Orange Pisco Hot Chocolate Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated March 25, 2025
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J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Rich hot chocolate with orange, Grand Marnier, and pisco—like a foil-wrapped chocolate orange, but better.

Want more ways to spike your hot chocolate? Here are 6 more recipes!

Recipe Details

Orange Pisco Hot Chocolate Recipe

Cook 5 mins
Active 10 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • Pinch kosher salt

  • 3 cups whole milk

  • 4 ounces milk chocolate chips

  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

  • 3 ounces Grand Marnier or cointreau

  • 4 ounces pisco or rum

  • 4 (2-inch) segments  orange zest

  • Whipped cream and candied orange peel garnish

Directions

  1. In medium saucepan, stir cocoa with sugar and salt. Stir in milk, milk chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate. Heat over medium heat until, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is hot. Gently whisk to completely homogenize mixture.

  2. Add Grand Marnier and pisco or rum. Divide into four serving cups. Rub rim of each cup with orange zest. Top with whipped cream, candied orange peel, and orange zest. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
654 Calories
32g Fat
51g Carbs
14g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 654
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 42%
Saturated Fat 18g 91%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 165mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 51g 18%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 10mg 48%
Calcium 302mg 23%
Iron 8mg 42%
Potassium 682mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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