Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila
When the weather outside is frightful…you’ll find this hot chocolate delightful. A Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila and Cayenne Pepper will warm you to the bone!
For very many years I only associated tequila with bad margaritas or single shots taken quickly and finished with a lick of salt off of my hand followed by sucking on a wedge of lime (oh yes I did!). About 20 years ago I was schooled a bit about the value of aging and discovered the beauty of Reposado and Anejo tequilas. And then one day I discovered this Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila and Cayenne Pepper. Oh my.
I began my tequila journey making my favorite margaritas and enjoyed good sipping tequila. It was a great lesson learned and those cocktails were good…but that was it, that was all tequila was good for, right?
Absolutely not! One year I made a warm coffee cocktail that was spiked with tequila and Kahlau and it was fabulous. I think using tequila typically in conjunction with citrus has too often limited our imaginations when thinking about possibilities. Used in a cocktail like this one the effect is warming and rich and wonderful. You have to promise to try it so you can also enjoy how good it is!
This drink calls for using disks of Mexican chocolate. The brand I normally use is Ibarra but today my pantry had this Nestle version. You should be able to find a package of them in the Mexican section of your local store but if not they are available online.
They’re a combination of chocolate and sugar and a hint of cinnamon…and really do make this cocktail fantastic. If you can’t find them, then use regular chocolate and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon into the drink as well as using it for garnish.
I took another leap of faith last year with these same ingredients and I think it resulted in the best pie I’ve ever made. Using this cocktail as inspiration I revised my favorite French Silk Pie with the addition of some tequila and cayenne pepper. OMG so good; you must try my version with a Mexican twist.
The key is to keep the spice modest so it just tickles your throat; the tequila is balanced nicely by the chocolate and sugar and all around it’s a really wonderful variation to an already delicious pie.
We have not been blessed with the cold recently sent to the eastern seaboard and points inland. While I am not eager for temps below zero degrees, I am ready for some snow. In Colorado, we NEED snow. Snow in the winter is hugely important to our water supply in the summer when our semi-arid region needs reservoirs to get us through the dry season.
If we don’t get some snow soon; we’ll have water restrictions and I’m not eager for those…my garden isn’t either. So this cocktail is meant for two things. Hoping it will warm the souls of those suffering from the frigid cold and send a message to the Snow God that I am ready…bring it!
This photo is actually one from my old yard; it snowed the day I originally posted this cocktail in 2012; that was my inspiration then. Now it’s bass ackwards and I’m hoping it will bring some of the white flurries stat. We had rain this week in Denver; almost unheard of in January but I’m hoping that’s a good sign!
This post today is a redo…trust me if I have posts 5 years or older they will get their turn. The old photo wasn’t really horrid even but I messed up when I styled it. I had these nice clear mugs with handles I thought the cocktail would look good in. And it did…but it wasn’t until I got my photos into Photoshop that I saw something I hated.
The mugs I used had raised lettering and this adorable rooster on the sides; so very country. So very not me. It was much more evident in Photoshop than in my camera as I didn’t recall it bothering me when I was shooting. UGH…I just don’t consider a tequila drink too adorable so every single time I saw this page I grimaced that I let that slip by me.The weather combined with my need to redo saw this finally be the day. Just in time for you to make some over the weekend; you won’t regret it…Cheers!
‘Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila and Cayenne Pepper’
Mexican Hot Chocolate with Tequila and Cayenne Pepper
Ingredients
- 3 cups Milk I used 1% and it was good
- 1 and 1/2 bars Ibarra chocolate; broken into chunks
- 6 Tbsp Scharffenberger Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tbsp Cane Sugar
- ⅛ - ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper start with 1/8 tsp and season to taste
- 4 ozs Tequila
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- Ground Cinnamon for Garnish
Instructions
- Warm the milk in a medium size heavy saucepan on medium heat, watching carefully.
- Add the Ibarra chocolate, the cocoa powder and the sugar.
- Heat until the chocolate dissolves, whisking to combine all ingredients.
- Season with the cayenne pepper. Start with 1/8 teaspoon and season to your taste.
