You can have your chocolate and drink it too
Have you ever been given a block of dark chocolate and turned up your nose because it tastes too bitter? It’s time to use up all the uneaten chocolate and make this delicious three ingredient chocolate syrup. Fast and fun to make, this home-made rose flavoured chocolate syrup tastes fantastic. Use it to make a decadent espresso martini cocktail or drizzle over pancakes and ice cream. Chocolate syrup is a sweet and versatile condiment that is loved by many so be thrifty and regift the chocolate if it’s not your thing.
Time to get ready for Christmas. Here are two recipe ideas for handcrafted Christmas gifts and one delicious Christmas cocktail made with said gifts.
Turing thrift into chocolate gold
Step 1 Make Chocolate Syrup
Ingredients
- 100 g good quality dark chocolate (we used Frey Supreme 78% dark Authentic)
- 80 ml Hibiscus syrup or Rose simple syrup
- 80 ml Boiling water
Instructions
- Break up chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl.
- Place bowl over a pot of boiling water
- Mix in boiling water and simple syrup
- Mix with a whisk until smooth
- Pour into a glass jar or bottle when cool and seal
- Label Gift#1
- Store for 1 month or longer if refrigerated
Serving Ideas
- Make Chocolate Gin and Tonic
- Make Irish Cream Liquor
- Make a Chocolate Espresso Martini
- Pour over pancakes waffles or pudding
- Mix up a chocolate milkshake or mocktail
- Lightly drizzle over fresh fruit or cake
- Donut or Churros Dipping sauce
Homemade Irish Cream is incredibly easy to make and a project that takes a few minutes and requires simple ingredients. If you enjoy Baileys Irish Cream, you will love this even more.
Step 2 Make Irish Cream Liquor
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cups of Irish Whiskey (we used Blackbush Special Old)
- 395 g can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup cream
- 2 tbs chocolate syrup (step 1 above)
- 2 tbs instant coffee (we used Moccona espresso style)
- 1 tsp of vanilla essence
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a large glass jug
- Use a stick blender or whisk to combine
- Transfer into recycled clean dry bottles
- Fills 2 x Botanikos Amber (270 ml) Bottles
- Label gift #2
Serving Ideas
- Make Chocolate Martini
- Serve in a rocks glass over ice
- Mix up a tipsy milkshake
So how did we do so far?
About the Cocktail
Everyone has at one-point shovelled a spoonful of peanut butter or Nutella into their mouth. I have indulged in this practise, and it is oh so satisfying. How good would it be if you could mix up this nutty indulgence into a martini glass?
The chocolate “Nutella” martini is not the most sophisticated or chic drink. James Bond would never be seen sipping on the Nutella Martini at the Monte Carlo Casino, but this drink is definitely a fun chocolatey cocktail to make at home for a little me time or as a Christmas treat!
I am positive Willy Wonka would enjoy this sweet chocolate cocktail for Christmas.
Picture this: you have just finished your main course and sadly have no room for Christmas pudding. Yes, you could wait for later or you reach into your drinks cabinet and shake up this Christmas Martini- and enjoy this delicious liquid dessert. Trust us it will be a hit served up with a maraschino cherry.
Now it’s time to put everything together and make this drink
Chocolate Martinis for Christmas
Step 3 Make Chocolate Martini
Ingredients
- 2 tsp of Nutella
- 30 ml Irish Creme Liquor (step 2 above)
- 30 ml Vodka (vanilla vodka works well)
- 30 ml Chocola simple syrup
- Garnish Nutella & Crushed hazelnuts or Maraschino Cherry
Instructions
Prepare Martini Glass Garnish
- Prior to mixing spread some Nutella onto a saucer plate
- Dip and twist the edge of the glass to coat the rim in Nutella evenly
- Dip the sticky chocolate rim in crushed hazelnuts
Mix Chocolate Cocktail
- Pour Vodka, Irish Cream and Chocola syrup into a cocktail shaker
- Shake for 30 seconds then double strain into a cold martini glass
- Option to garnish simply with a maraschino cherry
- Sip slowly and savour this delicious chocolate Nutella cocktail