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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Drinks

Baileys Hot Chocolate

Updated: Nov 13, 2024 · Published: Nov 30, 2022 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 5 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Vegetarian
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Baileys hot chocolate with a text title overlay.
Baileys hot chocolate with a text title overlay.

Take hot chocolate to the next level this festive season by adding a shot of Baileys to it. A thick, rich, creamy and luxurious hot chocolate, this is a warming drink with a kick. Baileys Hot Chocolate is something a little bit special to serve up to your guests at Christmas.

Two glasses of cream topped hot chocolate in front of a bottle of Baileys.

About this Baileys Hot Chocolate Recipe

If you love Baileys, then you are going to LOVE this Baileys hot choc. All the creamy indulgence of a hot chocolate, but with a kick from the Baileys. This is a hot chocolate for grown-ups, made with just 5 ingredients and perfect for Christmas time.

All you need is milk, sugar, chocolate and cocoa powder and then a generous glug of Baileys Irish cream. Which, if you are anything like us then you always have some around at Christmas.

If you have a few people coming round for a party, and want to serve up something a little different, then you can make a big batch of this Baileys hot chocolate.

There is no better way to end your day than with a creamy hot chocolate. If you are looking for some other hot chocolate recipes, then why not try our Microwave Hot Chocolate, Oat Milk Hot Chocolate, Easy Hot Chocolate Spoons, Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate or Christmas Snowman Hot Chocolate?

Why not make this part of a DIY Hot Chocolate Station? Perfect for special occasions!

Jump to:
  • About this Baileys Hot Chocolate Recipe
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Baileys Hot Chocolate Variations
  • How to Make Baileys Hot Chocolate - Step by Step
  • Serving Suggestion
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Chocolate Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Milk - We use semi-skimmed milk because it makes this hot chocolate with baileys a little less calorific. If you want to go all-out indulgent, then use whole milk.
  • Cocoa powder - This just adds to the chocolate flavour and also makes it darker in colour. You could use our Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.
  • Dark chocolate - We used dark because we wanted a really intense chocolate flavour. You could use milk chocolate if you are not a fan of dark, but we find this is too sweet so you would need to adjust the amount of sugar used.
  • Sugar - This is just to make it a little bit sweeter. Feel free to adjust it depending on how sweet you want it.
  • Baileys Irish cream - The star of the recipe. You can use a supermarket own brand to make it cheaper. You could also use a vegan version and make some other vegan swaps too.

Baileys Hot Chocolate Variations

We kept this recipe simple and just let the flavour of the chocolate and Baileys shine through. However, there are a couple of ways that you can flavour this Irish cream hot chocolate so that it is different every time.

For a spicy kick, you can add a pinch of cayenne. Although this definitely isn't for everyone. You could also add vanilla, mint or orange extract or just use your favourite chocolate syrup.

For some extra warmth, you could add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger, or even a mixture of all three. That gives it a real cozy vibe.

How to Make Baileys Hot Chocolate - Step by Step

A saucepan containing milk.
  1. Step 1: Pour the milk into a saucepan.
Chocolate and cocoa powder added to the milk.
  1. Step 2: Add the cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Gently heat, stirring regularly, until the chocolate has melted.
Sugar and Baileys added to the pan.
  1. Step 3: Add the sugar and Baileys. Mix well and serve.

Serving Suggestion

To make this a super indulgent hot chocolate with Baileys, we topped ours with squirty creamy, a drizzle of Chocolate Sauce and some chocolate curls. A drizzle of caramel sauce on top is also really good.

We don't think this needs anything served with it, as it is pretty indulgent as it is. However, you could serve it with our Chocolate Flapjacks or Christmas Cookies.

Hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate curls.

Extra Tips

  • We think the sweetness in this is perfect, but that comes down to preference. To make it sweeter, or even to reduce the sweetness, just adjust the amount of sugar used.
  • For a little kick of heat, you could add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the hot chocolate.
  • Don't let the milk boil, you need to heat it on low.
  • Make sure you don't heat the Baileys, and you are just stirring it in at the end, otherwise the alcohol will burn off.
  • To make this a really frothy hot chocolate, use a milk frother.
  • You can use a liquid sweetener rather than granulated if you prefer.
Two hands lifting up a glass mug of hot chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make Baileys hot chocolate in the slow cooker?

