Baileys hot chocolate with Baileys whipped cream is the ultimate indulgence for Irish cream lovers. It’s quick and easy to prepare and needs only 5 ingredients.
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This easy recipe for Baileys hot chocolate is the ultimate way to enjoy your favourite Irish cream in a hot drink. The recipe is very easy to make and the result is a sweet drink with great depth of flavour plus a decent level of warming booziness about it.
I’ve chosen to top this Irish hot chocolate with some Baileys whipped cream. That’s cream that has a dash of Irish cream blended into it. Sounds good, right?
Make no mistake, this hot chocolate with Baileys is a sweet drink to fall in love with over and over again.
Why hot chocolate with Baileys is worth making
- The recipe is quick and simple to make – it’s ready in 5-10 minutes.
- It involves just 5 ingredients.
- The Baileys whipped cream adds an extra element of interest (and deliciousness) to this drink.
- This drink is naturally gluten-free.
- The children can’t have it! This one is just for the adults (sorry/ not sorry kids).
Try it with a slice of Baileys Irish coffee cake for the ultimate Baileys Irish cream indulgence.
What is Baileys Irish Cream?
I’m sure you’re familiar with Baileys Irish Cream, but just to clarify, this liqueur was created in 1974 in Dublin, Ireland. It quickly became a well-loved classic. And for good reason. The blend of Irish whisky, cream, chocolate and vanilla is sublime.
It’s a great liqueur to sip upon just as it is, shake into cocktails or to add to home bakes. Its uses are endless.
The Baileys range has expanded over recent years and includes exciting new flavours such as salted caramel, orange truffle and a rich chocolate version. There’s even a dairy-free offering now, entirely suitable for vegans.
Ingredients notes
This recipe calls for the original Baileys Irish Cream liqueur. I’ve tried plenty of alternative brands over the years and have yet to find one that matches up to Baileys.
As for the chocolate, I’ve tested this recipe with white, milk, dark and semi-sweet chocolate. The semi-sweet, with around 60% cocoa solids, wins out. It has just the right balance of sweetness combined with a robust chocolate flavour that stands up well to the alcohol.
If you cannot get hold of chocolate with 60% cocoa solids try mixing ⅓ milk chocolate (with 30% cocoa solids) and ⅔ dark chocolate (with 70% cocoa solids).
I found the white and milk chocolate versions far too sweet for my tastes but going as far as using dark chocolate with 70% cocoa solida tended to overpower the flavour of the Irish cream. Use my chocolate recommendation as a starting point for this Baileys hot chocolate, but of course, feel free to experiment with the chocolate to suit your own tastes.
Step-by-step instructions
- Heat the milk in a pan with the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Add the vanilla extract and Baileys.
- Optional: blend using a milk frother or an immersion blender to create froth.
- Whip the cream and Baileys together until soft peaks form.
- Pour the drink into a mug and top with the whipped cream and a few chocolate flakes.
Expert tips
- Whole (full-fat) milk is best any hot chocolate recipe. The higher fat content in this milk gives the creamiest and most decadent taste to the hot chocolate. Avoid skimmed milk at all costs – the result is drastically lacking in comparison.
- Taste the drink before adding any sugar to it. This hot chocolate with Baileys is sweet enough for my tastes, but you might think otherwise.
- Warm the milk over a moderate heat rather than a high heat and stir it often. This way the chocolate is less likely to burn and seize at the bottom of the pan.
- To achieve a frothy top, use a milk frother or a handheld immersion blender to agitate the hot chocolate until frothy. Use a large pan so the liquid comes well below halfway in the pan to avoid it splashing over the edge.
- See my suggestions below for how to serve this hot chocolate with Baileys and how to vary the flavour slightly.
Frequently asked questions
Although I have specified 30ml (1 fl oz) in the recipe card, really it is entirely up to you how much Baileys to include in this Irish hot chocolate. You can drop it down to 15ml for a subtle hint of alcohol or increase it to 45ml for a more pronounced boozy buzz.
