A Drunken Rudolph is an adult hot chocolate cocktail and one of the easiest ways to turn your Christmas cocoa into a boozy, holiday beverage. By simply spiking your milk and hot chocolate mixture in a mug, you can create this creamy rich drink in only 3 minutes–it’s the ultimate mashup of childhood comfort and adulting.
Drunken Rudolph: Christmas Cocoa For Adults
This Drunken Rudolph recipe is the best way to indulge your inner child by spiking a comforting mug of cocoa with a boozy grown-up twist. It starts with cool scoops of vanilla ice cream that are covered with Baileys Irish cream liqueur and Fireball Cinnamon whiskey, all mixed in a mug with creamy hot chocolate, and then topped with fluffy whipped cream, some “antlers” and a “nose.”
Guaranteed to bring holiday cheer and make you feel fuzzy and warm, this delicious adult hot chocolate makes a cozy night indoors feel even cozier. Or maybe it’s just the boozy hot beverage you’ve been sipping!
If Santa were to get his reindeer drunk, I am guessing his recipe would taste similar to this one: a delicious combination of sweet and milky chocolate with a slight cinnamon kick–it’s a creamy treat for Rudolph and an inebriating indulgence (for adults only) that induces holiday happiness.
A calming way to wind down during the coldest of winter weather, this nightcap is perfect for your warming pleasure, because every sip of spiked cocoa feels like a chocolate hug merrily served in a tall mug.
Why We Love This Drunken Rudolph Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in only 3 minutes.
- Only uses 5 ingredients plus garnish.
- Delicious sweet treat for adults that feels like a childhood indulgence.
- Creamy and comforting hot chocolate cocktail.
- Perfectly warm boozy beverage for cold weather.
- Great way to bring holiday cheer to your home.
Ingredients / Shopping List
- Whole milk
- Packet hot cocoa mix
- Vanilla ice cream
- Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
- Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey
- Squirt whip topping
- Maraschino cherry
- Fresh rosemary twigs
Substitutions and Additions
- Milk: When making your hot cocoa, feel free to use whatever milk, or non-dairy milk, product you prefer. If you use a non-dairy version, I suggest using full fat almond milk or oat milk. The goal is that it is rich and creamy. Also, I would note that if you choose to use a dairy substitute that it is an un-flavored version.
- Alternate Alcohol: You can substitute Kahulah, Rum Chata, or any other creamy liqueur for the Baileys in this recipe to suit your flavor preferences.
- Kid Cocoa: As always, you can make this a non-alcoholic version by simply omitting the Baileys Irish Cream and the Fireball Whiskey. Kids and grown-ups alike will have fun with this holiday drink! Quick tip: put cinnamon sticks as antlers for the non-alcoholic versions so that no one drinks the wrong one!
- Tasty Toppings: Feel free to top your hot chocolate with some sweets, like marshmallows, chocolate chips, chocolate or caramel drizzle, or chocolate shavings.
Recommended Tools
- Large coffee mug
- Microwave safe measuring cup
- Ice cream scoop
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
How to Make the Drunken Rudolph Cocktail (Boozy Hot Chocolate)
This Drunken Rudolph recipe is an easy way to turn your Christmas cocoa into a boozy, holiday beverage. It takes only 3 minutes to make this delicious drink, simply by spiking your hot chocolate.
- Add ice cream, Baileys liqueur, and the Fireball Cinnamon whiskey to a coffee mug. Set aside.
- Heat milk in the microwave and stir in cocoa packet.
Pro Tip: Heat on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds, or longer if you desire your hot cocoa to be hotter. - Pour hot cocoa into the coffee mug with the ice cream and alcohol.
- Garnish with whip cream, 2 sprigs of rosemary for the antlers, and 1 maraschino cherry for the nose.
- Enjoy!
Tips
- To enjoy your Drunken Rudolph you can give him a stir and either sip with a straw or drink like a latte.
- If you do not wish to add the vanilla ice cream, then I suggest you increase the amount of milk that you use to make your hot cocoa (you do not need to add more cocoa mix) but you may need to adjust your heat time accordingly. If you do not add the additional milk then you will have a very drunk Rudolph!
