Red Wine Hot Chocolate Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure policy to learn more.
Thank you for supporting this blog!
An easy red wine hot chocolate recipe made with whole milk, chopped dark chocolate, and your favorite red wine.
What Inspired This Red Wine Hot Chocolate?
Years ago, a particularly frigid winter kept New Yorkers cooped up in their apartments on New Year’s Eve, myself included.
I thought of the revelers in Times Square, and wondered why anyone would choose to ring in the new year with a case of frostbite when they could follow my lead instead: a pot of homemade soup, a cozy blanket, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, and a mug of homemade red wine hot chocolate.
Red Wine Hot Chocolate Ingredients
To make red wine hot chocolate, you’ll need:
- Whole Milk – I like the creaminess of whole milk, but you can replace it with skimmed for a lighter drink, or with your favorite plant milk for a vegan-friendly option.
- Red Wine – Such as Cabernet or Merlot. See my notes on selecting red wine, below.
- Dark Chocolate – I recommend a good-quality dark chocolate rather than chocolate chips. See my notes below.
- Granulated Sugar – A small amount of granulated sugar balances the bitter notes of dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Depending on the chocolate and wine you’ve chosen, you might want to adjust the sugar to suit your taste.
- Cocoa Powder – Look for unsweetened cocoa powder, not the sweetened kind used for instant hot cocoa.
- Fine Sea Salt – Fine sea salt balances the sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract – I recommend a good-quality vanilla extract. Nielsen-Massey is my personal favorite.
How to Make Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Selecting the Best Red Wine for Hot Chocolate
Although it’s not the most conventional pairing, I really enjoy finding ways to combine wine and chocolate, like my red wine truffles recipe, or these sparkling rosé and dark chocolate truffles. When pairing chocolate and wine, consider sweetness (overly dry wines can taste bitter when paired with sweeter chocolates), tannin levels (red wines with moderate tannins work best to complement the bitterness of dark chocolate), and acidity (more acidic wines balance out the chocolate’s richer notes).
I made my hot chocolate with a Cabernet Sauvignon, and have also tried this recipe with Malbec, but free to experiment to find the wine you like best. Note that you might need to adjust the amount of sugar in this recipe, depending on the sweetness of your red wine, and how sweet you like your hot chocolate.
Choosing the Right Chocolate
Good chocolate also makes a big difference in the taste and texture of your finished beverage, so while grocery store chocolate chips will work in a pinch, it’s best to opt for a higher-quality chocolate. I’ve tested this recipe with Grand Aroma dark chocolate from Santa Barbara Chocolate, Guittard Lustrous 55%, and Callebaut 54.5% dark. All good choices!
Red Wine Hot Chocolate Recipe Tips and Tricks
Make it vegan. This hot chocolate recipe is very easy to make vegan-friendly. Substitute your favorite non-dairy milk alternative (soy, almond, oat, or coconut milk) and make sure you’re using a dairy-free dark chocolate. For another vegan option, try making my vegan hot chocolate recipe, too.
Use smaller cups. As written, this recipe will make two small mugs of hot chocolate, or one large mug. However, red wine hot chocolate is best enjoyed in small quantities. I recommend serving it in small teacups or espresso cups.
Serving and Garnishing Red Wine Hot Chocolate
For parties, I suggest making your red wine hot chocolate on the stovetop, then pouring it into a slow cooker to keep warm throughout the evening. Place a ladle and mugs nearby, and allow guests to serve themselves.
To garnish, add whipped cream, or coconut whipped cream; sprinkle with shaved dark chocolate or miniature chocolate chips, dust your hot chocolate with unsweetened cocoa powder, or top with a handful of homemade red wine marshmallows.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
While it’s best enjoyed on the day it is made, you can prepare red wine hot chocolate in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. To reheat, pour hot chocolate into a small saucepan and warm over low heat until steaming, or, heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes in a microwave-safe mug.
Other hot chocolate recipes you might enjoy:
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
White Hot Chocolate
Ginger Hot Chocolate
Matcha Hot Chocolate
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
Print
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
- Total Time10 minutes
- Yield1-2 servings 1x
An easy red wine hot chocolate recipe made with whole milk, chopped dark chocolate, and your favorite red wine.
Ingredients
180 milliliters whole milk (3/4 cup)
120 milliliters red wine, such as cabernet or merlot (1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch fine sea salt
75 grams good-quality chopped dark chocolate, or chocolate callets (1/2 cup; 2 2/3 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red wine marshmallows, optional, to garnish
Instructions
In a small saucepan, warm whole milk, red wine, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and fine sea salt over medium heat, stirring gently until cocoa powder dissolves.
Add the chopped dark chocolate. Simmer over medium heat, whisking gently, for 1-2 minutes or until chocolate melts.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour red wine hot chocolate into mugs. Serve immediately, accompanied by red wine marshmallows.
Notes
As written, this recipe will make two small mugs of hot chocolate, or one large mug. Recipe can be doubled or tripled to serve a larger group.
