Spiked Hot Chocolate And Spiked Apple Cider

As temps dipped into the 60s for the first time this weekend (break out the jeans Floridians!) we got the first real taste of cooler fall temperatures. Sure it will be 80 tomorrow and probably in the 90s next week, but nonetheless cooler temps are coming. It’s nearly time to cuddle under blankets with a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider. For something even warmer, try spiked hot chocolate and spiked apple cider.

This post is sponsored by TUACA Vanilla Citrus Liqueur. 

This is not your kids hot chocolate and apple cider, for adults only. And please drink responsibly!

Now although I spiked my warm drinks, you could easily make a kid-friendly version without the Tuaca. I am all about homemade hot chocolate, and this version is both simple and delicious! For a family of four, double the hot chocolate part of the recipe below, but only add Tuaca to the adult mugs. Just don’t mix up the mugs.

Spiked Hot Chocolate

I like indulgent hot chocolate, so I use dark chocolate cocoa powered. Feel free to use regular, but the dark chocolate pairs nicely Tuaca liqueur, which has a vanilla flavor with a hint of citrus. Perfect for hot chocolate.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tuaca Liqueur
• 1 Tablespoon Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 2 Cups Milk
• Pinch of Salt

* Serves 2

Whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar and salt and set aside.

Warm your choice of milk in a saucepan, whisk continuously so milk doesn’t burn. When it is hot (before it boils) whisk in cocoa powder, sugar and salt.

Ladle the cocoa into a mug, and then add the Tuaca.

Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

Spiked Apple Cider

This Tuaca Hot Apple Pie recipe comes straight from Tuaca, and for apple cider fans the Tuaca really brings the flavor out of this cold-weather drink. This is a fantastic recipe to multiple for a party, it is even delicious cold. (I would know because everything I eat and drink is cold by the time I finish with photos. Sigh.) Just swap ice cubes for whipped cream, and you have an apple cider cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Tuaca Liqueur
• 6 oz Warm Apple Cider
• Whipped Cream
• 1 Cinnamon stick

* Serves 1

Pour warm apple cider and Tuaca into a mug. Top with whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick. (I also garnished with a pinch of ground cinnamon.)

So yummy for a cool night. (Ya know, in the 60s!)

Now if only we had a fireplace to sit by.

Tuaca is a vanilla citrus liqueur, and it really brings out the flavors in both the hot chocolate and the apple cider. The crisp vanilla flavor can be added to a number of drink recipes, in fact, it would be awesome in a sangria. I think I will have to try that next.

In addition to creating original cocktails like the Tuaca y Pina, Tuaca liqueur can be added to a beer for even more flavor as is done in the Tuaca Mule. With a ginger beer as the base adding Tuaca is an easy way to turn an ordinary beer into a fancy drink.  

Check out this short video to see how to take your beer from ordinary to something special with Tuaca. (Cool bronze stein optional, but an awesome touch.)