Rumchata Hot Chocolate is a perfect drink for getting cozy with a loved one by a nice warm fire on a crisp cold night. This drink is easy and quick to make so you can get right to cuddling.

What is a Rumchata Hot Chocolate?

Rumchata is a cream liqueur, similar to Bailey’s Irish Cream with more of a cinnamon type flavor. You could almost describe it as a cross between Bailey’s and a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Rumchata Hot Chocolate, again, like a Bailey’s Hot Chocolate, is simply the combination of hot chocolate, homemade or from a pouch), vanilla vodka, and, of course, Rumchata.

What else mixes well with Rumchata?

Rumchata is a really great liqueur for many different types of cocktails. We hate to continue the Bailey’s comparisons but it goes well in anything you would pair with Bailey’s. Due to it’s sweet, creamy flavor, rumchata drinks are usually dessert type drinks. It is particularly good in things like hot chocolate, coffee, Kahlua, Amaretto, and many other liquors.

It will still taste great whether you drink it hot or cold. For instance, it pairs very well with both hot coffee (for a Rumchata coffee) and cold brew coffee.

Where is Rumchata made?

Despite it’s Hispanic sounding name, Rumchata actually comes from the heart of US dairyland, Wisconsin. The name is, however, a play on the Mexican drink, Horchata. Horchata is also made with a blend of cream, vanilla, and cinnamon and has a similar flavor to Rumchata.

The big difference in the drinks is the same as the differences in their names; rum. Horchata is not traditionally an alcoholic beverage whereas Rumchata most certainly is. Although, Rumchata is only about 13.5% alcohol.

The smooth flavor though is not impacted by the alcohol much at all. The milk is homogenized (which also means it is shelf stable and doesn’t need to be refrigerated) with the other ingredients to keep the drink from having too much bite.

It can be a little spicy, but not in a hot pepper sort of way. It has a good kick of cinnamon.

Homemade hot chocolate or a prepackaged mix?

Fortunately, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. It really is up to you and your personally situation (e.g. preference, time, etc). If you want to use a packet, Swiss Miss works great. If you want to make your own with some milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.

How to make this drink:

Making your own hot chocolate takes a bit longer. If you are short on time replace the milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips with 2 packets of hot chocolate.

Equipment

2 coffee mugs
sauce pan
jigger
ladle
slow cooker/crockpot/Instantpot/Ninja Foodi (optional)

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients for both hot chocolate and the cocktail.

Hot Chocolate

2½ cups milk
¼ cup sugar
2 TBS cocoa powder
6 oz chocolate chips

Rumchata Hot Chocolate

4 oz Rumchata (split into two 2 oz portions)
whipped cream
miniature marshmallows

Note: If you are using hot chocolate packets, skip to step 4

Step One

Start by heating your milk in a sauce pan on your stovetop.

Step Two

Once the milk has started to simmer, add in your sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.

Step Three

Stir everything together until the chocolate chips have completely melted.

Step Four

Take out your coffee mugs and pour in your Rumchata according to the split measurements above.

Step Five

Use a ladle and carefully fill your mug with the still warm hot chocolate

Step Six

Sprinkle some cinnamon or cocoa powder on top and add a dollop of whipped cream

Recipe