Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 7 – Red Wine Hot Chocolate. This might seem like an unexpected winter warmer but if you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of red wine with a quality piece of dark chocolate, you’ll understand the intrinsic appeal of this combo.

It occurs to me that this year’s calendar and the corresponding videos might be deeply confusing for readers/viewers. You may be wondering, how many fireplaces does this woman have? How many Christmas trees?

While I do have a couple of each of these in my home, I shot some of this content at my parents’ home – including this breakfast in bed shoot. Michael and I recently helped my parents redecorate their primary bedroom, did I design the room with this photo shoot in mind? Maybe, maybe not.

I stumbled across this outstanding burlwood bedroom set on Facebook Marketplace and my parents fell in love with it as quickly as I did. It’s a truly stunning set and well-made. We also helped them select a custom wallpaper mural, painted the walls and ceiling, and secured other furnishings.

If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll let me help them select the final decor touches and share a transformation video on the blog or Instagram.

In exchange for letting us use their bedroom for this shoot, I let them be the official taste testers for this Red Wine Hot Chocolate recipe. My mom quickly fell in love with the rich (but not too rich) flavour of this winter warmer.

The merlot imparts a lovely dark red fruit element and medium acidity that helps balance the decadence of the chocolate and cream. I’ve opted to use gingerbread syrup as the sweetener to add a baking spice element that complements the other ingredients.

Be sure to tune into my Instagram Stories tonight at 5 p.m. Eastern for a step-by-step cocktail tutorial on how to make this dessert in a glass cocktail.

Cheers, friends!

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

5 from 1 vote

Print

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

This might seem like an unexpected winter warmer but if you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of red wine with a quality piece of dark chocolate, you’ll understand the intrinsic appeal of this combo.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Canadian

Keyword: hot chocolate, Let’s Get Blitzen, Red Wine, Wine Cocktails

Servings: 2 drinks

Author: Yvonne Langen

Ingredients

• 1½ cups whole milk
• ½ cup half & half cream
• 1 oz gingerbread syrup
• 6 oz 170 g premium 70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¾ cup Merlot
• Garnish: whipped cream
• Garnish: dark chocolate shavings

Gingerbread Syrup

• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp fancy molasses
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger thinly sliced
• 1 tsp whole allspice berries
• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

1. Add milk, cream, and gingerbread syrup to a saucepan over low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil) and remove from heat.
2. Whisk in chocolate, vanilla, and Merlot.
3. Pour into two mugs.
4. Garnish with whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings.

Gingerbread Syrup

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently.
2. Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for about 20 minutes until syrup is slightly thickened.
3. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
4. Fine strain into an airtight container.
5. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from: DiLonardo, Marcella. Food & Drink. “Red Wine Hot Chocolate” Holiday 2021.