You definitely can and it's great for putting in the slow cooker before you go out for a walk and coming back to. Why not try adding Baileys to our Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate recipe? Some of the alcohol would burn off with the long cooking time though. But if you are looking for more of the flavour from Baileys, then this is fine.

Can I make this with instant hot chocolate powder?

You definitely can, and it will be much quicker but you won't get that same indulgent flavour.

How much Baileys do I need per person?

We went for 30ml/1oz per person, which is a little over one measure. But feel free to add more if you want a really boozing flavour to this hot chocolate with Baileys.

How to store leftover hot chocolate

It is best to drink this straight away. However, if you do have leftovers then they can be stored in an air tight container until the next day and then you can just heat it through.

How to make vegan Baileys Hot Chocolate

There are loads of great vegan alternatives to Baileys out there now, so you can use that instead and swap the milk for a plant based version and use a vegan chocolate. Make sure all the toppings are vegan too.

More Chocolate Recipes

  • Chocolate Covered Marshmallows on sticks, arranged like a bunch of flowers.
    Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
  • Pieces of Christmas chocolate bark on a sheet of baking paper.
    Christmas Chocolate Bark
  • A bowl of chocolate popcorn.
    Easy Chocolate Popcorn
  • Chocolate and cranberry granola in a small wooden bowl.
    Dark Chocolate Granola with Cranberries

If you’ve tried this Baileys Hot Chocolate recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Two glasses of Baileys Hot Chocolate topped with cream.

Baileys Hot Chocolate

By: Dannii Martin
Baileys Hot Chocolate is a thick, rich, creamy and luxurious hot chocolate. It's something a little bit special to serve up to your guests at Christmas.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
Vegetarian
4.88 from 8 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: British, Christmas, Irish
Prep: 1 minute min
Cook: 5 minutes mins
Total: 6 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 442kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of a wine glass.
Sulphites

Ingredients

  • 500 ml (2 cups) Semi-skimmed milk
  • 4 tablespoon Cocoa powder
  • 50 g (1.75 oz) Dark chocolate
  • 2 tablespoon Sugar
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Baileys Irish cream

To serve:

  • Squirty cream - optional
  • Chocolate sauce - optional
  • Sprinkles

Instructions

  • Pour 500 ml Semi-skimmed milk into a saucepan.
  • Add 4 tablespoon Cocoa powder and 50 g Dark chocolate. Gently heat, stirring regularly, until the chocolate has melted.
  • Add 2 tablespoon Sugar and 60 ml Baileys Irish cream. Mix well and serve.
  • Top with Squirty cream, Chocolate sauce and Sprinkles (all optional).

Recipe Tips

  • We think the sweetness in this is perfect, but that comes down to preference. To make it sweeter, or even to reduce the sweetness, just adjust the amount of sugar used.
  • For a little kick of heat, you could add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the hot chocolate.
  • Don't let the milk boil, you need to heat it on low.
  • Make sure you don't heat the Baileys, and you are just stirring it in at the end, otherwise the alcohol will burn off.
  • To make this a really frothy hot chocolate, use a milk frother.
  • You can use a liquid sweetener rather than granulated if you prefer.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 682mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 264IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 331mg | Iron: 4mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Charles says

    December 10, 2022 at 12:09 am

    5 stars
    Tis the season for Baileys! I love hot chocolate so this will happen! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Jamie says

    December 09, 2022 at 11:04 pm

    5 stars
    This was a great adult version of hot chocolate! The baileys added just the right amount of kick! Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Mahy says

    December 09, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    5 stars
    My mouth is watering when I look at this hot chocolate... I can only imagine how much I will enjoy it when I make it!

    Reply
  4. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says

    December 09, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    5 stars
    Love this adult version of a classic winter beverage! Perfect for holiday parties or just take a mug when you go caroling! Delicious!

    Reply
  5. Jen says

    December 09, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    5 stars
    Well that was delicious! I made it for my book club and my friends all loved it!

    Reply
4.88 from 8 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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