10 Hearty Chocolate Cocktail Recipes
Just like green tea and raw milk, cocoa powder is a super-hyped food that piqued the attention of millennials. However, the popularity of cocoa powder and products is not a result of clever marketing. The intake of cocoa has in fact proven to impart a variety of benefits including improving brain functioning and blood circulation of the body.
Cocoa butter has a huge demand in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries to manufacture various skincare products. In fact, according to a research firm, Allied Market Research, the global cocoa products market is expected to $30.2 billion in 2026, registering a CAGR of 3.1% CAGR from 2019 to 2026.
It is primarily known for its role in chocolate production. However, according to several researchers, cocoa contains a vital component, Polyphenols that can improve your health. Know more about the help benefits of cocoa:
Polyphenols are known as naturally occurring antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, wine, and cocoa are the commonly known sources of polyphenols.
Polyphenol is often linked to several health benefits including better blood regulation, inflammation, reducing blood pressure, and controlling blood sugar levels. Moreover, it can help improve cholesterol levels.
However, processed or heated cocoa loses its beneficial properties.
Our circulatory system circulates around 2,000 gallons worth of blood every day and–if we put in layman’s terms–cocoa helps regulate levels of nitric oxide in your body that relaxes the walls of your veins. It makes them pliable and enhances the flow of bold. In short, cocoa helps circulate oxygen and nutrients to vital organs.
Cocoa powder contains flavonoids including catechin, procyanidin, and epicatechin. In moderate amounts, it helps to protect cells from damage and strengthens the heart.
Moreover, it averts the formation of blood clots that can be fatal if it leads to cardiac failure. The flavonoids also contain anti-platelet aggregating effects, which ultimately prevent thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
It is observed that cocoa helps reduce bad LDL cholesterol and has similar properties to aspirin. It aids in reducing inflammation and improving blood sugar.
According to various researchers, cocoa may help in maintaining the health of the brain. The flavonoids in cocoa have neuroprotective benefits and can help in improving learning abilities and memory.
Thus, the demand for cocoa products has boosted over the last few years. Several findings suggested that the consumption of cocoa-based products improves the blood flow to the brain and it can help cure vascular disorders.
Flavanols involve in the biochemical pathways that create neurons, which are essential for the healthy functioning of your brain. Moreover, it produces nitric oxide that relaxes the muscles of blood vessels.
Moreover, it can aid those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
As mentioned above, cocoa-based products positively impact age-related mental degeneration. It also helps improve symptoms of depression.
It is observed that cocoa products help improve mood and fight depression by promoting cognitive activities during mental exertion. Furthermore, the presence of neurochemical phenylethylamine in cocoa aids in promoting aphrodisiac effects and enhancing feelings of contentment.
This could be due to cocoa’s flavanols, conversion of tryptophan to natural mood stabilizer serotonin, or mere pleasure of eating chocolate.
For diabetes patients, chocolates are certainly enemies. However, somewhat paradoxically, cocoa has some anti-diabetic effects. Some studies suggest that cocoa can reduce the speed of carbohydrate digestion, as well as, absorption in the gut. This, in turn, improves insulin secretion and reduces inflammation.
Eating flavanol-rich dark chocolate can minimize insulin sensitivity and improve control over blood sugar. However, more studies are required in this matter.
Flavanols found in vegetables and fruits gather attention due to its cancer-protecting properties. Cocoa too has a high concentration of flavanols and its addition to the diet could help fight cancer.
In fact, cocoa has shown beneficial effects of inhibiting cancer cell growth without affecting the growth of normal cells.
Test tube studies demonstrated that cocoa protects cells against inflammation and induces cancer cell death, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
To sum this all
Apart from the above-mentioned benefits, cocoa is observed to be effective in reducing weight, aiding to control asthma, and improving the health of teeth and skin.
Cocoa has been a big part of modern cuisine as chocolate. However, its benefits such as helping in regulating blood flow and improving mental health make it more attractive. It is easy to add cocoa into our diet, but make sure it is a dark chocolate of non-alkalized cocoa powder, which is rich in cocoa.
On the contrary, you must keep in mind that chocolate contains significant amounts of sugar and fats. Thus, if you want to add cocoa in your diet by consuming chocolate, combine it with a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise.
This Valentine’s Day, indulge in this decadently delicious chocolate cocktail to celebrate the day of love. Not only is it healthy, it is also an amazing ingredient for cocktails.
This creamy and chocolatey version of the White Russian will surely hook you forever.
Ingredients:
Cocoa Syrup
The cocktail
Instruction to make
Moscato wine garnished with chocolate covered strawberries is a must for a Valentine’s Day date. Fill the air with love with this dangerously seductive combination of wine, chocolate and strawberries.
Ingredients
Instruction to make
You’ll really freak out with this sinfully delicious creamy cocktail made with chocolate ice cream, chocolate brownies and liquors.
Ingredients
Instruction to make
Why just drink from it when you can eat it? These chocolate pots filled with peanut butter and liquor shots are so delicious it should be considered illegal. Fill the pot with a few more shots then eat it up before it melts on your fingers. Yum!
Ingredients:
Ingredients
This liqueur can be used in other cocktail drinks calling for chocolate liqueur. Store it in the fridge for a to-go spike for your coffee, chocolate drink or even brownies. You can also drink it on its own. No one will ever suspect that this is a homemade liqueur.
Ingredients
Instruction to make
Perfect for college camp out, this Boozy S’mores is a way to cap a day full of challenges. Sit around a bonfire and relax as you sip your hot choco drink. That is, after you delight yourself in the hot marshmallows drizzled with chocolate syrup. Just perfect!
Ingredients
Ingredients
In a saucepan, add the instant coffee, sugar, cocoa powder and milk. Heat up on low heat until cocoa powder is dissolved thoroughly, stirring constantly.
Add the dark chocolate, 6 tbsp choco hazelnut spread, salt, dark rum, and Irish cream into the saucepan. Simmer until the chocolate is completely dissolved. Stir continuously.
Microwave 3 tbsp choco hazelnut spread.
Dip the glass coffee mug into the choco hazelnut spread and crushed grahams.
Fill the mug with the chocolate liqueur up to three-quarters full.
Cram 3-4 large marshmallows into the mug.
Brown the top of the marshmallows with a kitchen torch.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with crushed grahams.
Another treat for marshmallow lovers out there! Hot marshmallows on top of a chocolate slushie is a treat any chocolate lover should have.
Ingredients:
2 scoops crushed ice
150g Kraft Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows
2 tbsp Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator
11.8 oz. milk
2 oz. Kahlua
2 oz. Irish cream
3.3 oz. vodka
2 tbsp Ghirardelli Chocolate Premium Syrup
Ingredients
In a blender, add the ice, marshmallows, peanut butter, milk, Kahlua, Irish cream and vodka. Blend well.
Put the chocolate syrup in a piping bag. Drizzle the inside of a wine glass.
Cram a handful of marshmallows into the wine glass.
Brown the top of the marshmallows with a kitchen torch. Serve.
Peanut butter plus chocolate blend well together in this cocktail. Easy to prepare, the Peanut Butter Rum Cups is a real treat for the chocolate and peanut butter lover.
Ingredients
Instruction to make