From late October to early January, a whirlwind of holiday plans and menus is created, causing quite a bit of stress if you're a host. But host or not, the next few months, while exciting, can call for some much-needed rest and relaxation for the adults. While the younger crowd enjoys the production of holiday dinners and parties, the older crowd organizing gets the joys of mulled wine, spiked eggnog, Chardonnay and now, something extra decadent: red wine hot chocolate.
While red wine hot chocolate is not exactly a new concept, it gained popularity during last year's holiday season when chef Randy Feltis featured it on his popular TikTok account, "Katherinewants." Katherine Wants is Feltis's social media brand, coining the slogan "Katherine Wants, Randy Cooks," where, as stated, Feltis cooks and develops recipes according to what his wife craves.
Evidently, his wife Katherine has excellent taste. Her request for this rich, comforting beverage helped turn red wine hot chocolate into a viral holiday drink, letting the rest of us savor it too.
Red wine hot chocolate works so well because red wine and hot chocolate make for a match made in heaven for the taste buds. The richness of the chocolate beverage perfectly balances the complexity of wine.
A full-bodied red wine deepens and complements the silky, bittersweetness of the chocolate (preferably dark). The tannins in the wine cut through the creaminess of the hot chocolate, preventing it from becoming overly cloying, while the melted chocolate softens the wine's strong flavor. When selecting your wine, look for varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Zinfandel that have strong berry or cherry notes to complement the classic cocoa flavor.
If you're following Randy Feltis's original recipe, all you need is a short list of ingredients that you likely already have on hand: whole milk, heavy cream, dark or milk chocolate, icing sugar, vanilla extract and of course, a full-bodied red wine of your choice.
To prepare it:
- Simmer the milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract together.
- Add the chocolate and icing sugar, stirring continuously until the chocolate is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Once blended, you can slowly stir in the red wine.
- After just a couple of minutes, remove it from the heat.
- Pour into mugs of your choosing.
And voilà! You have yourself a deliciously rich and alcoholic hot chocolate that pairs perfectly with a seasonal film or some fireside chit-chat.