Ultimate Chocolate Martini Recipe with Creme de Cacao

This easy chocolate martini with crème de cacao and chocolate liqueur is the ultimate decadent dessert cocktail. It looks like chocolate milk but packs a punch with flavors of dark and sweet chocolate and a hint of vanilla.

If you love chocolate, you will love this ultimate chocolate martini recipe. It's dark, rich, and chocolatey with double chocolate liqueur and creme de cacao.

Like my ultimate espresso martini recipe, it's perfect for after-dinner drinks, special occasions, or celebrating the holidays. Try it for Christmas, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, or girls' night.

Is creme de cacao the same as chocolate liqueur?

Creme de cacao is a sweet liqueur flavored with cacao beans. It is not creamy, the dark version is a translucent medium brown and the white version is completely clear. Most chocolate liqueurs are creamy with added chocolate and cream or milk.

Neither should be confused with chocolate liquor, which is actually not alcoholic. Chocolate liquor is a paste made from cacao beans as part of the process of making chocolate. It does not have any alcohol in it.

Ingredients You'll Need

To make this chocolate cocktail you’ll need just a few basic ingredients.

• Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur - Dorda is made with dark chocolate, milk, and Chopin vodka. It's rich, decadent, and not overly sweet. Be sure to shake it well before pouring it as it may separate in the bottle.
• Creme de Cacao - I like Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao A La Vanille. The vanilla notes round out the flavor of the cocktail.
• Vodka - you can stick with Chopin or use another smooth-flavored top-shelf vodka in this. You can also use a flavored vodka if you want to amp up the vanilla flavor or add another flavor note. Any flavor you'd find in a chocolate truffle will work.
• Cream - this is optional depending on how strong you like your martinis. It makes it even creamier and tones down the alcohol and sweetness a bit. You can use half and half, heavy cream, or whole milk.

Bar Equipment

• Cocktail shaker – for bar equipment, you can use a shaker to make your drink extra cold (I like this stainless steel one that has a built-in strainer). Or opt for a mixing glass to stir the ingredients together with the ice.
• Cocktail glasses – be sure to use a chilled cocktail glass to serve your drink (stash it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes). Classic martini glasses are the traditional stemware. But if you prefer a glass with a higher rim try a coupe glass which can also be used for all kinds of cocktails, as well as for serving champagne.

How To Make It

Prepare your glass. Squeeze a circle of chocolate syrup onto a small plate and dip the rim of the glass in the syrup to coat. For even more chocolate flavor, you can add a swirl of chocolate sauce around the inside of the glass.

If you want to take it up a notch, rim the glass with a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar. Just dip the rim of the glass in chocolate syrup, then dip in a flat dish of the sugar mix. Or dip it in chocolate sprinkles for a fancy chocolate rim.

Mix the drink. Add the chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka, cream, and ice cubes to the shaker and shake until chilled.

Serve it up. Pour your dessert martini into your prepared glass and garnish with a dusting of shaved chocolate.

Pro tip: use a vegetable peeler to shave the side of a chocolate bar to make the little chocolate curls.

Variations

Start with the basic recipe and add a fun twist by changing up your cocktail to make different flavor variations.

• White chocolate martini - swap the double chocolate liqueur for Baileys Irish Cream or white chocolate liqueur, and use white creme de cacao along with vanilla vodka.
• Chocolate espresso martini - add a shot of espresso or substitute Kahlua for the creme de cacao.
• Chocolate peppermint martini - swap peppermint schnapps for the creme de cacao or use peppermint vodka.
• Chocolate raspberry martini - use raspberry vodka or swap Chambord raspberry liqueur for the creme de cacao.
• Chocolate orange martini - substitute Grand Marnier or Triple Sec for the creme de cacao or use orange vodka.

However you make it, you'll love this ultimate chocolate martini!

More cocktail recipes with chocolate

Looking for more chocolate? Try these easy dessert cocktail recipes to satisfy your chocolate craving.

• Boozy Hot Chocolate
• Godiva Martini Recipe
• Baileys Oreo Milkshake