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Dive into the rich, creamy bliss of this chocolate martini recipe! This decadent cocktail blends rich chocolate liqueur, vodka, and Baileys for a flavor explosion.
Looking for a cocktail to please a chocoholic? Try this chocolate martini recipe! This drink is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass. It stars Irish cream and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite chocolate bar.
Mix this up as an after-dinner drink to impress guests, or anytime you need a sweet treat in cocktail form. You’ll be smitten, I promise!
Ingredients Needed
The chocolate martini is a vodka martini made with Irish cream and a chocolate liqueur or syrup. Legend has it that the classic chocolate martini was invented by Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in 1955 while filming the Hollywood classic movie, Giant, together. They added chocolate syrup and chocolate liqueur to the vodka martini.
It’s become a concept that all bartenders riff on, so there’s no “official” definition like the Espresso Martini. You’ll find chocolate martinis with just vodka and chocolate liqueur, but many add chocolate syrup, Baileys Irish cream, or other ingredients. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this chocolate martini recipe:
- 2 oz Irish cream (like Baileys)
- 1 oz crème de cacao or other chocolate liqueur
- 1 oz vodka
Preparing the Glass
The chocolate martini is all about presentation! For decorating the glass, there are three different elements you can add to maximize the visual and flavor impact:
- Chocolate syrup: Drizzle chocolate syrup into the inside of a martini glass in a swirl pattern.
- Cocoa powder and brown sugar: Wet the rim of a martini glass, then dip and rotate it in a plate of 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar. This adds a chocolaty crunch to each sip. Another option is to draw a circle of chocolate syrup on a plate and dip the rim.
- Grated chocolate: If desired, top the drink with grated chocolate (optional).
What Is Creme de Cacao?
Creme de cacao might not be something you’re used to stocking in your liquor cabinet. It’s most famous for its use in the Brandy Alexander and the Grasshopper, but it’s also popular in a chocolate martini!
- Creme de cacao is a cocoa-flavored liqueur available in both white (clear) and dark varieties. It’s one of the older alcoholic beverages, made in the 1600’s by monks after cocoa beans were brought back to Europe from America.
- What does creme de cacao taste like? White creme de cacao, the clear variety, tastes like milk chocolate with notes of vanilla.
- Is it worth buying? Creme de cacao costs between $10 to $20 for a 750 ml bottle. It’s worth buying if you like sweet cocktails! You can use leftovers to make creme de cacao drinks like the Brandy Alexander, Grasshopper, or Bushwacker.
More About Irish Cream
Irish cream is a liqueur made with Irish whiskey and cream. The most popular Irish cream is Baileys, but there are other brands (I used a different brand for this recipe). The most popular Irish cream cocktail is the Mudslide, a variant of the classic creamy White Russian.
How to Make a Chocolate Martini
Got those specialty liquors? Then you’re good to go! There are lots of ways to make a chocolate martini, like with melted chocolate or chocolate syrups. This one works well with straight-up cocoa powder. Here’s what to do:
- Shake in a cocktail shaker: Add 2 oz Baileys, 1 oz vodka, and 1 oz creme de cacao, then add 2 handfuls of ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
- Strain and garnish. That’s it! Strain it into the prepared martini glass and garnish with a little grated chocolate.
When to Serve It
The chocolate martini recipe works before, after, or anytime in between dinner. Serve it as a:
- Happy hour drink
- Dessert cocktail
- Valentine’s Day or romantic dinner drink
- Afternoon cocktail
- Girls or guys night drink
- Cocktail hour drink
Best Chocolate Martini
Dive into the rich, creamy bliss of this chocolate martini recipe! This decadent cocktail blends rich chocolate liqueur, vodka, and Baileys for a flavor explosion.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* Irish cream (like Baileys)
- 1 ounce creme de cacao
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar, for the rim (optional)
- Chocolate syrup, for the glass
- Grated chocolate, for the garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wet the rim of a martini glass. Spread 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar on a plate, stir them together and spread into a single layer. Dip the outside of the rim of the glass into the plate. If desired, pour a swirl of chocolate syrup into the martini glass.
- Add the Irish cream, creme de cacao and vodka to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with 2 handfuls of ice and shake it until cold.
- Strain the drink into the prepared glass. If desired, garnish with grated chocolate.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
wow, don’t think I’ve had a chocolate martini before but it certainly works for me, saving this for the weekend, thank you