You can use any alternative Irish cream liqueur in place of the Baileys or for something entirely different opt for a chocolate cream liqueur, coffee liqueur, whisky, Amaretto… the list is endless.
You could even add a touch of fruitiness to your boozy hot chocolate using liqueurs such as creme de framboise (raspberry) or creme de mûre (blackberry).
Baileys Irish cream should not curdle when mixed into hot chocolate. The only reason it would do so is if it comes into something acidic, such as a trace of lemon juice or vinegar left in the saucepan or mug. For this reason, it is important to make sure all your cooking utensils, pans and mugs are scrupulously clean.
How to serve this Irish hot chocolate
My favourite way to serve this Baileys hot chocolate is topped with cream that has also been spiked with a little Irish cream. It’s the perfect partnership, especially when garnished simply with chocolate flakes. However, if you are looking for alternative ways to serve this drink consider these serving ideas to top whipped cream:
- Marshmallows
- Mini meringues
- Chocolate sauce
- Chocolate sprinkles
- A dusting of ground cinnamon or nutmeg
- Sieved cocoa powder or drinking chocolate
- Mini fudge pieces
- A light sprinkle of sea salt (have you seen my salted honey hot chocolate – it’s alcohol free but not to be missed)
Alternatively, go easy on the toppings and serve a piece of Cadbury’s flake, some mini shortbread biscuits or some Baileys truffles alongside this hot chocolate with Baileys instead.
Baileys and hot chocolate variations
- Add a hint of coffee by including 15ml coffee liqueur such as Kahlua or Tia Maria.
- Or a hint of almond using 15ml Amaretto liqueur.
- Make a vegan Baileys hot chocolate using Baileys Almande rather than classic Baileys Irish Cream, replacing the milk with your favourite vegan milk and using vegan chocolate.
- Try a salted caramel Baileys hot chocolate by using salted caramel Baileys.
- Or opt for a luxuriously rich hot chocolate with Baileys Chocolat Lux.
- Get fruity with an orange truffle Baileys hot chocolate.
More boozy hot drinks to try
If you have tried this Baileys hot chocolate recipe please give it a rating or comment. I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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Recipe
Baileys Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 360 ml Whole milk (full-fat)
- 60 g Semi-sweet chocolate (60% cocoa solids) or 18g milk chocolate + 42g dark chocolate (with 70% cocoa solids)
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons Baileys Irish cream
Toppings
- 75 ml Double cream
- 4 teaspoons Baileys Irish cream
- 1 teaspoon Chocolate flakes
Instructions
- Put the milk into a pan and place over a moderate heat
- Tip in the chocolate then stir until melted and the milk is steaming but not boiling
- Add the vanilla extract and Baileys
- Optional (but recommended): blend using a milk frother or an immersion blender
- Whip the cream and remaining Baileys together until soft peaks form
- Pour the drink into a mug and top with the whipped cream and chocolate flakes
Notes
- Whole (full-fat) milk is best any hot chocolate recipe. The higher the fat content in this milk gives the creamiest and most decadent taste to the hot chocolate. Avoid skimmed milk at all costs – the result is lacking in comparison.
- Taste the drink before adding any sugar to it. This hot chocolate with Baileys is sweet enough for my tastes, but you might think otherwise.
- Warm the milk over a moderate heat rather than a high heat and stir it often. This way the chocolate is less likely to burn and seize at the bottom of the pan.
- To achieve a frothy top, use a milk frother or a handheld immersion blender to aggitate the hot chocolate until frothy. Use a large pan so the liquid comes well below halfway in the pan to avoid it splashing over the edge.
- See my suggestions below for how to serve this hot chocolate with Baileys and how to vary the flavour slightly.
- Although I have specified 30ml (1 fl oz) in the recipe card, really it is entirely up to you how much Baileys to include in this Irish hot chocolate. You can drop it down to 15ml for a subtle hint of alcohol or increase it to 45ml for a more pronounced boozy buzz.
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