Easy Chocolate Martini

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/3/22
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Easy Chocolate Martini in a glass with cocoa powder rim

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
244 Calories
0g Fat
16g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 244
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 1mg 0%
*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.)

Treat yourself to a simple chocolate martini adorned with a cocoa rim and chocolate candy garnish. It's a perfect dessert drink to serve at a dinner party, and it will satisfy that sweet tooth on those evenings when you'd like a cocktail.

There are many versions of a chocolate-flavored martini and most have two things in common: vodka and chocolate. This is one of the easiest recipes because it simply mixes vodka with your favorite chocolate liqueur. It's also much lighter, skipping the cream entirely so you can just enjoy the delicious taste of chocolate.

Give this recipe a try with a few vodka and liqueur combinations, then add your own twist to it. It's the perfect base waiting for your experiments.

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Click Play to See This Chocolate Martini Recipe Come Together

"Served in fun restaurants by hyper-talented juggling bartenders donning flared suspenders, this cocktail was the ultimate in decadence and frivolity. Sadly, with the introduction of pretension and mixology the ‘Choco-Tini’ fell out of favor. This recipe represents how good this cocktail actually was." —Sean Johnson  

Easy chocolate martini in a glass with a cocoa garnish
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Cocoa powder, for rimming

  • 2 ounces vodka

  • 1 1/2 ounces crème de cacao (or other chocolate liqueur), plus extra for rim

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Chocolate Martini ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Rim a cocktail glass with cocoa: Wet the rim by dipping it in a small dish of the chocolate liqueur, then dip or roll it in a dish of cocoa powder.

    The rim of a cocktail glass dipped into a dish of cocoa powder

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Pour the vodka and chocolate liqueur into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.

    Vodka in a glass, crème de cacao in a shot glass, and ice in a bowl, next to a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Shake vigorously.

    Cocktail shaker being shaken

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Strain into the prepared glass.

    Easy Chocolate Martini in a glass rimmed with cocoa powder

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • Experiment with different vodkas. Most martinis are best with top-shelf vodka, but you don't have to be quite so picky with the chocolate martini because of its deep flavor. To balance quality and a budget, find a good, mid-range vodka. Those produced by today's craft distillers are excellent candidates, as are any of the big names in the vodka market.
  • You can use either white or dark crème de cacao. Only the color will change, not the taste.
  • If you want a creamy martini, switch to a creamier chocolate liqueur. There are many delicious options available, such as Godiva and Dorda. Both are made by famed chocolatiers, so you know they're delicious.

Recipe Variations

  • You can add a little extra flavor by pouring a flavored vodka. Have fun with berry, coconut, or coffee vodkas for a fun twist. Citrus pairs well with chocolate as well. Vanilla vodka is a more obvious choice, and if you want to load up on the chocolate, go for a chocolate vodka. Any of the dessert-flavored vodkas, such as whipped cream, make a tasty martini, too. 
  • A quick way to give this recipe a creamy touch is to pour Irish cream or dairy cream. To maintain balance, add just 1/2 ounce or so.

Is Crème de Cacao the Same as Chocolate Liqueur?

Crème de cacao is a chocolate liqueur made from the cacao bean. It has a subtle vanilla taste and comes in both dark and white versions that taste the same. Crème de cacao can be enjoyed on its own or used as an ingredient in cocktails and desserts. Chocolate liqueur, on the other hand, is made of cream and chocolate and is sweeter and more syrup-like. It can, however, be used in place of crème de cacao in recipes.

How Strong Is a Chocolate Martini?

Most chocolate liqueurs are low-proof, and that helps bring this booze-only martini down to a decent strength. For example, if you make this chocolate martini with Godiva (17 percent ABV), its alcohol content will fall around 26 percent ABV (52 proof). It is not the lightest cocktail, but certainly not the strongest, either. Just don't let the sweet taste fool you into drinking too many.