- Pour the warm milk into 2 large mugs and add 2 oz of tequila.
- Top with whipping cream; sprinkle whipping cream with cinnamon.
This certainly does sound delightful! What a treat to enjoy when it’s cold outside.
Good garnish! Looks gorgeous. And it’s frigid again here, so I’m happy to see this warming cocktail return. Thanks!
We actually had SNOW today. Not much but hey it’s something and it sure is cold. I’ve got one I saved in the fridge…think tonight might be the night. My toes are cold…it will reach! 🙂
If you have enough chocolate bars and whipped cream and cocoa powder and sugar and cinnamon you could dump in a few ounces of diesel fuel or turpentine and likely not taste it- which is about what tequila tastes like. This is not an amazing culinary discovery- more of an extremely inappropriate way of drinking tequila and ludicrous. Leave out the tequila and just drink your cocoa. Or if you want the tequila, drink it over ice with a side of totopos y salsa.
Aw, is someone having himself a very bad day? You must be to come dump your anger here over a cocktail. Poor baby.
I had a form of this recently w XO Tequila and it was so smooth and delicious! I was looking for a recipe! Thanks
This is so decadent and good…hope you do try it. I love to serve it as a dessert after a dinner of tacos or other Mexican food; it’s perfect.
Yes I agree.. we put dark cocoa patron and it’s very smooth and yummy!
Hi. The hot chocolate with tequila recipe sounds amazing! I have a crowd here on Christmas Eve. Do you think it could be made and kept in a crockpot?
Happy holidays!
Deb
The boyfriend and I put this together tonight for the intermission in our classic horror flicks double-feature. We used a few chunks of ginger chocolate in there, on top of the recipe. It was a perfect twist for the evening!
Nice! Just one of my favorite things to drink in the winter. I love to surprise friends with them; the combination sounds a bit strange but the end result is certainly an example of the sum being greater than the parts. Cheers!
I would love to try this drink. I’ve always wanted to try the Mexican Drinking Chocolate. This sounds good too.
Seriously!!? Tequila AND chocolate — that can never be bad!
Right? Sounds foreign to some but after they have this they might question the wisdom of citrus! 🙂
I just found this recipe via How Sweet Eats. It looks delicious! I’m wondering where you go the Ibarra chocolate? Would it be in the hispanic food section of my Walmart? Or do I need to go to a specialty store?
I’m not sure but it could be; I found it in a small, local Mexican food store and I’m trying to remember if I’ve seen it at Walmart (without success!). I would try there first if it’s convenient. Worse case scenario? Use another chocolate bar and add some cinnamon to the mixture; Mexican chocolate bars have cinnamon in them.
Chocolate, peppers, cinnamon and tequila are a fantastic combo! I make a pie that is very similar – The New Mexican Hot Chocolate Pie. [ http://tequilatracker.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/tequila-chocolate-and-a-taste-of-new-mexico/ ]. If you don’t want to jump straight into the deep end with straight tequila, try using 1921 Tequila Cream. Think Bailey’s, but done with tequila – absolutely wonderful. Cheers!
Oh this would be right up my alley; something I’ve thought of even since I LOVE that hot chocolate and also a pie called a French Silk pie; sort of wanted to combine the two. I’ll let you know when I do! Wish I had some right this moment.
Fabulous!! I am making it this week, not kidding you.
I hope you do…it’s great. I have another wonderful, hot tequila drink coming this Friday; would be hard pressed to choose my favorite from the two of them!
Hi! I’m making this mix for a bunch of friends for Christmas. Sorry, for being dense, but when you say “1 1/2 bars Ibarra chcolate” are you counting a disc as a bar? Or one wedge as a bar? Thanks for the clarification!
Yes Marilla, that’s exactly what I did. One disc is a bar so it would be 1 and 1/2 bars. Be prepared…this is amazing!! Enjoy…Barb
I adore a mexican hot chocolate. I even have one of those new coffee machines and the first thing I brewed was the hot cocoa with a dash of cinnamon and cayenne. I’m starting to think I should have added some tequila to watch the election returns last night!
