10 Indulgent Chocolate Cherry Martinis & Delicious Food Pairings

by Jephonie Villegas November 14, 2020

Champagne is fancy but it’s also formal. To make celebrations playful, why don’t you try a chocolate cherry martini? This cocktail became famous for its sweet composition and luscious variations that suit any flavor profile. So, don't wait for Valentine’s Day. Take a sip of this cocktail anytime you want.

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Bartending Tools Required

  • Cocktail Shaker - A container with a lid used to shake mixed drinks.
  • Martini Glass - A V-shaped vessel with a stem used to serve martinis.
  • Skewer - A small stick used to hold garnishes like fruits in place.
  • Jigger - A measuring tool used in making cocktails.
  • Hawthorne Strainer - If a 2-piece shaker is used, then a strainer is needed to achieve a smooth texture for the drink.

1. Two Vodkas Chocolate Cherry Martini

Why We Love It: This is perhaps the easiest to whip up on the list because it does not require hard-to-find ingredients. It also showcases a lovely pink hue with the right amount of sugary goodness.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Measure the vodkas using a jigger and pour them into a shaker glass or tin .
  2. Add a splash of grenadine syrup and a little bit of whipped cream.
  3. Put ice cubes into the shaker and cover with the lid. Shake gently for about 5 seconds.
  4. Drizzle chocolate sauce into a chilled martini glass. Strain and pour the mixture in.
  5. Garnish with a cherry on top.

2. A Sweet and Creamy Caribbean Treat

Why We Love It: Some people might find chocolate too sweet. So to shake things up, this recipe uses rum as a replacement for vodka. Perfect for the holidays, the rum adds a nice kick to the richness of the Irish cream and the taste is quite interesting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
  • ½ oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
  • ¼ oz. Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
  • Splash of Cheribundi Cherry Juice
  • Ice cubes

Steps to Make:

  1. In a shaker glass or tin , combine the ice cubes, then the Baileys, rum, and coffee liqueur, measured by a jigger .
  2. Cover with the lid and shake well.
  3. Strain and pour the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
  4. Add a splash of cherry juice.

3. A Trio of Vodka, Cream, and Amaretto

Why We Love It: Delectably sweet with a hint of almond, this is a different take on the chocolate cherry martini. The ingredients in this recipe contribute to the contrast of flavors so it’s never boring. Not to mention, the heart-shaped syrup adds a romantic touch.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka
  • 1 oz. Disaronno Amaretto
  • 1 oz. Bols White Creme de Cacao
  • 1 oz. Baileys Chocolate Cherry
  • Dr. Pepper Cherry syrup (for drizzle)
  • Ice cubes

Steps to Make:

  1. Measure the ingredients with a jigger and pour them into a shaker glass or tin .
  2. Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Cover, then gently shake for about 5 seconds.
  3. Drizzle some cherry syrup into a chilled martini glass, however, you like. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared glass.

4. Chocolate Martini for the Ultimate Chocoholic

Why We Love It: Take out the cherry for a pure chocolatey experience! This drink features a silky texture that goes well with brandy. There may be no cherries in it but you won’t be disappointed with the rich and intense chocolate goodness. Check out other chocolate cocktails here .

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Cut the dark chocolate into small pieces and place them into a bowl. Add the half and half in.
  2. Place the bowl into the microwave and heat it until smooth. Stir every 20 seconds. Then, take it out of the heat and place the bowl in cold water to reduce the temperature. Set aside.
  3. Measure the brandy and creme de cacao using a jigger and pour them into a shaker glass or tin filled with ice.
  4. Cover with the lid and shake well.
  5. Strain and pour the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
  6. Garnish with chocolate shavings on top.

5. A Touch of Chocolate to your Colada

Why We Love It: At a glance, it looks like a regular chocolate milkshake but you’ll get a special pineapple surprise upon tasting it. This tropical take on the chocolate cherry martini is fun to make and will bring out the kid in you.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In a blender , scoop in the ice cream.
  2. Measure the vodka, creme de cacao, and piña colada mix with a jigger . Combine them into a blender.
  3. Turn the blender on high until creamy and fully mixed.
  4. Pour the mixture into a poco grande glass.
  5. Top it off with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings and cherry.

6. Godiva Truffletini: The Booze that Cures the Blues

Why We Love It: Another easy-to-make drink but with a sophisticated taste. It’s Godiva, what more can you ask for? This cocktail is basically chocolate with a little bit of vodka to make things more exciting. So, if you have Godiva chocolate liqueur lying around, this drink is a must-try.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
  • ½ oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
  • ½ oz. Smirnoff Vodka
  • Ice cubes
  • Hershey’s Chocolate shavings (for garnish)

Steps to Make:

  1. Fill a shaker glass or tin with ice cubes.
  2. Measure the liqueurs and vodka with a jigger and pour them into the shaker.
  3. Cover with a lid and shake for about 5 seconds.
  4. Strain and pour the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with chocolate shavings.