- I like to use the specialty individual hot cocoa packet mixes for this recipe, but feel free to use whatever hot chocolate brand you enjoy. The goal is to have 6 ounces of hot cocoa. Remember that different brands come in different size packets, or even as a bulk container. Not to worry, just follow the packet for a single serving.
Storage Tips
- To Store: This drink is best enjoyed immediately while it’s hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Feel free to use your milk of choice, however, the trick to a good cocoa powder-based spiked hot chocolate is fat. Heat tends to intensify the burn of alcohol on your palette and the fats from the dairy will help to counterbalance that burn. This recipe uses whole milk because it helps to cut that overpowering, unpleasant burn from the alcohol, and produce a delicious, smooth, and creamy spiked hot chocolate.
Yes, you can absolutely use dairy-free milk. Make sure that your hot chocolate mix does not contain milk powder if you follow a vegan diet, and swap the dairy milk with almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk for a delicious adult hot chocolate. Feel free to use non-dairy ice cream too!
Bailey’s is an Irish cream liqueur made from whiskey, cream, and cocoa. It is a great addition to a wide range of drinks from adult hot chocolate to frappucinos.
Other Easy Cocktail Recipes
- Dirty Snowmen
- Classic Hot Toddy
- Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktail
- Wine Floats
- White Claw Slushie
- Strawberry Champagne Ice Cream Floats
- Grinch Cocktail
- Christmas Morning Punch
- Boozy Hot Chocolate
- Jack Frost Cocktail
Drunken Rudolph
Video
Ingredients
- 6 ounces whole milk
- 1.25 oz packet hot cocoa mix
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1½ ounces Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
- ½ ounce Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey
- For garnish: Squirt whip topping, Maraschino cherry, Fresh rosemary twigs
Instructions
- In a large coffee mug add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, Baileys Irish cream liqueur and the Fireball Cinnamon whiskey. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe, spouted glass 2 cup measure, pour in the whole milk and heat on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds (or longer if you desire your hot cocoa to be hotter). Carefully remove it from the microwave and add the contents of your hot cocoa packet to the hot milk. Stir until no lumps remain.
- Carefully pour the hot cocoa into the large coffee mug with the ice cream and alcohol.
- Garnish with a full topping of squirt whip cream, 2 sprigs of rosemary for the antlers and 1 maraschino cherry for the nose.
Jenn’s Notes
- To enjoy your Drunken Rudolph you can give him a stir and either sip with a straw or drink like a latte.
- If you do not wish to add the vanilla ice cream, then I suggest you increase the amount of milk that you use to make your hot cocoa (you do not need to add more cocoa mix) but you may need to adjust your heat time accordingly. If you do not add the additional milk then you will have a very drunk Rudolph!
- I like to use the specialty individual hot cocoa packet mixes for this recipe, but feel free to use whatever hot chocolate brand you enjoy. The goal is to have 6 ounces of hot cocoa. Remember that different brands come in different size packets, or even as a bulk container. Not to worry, just follow the packet for a single serving.
So so good ! It’s a 5 star for me..
how do I contact you for your recipes, especially your Drunken Rudolf drink with hot chocolate, ice cream, fireball and Bailey’s. I’m terrible at computer’s, but absolutely don’t want to lose your recipes. Do you have a phone number or a cookbook I could buy.?? Thank you so very much. My number is 541-790-9569. Sincerely Kari Powell from Oregon. You can also text me. Thank you Again So Much.
5 stars
I would use pretzel sticks for antlers, rosemary springs might add an odd flavor but this sounds yummy
Can you substitute The fire ball for peppermint schnapps
I haven’t tried it! But, sounds yummy!
The ice cream, cocoa, and milk make the Baileys redundant. Use just an Irish whisky instead. Fireball is just cinnamon schnapps mixed with whisky, so the whisky there becomes redundant, too. We can break down this recipe to the real core components. Try it this way:
Whole Milk
Hot Cocoa Mix
Vanilla Ice Cream
Cinnamon Schnapps
Irish Whisky
Sounds delicious can’t wait to try it.
This sounds delicious, I can’t wait for some light snow in Denver!