Heck, you are almost there. This is so hard to describe; I think mostly because we bring the citrusy notes we so associate tequila with into the chocolate? I did a Mexican coffee last year and that was the first step in my hot beverage with tequila education…makes it just that much warmer in a very good way!
LOL!!! My best friend loved tequila shots, but has since stopped that love….she has bad memories LOL! BUT the funny part, she thinks tequila shots taste delicious, I could never understand that:-) I do have to say, I love tequila mixed in delicious drinks, especially this lovely drink! Your addition of cayenne pepper sounds awesome! Hugs, Terra
My daughter came over to try one the other night; she had to try it to get it. It’s not like it doesn’t taste like there is no alcohol but the tequila and cayenne just serve to bring some warmth to the chocolate; some amazing warmth. I’m betting your friend could drink this and start new memories! Hugs back at ya!
Where did you get that glass..??
I was sent a box full of goodies to stage a summer picnic and the stuff came from a couple of places. I’m thinking it was Crate and Barrel that sent the mug glasses with handles. I’ve used Mason jars before too but without handles. Truth be told…so wish I had shot the other, plain side. Just one of those moments when I didn’t see the rooster/country thing in the process! I just found these at Pottery Barn; maybe they’ll work for you?
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/mason-jar-mug/?pkey=cbarware
Over the weekend I had a chocolate chilli mousse type dessert and wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it but I did. I’ll tackle your hot chocolate next.
Sort of amazing how they are together isn’t it. Unexpected but I think a true marriage that was meant to be.
I adore those chocolate disks and I’m thinking that I’ll adore this as well—lovely spice/heat/chocolate! =)
Chocolate, tequila, AND cayenne??!!! I knew I loved you for a reason! 🙂
I came across your site from “Miss Bee’s Haven” and I’m so glad I did! Can’t wait to mix up some of these delicious looking drinks! But for now I have to move on to the appitzer section 🙂
Good Work!
Connie M
A cool weather treat I can get behind!
chocolate is my favorite, but this tequila chocolate recipe is really heat my body :). It help me to pass the cold of night 🙂
That sounds and looks very tempting. I need to keep that in mind.
We had a few days of late with wonderfully warm temps (for our area at this time of year) but we know it isn’t going to last. Before we know it we will wake up to a scene like you have photographed here.
I’ll have to remember this tequila hot cocoa when the wind and snow are howling outside. Looks like the perfect drink to cozy up around a hot fire with.
all i can say is YYYUUUMMMM
Oh my. This recipe is Trouble. The best kind.
Yes, you have elevated even the simple hot chocolate with your addition of tequila and your beautiful photos! I would buy that Tequila simply for its name: Peligroso! Next time I have tequila at home I’ll have to give this a try.
It is SO good Holly…I think it’s about time for another girls nite…this time with a warm cocktail!
Peligroso was my favorite word while backpacking through Mexico last December…
these look beautiful and sound perfect!
I had not heard of it before until they asked me to try it..a very nice tequila and yes, these are soooo good. Tossup tonight. Caramel apple cocktail or hot chocolate with tequila. Decisions, decisions! 🙂
Nifty drink! A kicked-up hot chocolate. It might be fun to try this with brandy also (the flavors remind me a bit of a Brandy Alexander).
I haven’t had one of those in a long time but they are on my list to make; I do have fond memories at least!
Jealous 🙂 this looks incredible, of course I would omit the Caynenne, but still amazing!
all of a sudden its starting to get so cold here in Dallas, I could totally use this right now!!!
It’s too cold too soon…I’m expecting a warming trend; there has to be, right?
Barbara – seems like you are getting similar weather to us down here – just in reverse. These hot chocolates look very warming and I love the little jugs you’ve found. Not too sure about tequila, though – I had a nasty brush with it once in my late teens and have avoided it ever since.
I’m betting if you tried a better brand and didn’t over-imbibe it might be a totally different experience? The stuff I tried when I was younger I wouldn’t think of drinking today…harsh is the word and good tequila really isn’t.
Um, yes please!! What a fabulous idea!!