Chocolate milkshakes are one of life’s most indulgent pleasures. Add alcohol, and it’s almost criminally good. While it’s not something to enjoy on a regular basis, as a once-in-awhile treat, high-proof milkshakes offer the best of both the dessert and cocktail world. These homemade treats are also much cheaper than the cost of enjoying a cocktail and dessert out at a restaurant, sweetening the deal even more.
Hot Fudge Bourbon Milkshake
What’s not to love about hot fudge and bourbon? The sweet brown sugar flavor of bourbon naturally pairs with rich and smooth chocolate and vanilla in this recipe from How Sweet It Is. What takes this to the next level is the addition of the bourbon whipped cream.
Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Milkshake
A little bit of salt adds intensity to anything chocolate, which is what this shake from the blog Host the Toast is all about with the addition of chocolate-covered pretzels. The flavored booze adds depth while keeping the overall texture light and frothy.
Boozy Chocolate-Hazelnut Milkshake
How to make the classic combination of chocolate and hazelnut even better? By using a hazelnut liqueur to add a boozy kick.The subtle alcohol in this recipe from the Cooking Channel is just enough to create a belly-warming sensation to counteract the cold drink rather than act like a full-strength alcoholic beverage.
Boozy Mexican Chocolate Milkshake
It’s not just the tequila that makes this shake Mexican. It’s also spices like cinnamon and cayenne. While the recipe from the Girl in the Little Red Kitchen calls for tequila, mezcal (also an agave-based liquor, though made using a different process) would also work well.
Death by Chocolate Vodka Milkshake
This intensely-layered decadence in this recipe from The Spruce blog is made even richer by the addition of coffee liqueur in addition to vodka and creme de cacao. The coffee adds depth to the chocolate flavors without overpowering the other flavors.
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Kahlua-Mocha Milkshake
This combination of all things chocolate and coffee provides the best of all possible worlds. This recipe from Damn Delicious tastes like a white russian and a chocolate milkshake had a baby.
Adult Oreo Shake
Chocolate cookies-and-cream is a tried-and-true flavor combination, so the addition of cookies-and-cream-flavored vodka works seamlessly in this recipe from the Tipsy Bartender blog. Unflavored vodka, whipped-cream flavored vodka or chocolate-flavored vodka would also work.
Texas Tequila Milkshake
Tequila is a naturally sweet spirit, and is known to pair well with chocolate. The light aging of the reposado tequila adds a sweet complexity and hint of vanilla and cinnamon to the overall flavor of this milkshake recipe from The Oregonian.
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Bailey’s Milkshake
Bailey’s cream liqueur is practically begging to be made into a milkshake, which makes this recipe from the Kirbie’s Cravings blog a no-brainer. To make it even more chocolatey, use half or all chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.
White Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Boozy Milkshake
White chocolate shares the spotlight with tart and sweet strawberries in this recipe from the blog No Spoon Necessary. White chocolate liqueur provides rich flavor while the Irish cream liqueur contributes the silky body that enhances the overall decadence of this elegant shake.
Almond Joy Milkshake
This throwback to a classic candy bar in boozy, liquid form is given its flavor from thick coconut milk and pungent chocolate and almond liqueurs. The topping options are where creative thinking comes into play, with everything from whipped cream and shredded coconut to shaved toasted almond and chocolate sprinkles being acceptable options in this recipe from the Kitchn blog.
Spiked Milkshakes
This classic shake recipe from the Food Network uses malt powder for an old-fashioned flavor. In addition to coffee liqueur, dark rum is used to play into the natural sweetness of the shake while adding layers of vanilla and brown sugar along with the alcoholic kick.
White Chocolate Rum Shake
This concoction from Rachael Ray magazine is similar to mint chip ice cream, using mint leaves and white chocolate chips in addition to rum. The effect is bright and refreshing while remaining creamy and luscious, just the way a chocolate milkshake should be.
