Erin Elizabeth
Chocolate liqueurs take it to the next level above chocolate liquor because they are an alcohol-based chocolate flavoring that adds zing to cocktails, coffee, ice cream, chocolate sauces, cakes, and other delicious sweet treats.
Have chocolate liqueurs on hand for holiday baking to pack an additional punch to the depth of flavor, and they can make some tasty holiday cocktails as well.
Alternatively, you can drink chocolate liqueurs straight from the bottle as a lovely dessert beverage after a meal. However, we think you will love it more mixed with your favorite cake or coffee beverage.
I have sampled ten brands of chocolate liqueurs and featured them in this top lineup. You will learn the best ways to enjoy each brand.
The Best Chocolate Liqueurs
Are you ready to have the chocolatiest adventure of your adult life? Brave your taste buds!
Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao
Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao is a zippy chocolate liqueur with 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) and a delicious Switzerland-inspired formula with notes of English and French influence.
It combines Mexican vanilla and cacao from Venezuela. Manufacturers only utilize the highest quality of sourced cacao and vanilla from Venezuela and Mexico.
I enjoyed how the higher alcohol content caused the homemade brownies I baked to taste more luscious with a larger depth of chocolatey flavor.
I also drank a cup of this on the side as I ate a few of the homemade brownies for dessert after dinner one night. Naturally, I could not get enough of the brownies!
Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur mixes delicious notes of black cherry, cold-brewed coffee, and candied orange peels with melted Godiva dark chocolate.
Ranging 15% ABV, the company website suggests using this liqueur for their Grand Martini, Chocolate Martini, or six other beverage recipes available for reference so you can enjoy them at home.
Because of its fruity notes, I made the Chocolate Envy Martini from the Godiva website, which is garnished with a thin orange slice.
I also made an orange-flavored cake and chocolate icing. I added the Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur to the chocolate icing as a compliment to the drink I was enjoying.
I love the combination of orange and chocolate together!
Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry
Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry is more pungent than Godiva varieties at 17%.
The liqueur features nutty tastes mixed with bold black cherry flavors and more dark chocolate in the formula than milk chocolate.
I tried their suggestion of placing Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry over ice cream.
I tried it with vanilla ice cream and black cherries on top and also with chocolate ice cream with black cherries on top in a separate bowl. I was in love with both combinations.
However, I felt the vanilla ice cream complimented the cherry and nutty notes better than the chocolate variety.
Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
Luscious and smooth Belgian milk chocolate with 15% alcohol is a simple, yet delicious formula for the Godiva Chocolate Liqueur.
The velvety texture makes this liqueur great for those who prefer simpler flavor profiles in their desserts.
The suggested beverage recipes of the Truffletini and Chocolate Martini are great for the year-round enjoyment of the Godiva Chocolate Liqueur.
Since fall is here, I tried the Pumpkin Pie-tini because it’s garnished with my favorite autumn-themed treat: candy corn.
I enjoyed the beverage with a slice of pumpkin roll from my favorite local baker and was floored by how the warm spices in both complement one another.
Bottega Gianduia Liqueur
With a 30-month shelf life and a low ABV of 17%, Bottega Gianduia Liqueur is sweet, velvety, creamy, and nutty.
The drink has roots as far back as the early 19th century when Gianduia chocolate originated in Piedmont with a basis of mostly ground nuts when cacao was scarce at the time.
I drank this liqueur straight and it was very unique compared to the more well-known American name brands on the market.
I also let the liqueur soak into a homemade sponge cake and the delicious coffee, cacao, and nutty profiles made the cake that much more flavorful.
Sheelin White Chocolate
Enjoy smooth Irish whiskey combined with creamy white chocolate for an even more luscious take on chocolate liqueur.
The company recommends enjoying it simply over ice or mixed in a creamy cocktail or coffee-based beverage.
The product also received the Silver Medal at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.
I mixed Sheelin White Chocolate into a white cake mix. Then, I topped the cake with vanilla icing that got a dash of Sheelin White Chocolate before I iced it.
The creamy notes in both the cake and drinking it over ice were phenomenal!
Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur
Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur has four delicious flavor profiles: cream, vanilla, praline, and milk chocolate.
Sourced from Austria, it is a creamier and richer alternative to other well-known American brands.
The product won the Double-Gold World Spirits Award of 2022 amongst three other awards this year.
While it is hard to come by in the United States, I snagged a bottle ordering overseas and it was worth the high shipping cost!
I drank a cup of it on ice and savored its creamy texture and lovely praline flavor. I purchased some pralines from the store to dip into the beverage and it was a great compliment!
Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa
Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa is for those who like the stronger alcohol flavor because it is 30% ABV.
The Mexican dark Criollo chocolate mixed with low-proof coffee and tequila complement each other in rich and warm flavoring that is unlike any other chocolate liqueur you have ever tasted.
I made a chocolate Mexican cake topped with cinnamon and enjoyed a glass of Patron over ice.
How the cake melted in my mouth while drinking the Patron beverage was a to-die-for combination that was one of my favorites out of all of them in this lineup.
Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur
Which chocolate lover doesn’t like double chocolate?
Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur does not contain any artificial flavors and is made with only the highest quality Chopin Rye Vodka and best-sourced dark chocolate.
It was not hard to find Dorda liqueurs at my local liquor store. I enjoyed a glass of Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur alongside trying the recipe for the Dorda Chocolate Cake.
Adding the liqueur to the cake mix was the just right ingredient that enhanced its bold chocolatey coffee flavoring and for making it moister.
Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal
Just like most other liqueurs on the list, Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal is a French chocolate liqueur part of the Heroes Collection with only 17% ABV.
The cacao beans are sourced from Africa, but you will also note hints of caramel and vanilla that complement the dark chocolate taste.
I grabbed a package of Lady Finger biscuits from my local grocery store to enjoy with a glass of Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal on the rocks.
I went as far as to dip the Lady Fingers into my beverage to let the biscuits soak up all the chocolatey goodness. I had five Lady Fingers dipped in the liqueurs and was still left wanting more!
The Best Chocolate Liqueurs
- Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao
- Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
- Bailey’s Chocolate Cherry
- Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
- Bottega Gianduia Liqueur
- Sheelin White Chocolate
- Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur
- Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa
- Dorda Double Chocolate Liqueur
- Marie Brizard Chocolat Royal
Final Thoughts
Chocolate liqueur is great whether enjoyed over ice or mixed somehow into your favorite dessert.
What is your favorite chocolate liqueur in this lineup? Are there ones on this list that you have not tried yet?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below to join the conversation!
Check out other popular liqueurs to add to cocktails, like coffee liqueurs or orange liqueur for something lighter!
02-01-23: Don’t rationalize your letting yourself be siphoned by others’ certifiable control issues to prevent you the luxury and once a year Valentine’s Day day regret-less indulgance of a well deserved infrequent reward of an indulgent dessert type of (swig) of a higher end Chocolate Liquor. (I aim to follow my own advise here).
02-01-23: Live indulgently, rewardingly, while treating your inner classy character type to a delicious dessert like Chocolate Liquor for the rare Valentine’s Day chocolate themed holiday. *Prior message – did NOT take, F.Y.I.