings: marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, chocolate shavings

What to do do
Mix your hot chocolate ingredients together in a pot on the stove, heating, melting, and mixing until smooth, or prepare your hot chocolate mix.
Pour in your red wine and once it’s all warmed up, serve a small portion into a mug or glass, and enjoy topped however you please.