7. Chocolate Cherry Truffle Martini with Bourbon

Why We Love It: Bourbon goes well with chocolate, but add cherries to it and everything becomes more succulent. This chocolate cherry martini variant makes for an awesome signature birthday drink along with other dark chocolate cocktails .

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Drizzle some chocolate syrup into a chilled martini glass. Set aside.
  2. Fill a shaker glass or tin with ice cubes.
  3. Measure the bourbon, simple syrups, and half and half with a jigger and pour them into the shaker. Add a dash of chocolate bitters.
  4. Cover it with the lid and shake for about 5 seconds.
  5. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared glass.
  6. Garnish with spiced cherries and chocolate shavings.

8. Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake Martini: Dessert in a Glass

Why We Love It: Aside from cherries, chocolate also pairs well with raspberries. This chocolate cocktail is creamy but is never dull because of the interesting notes and flavors from the fruit component.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Measure the ingredients using a jigger and pour them into a shaker glass or tin.
  2. Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Cover it with the lid and shake well.
  3. Run a lime wedge on a chilled martini glass's rim and dip it into a plate of cocoa powder.
  4. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared glass.
  5. Garnish with a skewer of raspberries.

9. The Liquid Version of Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Why We Love It: We didn’t forget one of the most iconic pairings - chocolate-covered strawberries! Like the other ones on the list, this chocolate cocktail also uses flavored vodka making it easy to prepare. It packs a plethora of flavors and looks absolutely stunning.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Place the chocolate shavings and chocolate syrup on separate plates. Rim the glass with the syrup first then the shavings.
  2. Fill a shaker glass or tin with ice cubes.
  3. Measure the ingredients with a jigger and pour them into the shaker. Cover then shake well.
  4. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared martini glass .
  5. Garnish with strawberries in a skewer and drizzle some chocolate syrup on top.

10. Red Velvet Cupcake Martini: Drinkable Cake for Two

Why We Love It: Dessert turning into a drink, need I say more? This chocolate cherry martini is specially flavored with Baileys cream and vodka to balance out the sweetness. Double it and you’ve got the perfect date drink with your loved one.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In an ice-filled shaker glass or tin , measure the ingredients with a jigger and pour them in.
  2. Cover with a lid and shake for about 5 seconds.
  3. Drizzle some chocolate sauce into a chilled martini glass .
  4. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared glass.
  5. Top it off with whipped cream and cherry.

Chocolate Cherry Martini Food Pairings

Ah, chocolate - the sweet treat that compliments both citrusy and salty dishes. Below are some mouthwatering foods that match well with chocolate cherry martinis.

Banana Cream Pie

This light dessert may be sweet but it’s the right kind of sweet that goes well with a boozy chocolate cherry drink. Whip this up for your afternoon snack!

Charcuterie Board

The Charcuterie board is a party of flavors from tart to salty. You can pick out your favorite cheeses, but we highly recommend brie and blue cheese to pair with chocolate. It also has meat, so this amazing looking board will surely impress your guests.

Key Lime Pie Cheesecake

That’s right, this is two iconic desserts in one. A layer of creamy cheesecake, citrusy key lime pie filling, and dollops of whipped cream on top are perfect with a nice glass of chocolate cherry martini.

Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp

If you want a simple light dinner, try this flavorful lemon garlic butter shrimp with some asparagus on the side. It’s quick to prepare, healthy, and delicious.

Chili

One of the best comfort foods, chili is a classic spicy stew made with meat, beans, and peppers. Since it is spicy and hearty, it makes for an awesome pairing with a sweet chocolate martini.

Chicken Tikka Masala

This iconic Indian dish is packed with spices and flavors that you can’t get enough of. Saucy and savory, it is reflective of its sweet chocolate cherry martini counterpart.

FAQs

How much alcohol is in a Chocolate Cherry Martini?

The drink has approximately 13% alcohol so it won’t get you drunk easily unless you have a low alcohol tolerance.

Is the Chocolate Cherry Martini meant for a specific occasion?

This chocolatey cocktail is usually reserved for Valentine’s day because chocolate is closely associated with this occasion, while the cherry represents the hearts. But, you can have this drink anytime you like.

How to make a non-alcoholic Chocolate Cherry Martini?

For those who can’t have alcohol or want to take a break from booze, you can still enjoy this delectable drink. All you have to do is replace the alcohol with chocolate milk and cherry juice. You can also add cream to get the velvety texture and retain the cherry and chocolate garnish.

Is Chocolate Cherry Martini a girly drink?

Not necessarily. There are chocolate cherry martinis that are catered to the male audience so everyone can enjoy this delightful drink.

Conclusion

The chocolate cherry martini is proof that cocktails can be light, sweet, and creamy. Do you want more like this? Try the Peach whiskey sour variations as well as the Kahlua cocktails . You can also upgrade your bar with cool bartending tools that let you work in style.

Don’t forget to check out our monthly free samples or sign up for the free VIP club to avail of the exclusive rebate program. No credit card is required. No need to purchase anything. We just want to show you our appreciation.

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