Irish Hot Cocoa
Cheers! Add a splash of Irish cream to your hot cocoa for a fun and tasty holiday drink! Grab an Irish Hot Cocoa and then sit back and enjoy the holidays with your friends and family.
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Have you ever noticed how the holidays really bring out the best in people? Sure, there is the pre-holiday madness with long grocery store lines, last-minute present buying and constantly finding scotch tape stuck to the bottom of your socks. (Hey, I never claimed to be the best present wrapper.) But once that madness has past, it’s time to finally sit back and enjoy the season with friends and family. And guess what? This Irish Hot Cocoa is just the right drink to serve to warm up the room!
Speaking of bringing out the best in people, I just recently heard about the Christmas Truce of 1914. Have you guys heard about this? World War I began in July 1914. Five months later, the fighting between the Allied Troops and the Germans had reached intense levels. Then came Christmas Eve. The strangest thing happened. The opposing troops sang Christmas carols back and forth to one another from their trenches. Seriously…this really happened! And on Christmas morning, the enemies met in the middle of the battlefield and exchanged cigarettes and plum pudding. There was even a friendly game of soccer. This only happened once–on that first Christmas of World War I. Talk about a story that really encapsulates the spirit of the holidays.
Irish Hot Cocoa
Irish Hot CocoaWe’ve all heard of Irish Coffee, right? A cup of coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey or Irish cream. It’s a great way to start the morning…especially when the house is full of in-laws! (haha…just kidding!) Well, I decided to mix it up slightly and add a splash of Irish cream to a steaming mug of hot cocoa. In a pinch, you could totally use the pre-mixed packets of cocoa, but the real stuff is not much harder to make. It’s milk, cocoa powder and a bit of sugar.
Whatever you do, don’t forget the Irish cream! Walk out of the kitchen carrying a tray of these Irish Hot Cocoas, and I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be the most popular person in the room. At least until your new niece walks in the door. Here’s to family, friends and a great holiday season! Cheers!
Did you make a batch of this Irish Hot Cocoa at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Irish Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Irish Cream liquor i.e. Bailey’s, Carolan's, etc
- Whipped cream and additional cocoa powder for garnish
Instructions
- Using a medium saucepan, add the milk, cocoa powder and sugar. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and well combined.
- Remove pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and Irish Cream.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with whipped cream.
- Sprinkle with additional cocoa powder before serving.
Looking for more hot cocoa inspired recipes? Check out these other favorites:
Hot Cocoa Cookies
I had completely forgotten about the Christmas Truce of 1914 – a couple Christmases ago, my church had this little re-enactment video of a soldier in a trench playing “All is calm” on a flute at the commencement of the truce – it was so moving! Thanks for bringing back that memory, David. And Merry, merry Christmas to you and your household of “Spices” – I don’t really drink, but if I did, these would be hard to resist!
I only recently heard about the Christmas Truce of 1914…and it’s a really moving story. I have a heard time picturing it happen, but it seems so awesome. And it only happened one time. I also just heard about a movie (joyeux noel) that tells the story of the truce. I’ll have to see if it’s on tv or something. Either way, Merry Christmas to you and your family, Shashi! Thanks for being an awesome friend! 🙂
I need a cup of this cocoa on this raining morning! It would definitely hit the spot!
You’ve got that right, Tamara! Today is a day for curling up with delicious cocoa. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas!
I meant rainy. LOL!
Heck yeah I say to this hot cocoa, warm me up!
Happy holidays! Have a great one and eat lots of cookies! 🙂
Thanks so much, Pamela! There will definitely be lots and lots (and lots) of cookies in my near future. I just hope Santa doesn’t get mad when he realizes that I ate all of his snacks…haha. Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🙂
Well this hot cocoa should do the trick to change anyones mood this holiday! Have a fun, safe time with the family and Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Kevin! Nothing like a little hot cocoa and Irish Cream to brighten up the room, right? Hope you had fun at your Christmas party today…and Merry Christmas! 🙂
Wishing you every happiness this Christmas and throughout the year. Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays to you, too, Valya! I hope you guys have a great one! 🙂
I think I’ve seen a reenactment of the Christmas truce- I was amazed and in disbelief!
Now this cocoa- YES. Baileys may or may not have been the first alcoholic beverage I drank under the age of legality.
Hehe…Bailey’s is a great holiday drink. But combine it with fresh hot cocoa, and I’m one satisfied David. 🙂 I just heard about a movie that tells the story about the Christmas Truce…I’ve never really heard about the Truce or the movie, so now I need to track down a copy of it. Either way, Merry Christmas to you and your family, Arman!
What a great variation on hot chocolate! Pinned!
P.S – Merry Christmas!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Christina! Merry Christmas to you and your family, too. 🙂
They made a movie about the Christmas Truce. I LOVED it. And there were lots of tears. (Shed by me…in case that wasn’t clear!) Love this hot cocoa! I love all hot cocoa. But you add Baileys and I will elbow you out of the way for more! Pinned!
Merry Christmas, David! May your day be spiced and full of love and family!
So I just heard about this movie yesterday…I need to try and track down a copy. I can’t promise tears…unless you drink all of my cocoa. Then I might actually shed a tear (or maybe even two). Haha!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, too, Lindsey! 🙂
I would never drink all your cocoa! I would just make more 🙂
If only I had a bit of irish cream liqueur left to make this. It looks incredibly delightful, pinned!
Thank you so much, Oana! Hey, it’s still the holidays in my book…you still have time to pick up some more irish cream liqueur and make cocoa! 🙂
I could go for one of these right now! With 18″ of snow in NY and hours of shoveling, I deserve one…lol! Great post and pics =D
You totally deserve one of these, Lillian! 18″ of snow is no joke! We live in upstate New York, and I think we ended up with about 8″ here. (Although I was flew out of town just before it hit…talk about lucky timing!!) Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, too!