Rich Bourbon Hot Chocolate with Boozy Whipped Cream Stars {Recipe}

I made some delicious Bourbon Fudgesicles this summer, and as I was whipping them up I made a mental note to come back and tweak the recipe for a yummylicious hot chocolate beverage when the weather was right. The recipes are very similar, but the main difference besides the serving temp is that this hot chocolate can have more booze because it doesn't have to freeze (too much alcohol would prevent popsicles from freezing, as the booze lowers the freezing point of the mixture).

This wonderfully rich chocolatey recipe is perfect for a sweet romantic night at home with your honey by the fire on a cold winter night. It is pretty strong, so if you want to switch out some of the bourbon for a bit more water, that would be just fine, depending on your preference.

I would also recommend making the whipped cream first if you want to make the cute little star shapes, since it needs a few hours in the freezer to work. Enjoy!

Rich Bourbon Hot Chocolate

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2 TBS dutch-processed cocoa powder*
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup bourbon 
• 1.5 cups water

*Dutch-Processed cocoa powder is an unsweetened cocoa that has been alkalized to neutralize the acid.  It has a more delicate flavor than the other kind of unsweetened cocoa powder, referred to as Natural cocoa powder which has an intense flavor and tastes quite bitter. Lindt is a popular example of Dutch-Processed cocoa, while Ghirardelli is a well-known Natural cocoa powder.

DIRECTIONS:

Combine sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt in a saucepan with water. Warm over medium heat and whisk constantly until mixture just begins to boil. Remove from heat.

Add in bourbon and stir just before serving. Use a ladel to spoon into mugs.

Boozy Whipped Cream Stars

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp booze of choice (bourbon, brandy, cointreau, etc.) *I used bourbon :)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine ingredients in a medium or large bowl and whisk together with an electric beater until soft peaks form on the cream, about 3 minutes.

Transfer fresh whipped cream mixture to a wide flat dish (like a pie plate) and smooth mixture flat and as even as possible. Place in the freezer for several hours.

When the mixture is frozen, use your favorite mini cookie cutters (like these) to cut out shapes in the whipped cream. Place them on top of your delicious homemade hot chocolate and watch them melt hearts as they melt away!

Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you'll let me know what you think of this decadent rich chocolatey boozy beverage!