Homemade Creme de Cacao – Chocolate Liqueur for Your Happiest Hour

This homemade Creme de Cacao recipe is great for gift giving, but be sure to make an extra bottle of this delicious chocolate liqueur for you. There’s a delicious chocolate cocktail in your future!

For double the fun, pair it up with this homemade coffee liqueur, aka Kahlua.

Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

Homemade liqueurs are easy to make and satisfying to give. They take only a few minutes of hands on time, but they excel in wow-factor. This homemade crème de cacao is an exceptional chocolate liqueur that is useful for dessert cocktails, but also good for adding chocolate flavor to coffee drinks, frosting, trifle, truffles, and other baked goods.

This DIY creme de cacao recipe makes an amazing gift; present it in a fancy upcycled bottle wrapped in a cloth gift bag.

Depending on the cost of cacao nibs and vodka where you live, it may not be cheaper than just buying a bottle of chocolate-flavored liqueur at the store. The homemade version is more flavorful and contains fewer toxins than a store bought bottle, though

If you want to have crème de cacao ready for December gifting, it will be best if you can start this chocolate liqueur in September or October so the flavors can meld. You only need four ingredients; it’s very easy. 

Consider doubling the recipe and making two bottles; once you see how easy it is to make (and how good it tastes) you might decide to keep a bottle for yourself.

Ingredients

Filtered water — Using the best water you can will ensure no extra taste is added to the final product.

Cane sugar — Use your favorite brand of granulated cane sugar. I prefer organic.

Cacao nibs — These fermented and cracked cacao beans offer lots of nutrients, providing a rich cocoa flavor perfect for chocolate lovers. Save the leftover cacao nibs to make this brewed cacao drink.

Vanilla beans — This will add some true vanilla flavor, which mellows things out.

Vodka — You don’t need the top shelf version, just select a bottle that you find drinkable on its own.

How to Make Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

Dissolve the sugar in boiling water and set aside to cool.

Add the cacao nibs to a coffee or spice grinder, and turn them into a coarse powder. This should look coarser than cocoa powder in a can.

Add all ingredients to a large mason jar, cap tightly, and add the date to the lid.

Store in a cool, dark place, and give it a quick shake when you think of it.

As the mixture sits, it will separate. This is totally normal. After a month, strain the mixture through a coffee filter (requires lots of patience!). Save the cacao nibs to add to cookies or quick bread.

Bottle the finished liquid, but wait at least a month to use.

After-Dinner Cocktail Ideas

If you indulge in alcoholic beverages and love a good sweet drink, keeping a bottle of this on hand allows you to mix up delicious cocktails like the classic cocktails like a Brandy Alexander or chocolate martini, or simply add it to hot coffee. Another easy and indulgent dessert drink is a simple mix of this homemade liqueur and heavy cream over ice.

Consider this homemade chocolate liqueur a tasty addition to desserts, too. You can even use it in place of chocolate or vanilla extracts in baking recipes such as:

• Hot chocolate
• Coffee drinks
• Cocktails
• Trifle
• Coffee cakes
• Icing
• Cookies
• Cheese cake
• Ice cream topping
• Truffles
• Chocolate Mousse
• Pudding
• Meringue
• Egg nog

On second thought, maybe you’d like to make three bottles of this knockoff creme de cacao recipe to enjoy the sweet taste of chocolate in a crème liqueur. 

More DIY Liqueurs

While you’re making liqueurs consider these other additions to your DiY liqueur repertoire:

• Meyer Limoncello
• Black Walnut Liqueur
• Crème de Cassis, a berry liqueur
• Irish Cream

★ Did you make this homemade creme de cacao recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below! ★

Originally published in September 2016; this post has been updated.

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