(Chocolate liquore)

 

There is a saying “Italians do it better!” Well this is a prime example! Our grandmother Elena has been making homemade liqueurs forever and her chocolate liqueur has to be one of our favourites! It is rich, smooth, delicious and strong!

She always has a stash of liqueurs in her fridge or freezer and they are a perfect end to a meal. They also make fabulous presents and can be added to cocktails, as toppings for ice creams or try a dash of this liqueur in your coffee! It is so easy to make that you must try it!

 

400g granulated sugar

100g unsweetened good quality bitter cocoa powder

1 lit full fat milk

250ml grain alcohol (such as Everclear, Vodka or Gin)

 

 

Place the milk into a saucepan and heat gently.

In a mixing bowl, mix the cocoa powder and sugar.

When the milk has warmed through, add the sugar and cocoa mixture to the saucepan.

Stir the mixture constantly so it does not catch on the bottom.

Once the cocoa sugar mixture has dissolved, bring the mixture to the boil – stirring often for approx. 3 min.

Once boiled, turn off the heat and allow the mixture cool completely.

After the chocolate mixture has cooled, stir in the alcohol (I usually bring bottles of alcohol back from Italy as it’s difficult to get in the UK but you can use Vodka as it is a grain alcohol)

Then have your chosen bottle/bottles ready.  Place a funnel in the bottle and ladle in enough liqueur to fill it almost to the top. Cap or cork your bottles and store them in the fridge or freezer.

Remove from your fridge or freezer just before serving.

Give it a bit of a shake and then pour into your glass, coffee, or over your dessert.

Keep your bottle in the fridge or freezer (it won’t freeze as the alcohol level is high!)

Shake before use

These make wonderful presents – I pour my mixture into all different sized bottles as I add them to Christmas hampers and stockings!