These quick and easy Chocolate Espresso Moonshine and Chocolate Moonshine Mocha recipes are sure to brighten up your holiday! Make great easy hostess gifts, too.

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Chocolate Espresso Moonshine and Moonshine Mocha

There are so many gorgeous, good, festive drinks that some of our favorite bloggers from across the web are sharing. We have to stay off the site until evening because we want to try out every single recipe we've seen!

One night we were craving a nice evening drink that wasn't hot cocoa and had a little something extra in it… Thus, these recipes were born! Many people don't know that vanilla extract is made by putting vanilla beans in vodka and waiting a few months. This moonshine was created with the same idea in mind, soak coffee beans in vodka and enjoy in your hot mocha latte.

How to make Chocolate Espresso Moonshine

To make this recipe you will need:

Everclear vodka – this is to draw the flavor out of the beans and get that alcoholic hit. Vodka doesn't have a lot of flavor to start with so it takes on the coffee flavor well.
Organic Chocolate Syrup – this is Not the thick chocolate milk/ice cream style syrup, it's the Italian soda kind. This one is our favorite.
Coffee Beans – you want high quality beans for the best flavor, use your favorite roast.

Once you have assembled the ingredients, use this method:

Mix. In a mason jar mix the Everclear vodka and chocolate syrup then fill the jar with coffee beans.

Let sit. Let the mixture sit for at least 2 days or up to a month to solidify the flavor.

A few answers

Can you use a different liquor besides vodka?

You can use any high proof alcohol. We use moonshine because it doesn't have much flavor and doesn't distract from the coffee and chocolate flavor. If you prefer the flavor of whiskey or scotch you can use those, you will taste them.

Can you make this decaf?

Yes! If you want to make it decaf, you will need to use decaf beans. We love these ones.

How to make a Chocolate Moonshine Mocha

To make a moonshine mocha you will need:

Chocolate Coffee Moonshine – see above for how to make this.
Espresso – you can use strong brewed coffee or instant espresso plus hot water
Pure Vanilla Extract – vanilla has a strong floral flavor that will offset the chocolate well.
Milk – you will want to use hot whole milk.
Whipped Cream – this makes a great garnish and a nice creamy hit.
Chocolate Syrup – this is a favorite garnish of ours and it adds extra mocha flavor.

Once we have assembled the ingredients, use the following method:

Mix. Mix the chocolate coffee moonshine, espresso, and vanilla extract in the 2 mugs and set aside.

Heat milk. Heat the milk in the microwave and froth with a frother until it is light and foamy.

Combine and garnish. Top the coffee mix with the milk and foam. Top each mocha with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Enjoy!

Chocolate Moonshine Mocha FAQs

Can we use an alternate milk?

Yes, if you can use a different milk, we would suggest almond or oatmilk since they have a higher fat content so will froth better.

Can we make this decaf?

Yes, if you want this fully decaf you will need to make the chocolate moonshine espresso with decaffeinated beans. Otherwise, you can make strong decaf coffee which will make it mostly decaf.

What to enjoy alongside Chocolate Moonshine Mocha

We love to enjoy one of these Christmas cookies alongside a spiked chocolate moonshine mocha.

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Ingredients

8 ounces Everclear, Or 151 proof vodka
4 ounces Organic Chocolate Syrup, Not the thick chocolate milk/ice cream style syrup – the Italian soda kind
¼ cup Coffee Beans, High quality, divided
4 ounces Chocolate Coffee Moonshine
8 ounces Espresso or strong coffee
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
6 ounces Milk, Hot
Whipped Cream, As garnish
Chocolate Syrup, To garnish

Method

Mix together everclear or vodka and chocolate syrup.
Fill two small 6 oz mason jars with 1/8 cup coffee beans
Pour alcohol and chocolate mixture over coffee beans, add lid and let sit at least 2 days or up to one month.
Add the espresso or strong coffee, vanilla, and chocolate coffee moonshine, to 2 mugs and mix.
Microwave milk and froth using a milk frother until milk had quadrupled in size.
Top coffee with milk and foam.
Top with whipped cream, and drizzle a little chocolate syrup over the top if desired.
Enjoy immediately.