Sweet on Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Recipe

Although it’s hard to go wrong with dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day, I’m partial to white chocolate and strawberries myself. I love this pairing because it reminds me of classic desserts like strawberries and cream and strawberry shortcake, or British staples like strawberry fool and Eton mess.

This Valentine’s Day hot chocolate recipe features juicy strawberries, sweet white chocolate, whole milk, and a hint of vanilla bean paste, evoking the flavors of a good old-fashioned strawberry milkshake. It also embraces an industry trend (mainstream brands like M&Ms, Lindt and Tony’s Chocolonely all offer white chocolate strawberry products following on the heels of craft and artisan makers) while providing an alternative to traditional dark chocolate desserts. Plus, the combination of bright red strawberries and snowy white chocolate creates a pink palette perfectly suited to Valentine celebrations.

I developed this recipe using Callebaut Recipe N° W2, a 28% white chocolate with “milky, creamy, caramelly and vanilla notes.” This chocolate couverture pairs especially well with fruits like strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and redcurrants, complementing the sweeter notes of the berries while balancing out their tartness.

In addition, I love this white chocolate because it comes in ready-to-use callets (no chopping required!) which melt quickly and smoothly into a saucepan of warm milk, making it easy to whip up a premium hot chocolate experience in no time at all.

A Pop of Pink

Strawberry Hot Chocolate in mug — Strawberry Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate comes together in a matter of minutes but be sure to allow enough time to macerate the berries. Macerating (tossing the diced strawberries in sugar, then setting them aside to rest) adds a hint of sweetness and draws out their natural juices, making it easier to blend them into the smooth purée which gives this drink its naturally pink hue.

For a more vibrant shade, feel free to add a drop or two of pink food coloring. When tinting chocolate-based recipes I always suggest opting for an oil-based colorant if possible, but gel food coloring will also work in a pinch.

Go Crazy with Garnishes

To delight Valentine’s Day party guests, embellish your strawberry hot chocolate with fun toppings and garnishes. Add a dollop of whipped cream (you can even tint it pink, or stir in a few drops of strawberry extract) then top with crushed freeze-dried strawberries, pink sanding sugar, heart-shaped sprinkles, or shaved white chocolate.

For a more natural approach, garnish your mug with a sprig of fresh herbs (basil and mint both pair well with strawberries), or a slice of strawberry on the rim.

Make a Boozy Beverage

As written, this recipe contains no alcohol, so it’s perfect for a crowd of non-drinkers or for serving at family-friendly celebrations. However, the blend of sweet strawberries and creamy white chocolate also lends itself well to a spiked, adults-only version.

For inspiration, I asked bartenders and mixologists to give me their best ideas for transforming this recipe from kid-friendly cocoa into a boozy, grown-up treat:

Liqueurs

When it comes to liqueurs, creamy options top the list.

Diesha Banner, Lead Mixologist and Owner/Founder of A Glass Above LLC, suggests Baileys, noting that this classic Irish cream liqueur brings the drink’s creamy and fruity features to the forefront. Or to further intensify the strawberry notes, spike your mug with Baileys Strawberries & Cream, says Beverage Consultant Joshua Coates, who suggests pairing the creamy liqueur with a 1- ounce portion of tequila.

For another berry-centric option, London-based Bar Manager Matthieu Guglielmetti recommends Tequila Rose, a strawberry cream liqueur, to enhance the strawberry flavor. Rylie Hightower, Managing Owner and Food and Beverage Director at The Lumbar in Birmingham, Alabama, agrees, noting that, “Tequila Rose is something most people don’t consider [using] in craft drinks [...] but, just like every other spirit, if it’s executed well it can make magic.”

Basil Hayden Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey — Basil Hayden

Liquors

If creamy liqueurs aren’t your thing, you can also turn to spirits like tequila, whiskey, and vodka to create a boozy berry beverage.

Hightower suggests Basil Hayden, a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and a Double Gold winner at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, for its “warm, spicy bite.” Paula Lukas, a New York City Beverage Consultant and Mixologist, agrees, adding that Basil Hayden’s “notes of vanilla and dried fruit along with a touch of spice [...] bring out the strawberry in the white hot chocolate without competing for flavor.”

Or, Lukas adds, opt for Aberlour 12 (another NYISC Double Gold winner), a 12-year-old scotch whiskey with “fruity notes of apple and citrus” plus elements of chocolate and honey. Says Lukas, “the combination of flavors in this Speyside Scotch will enhance the strawberry [...] and bring out the creamy goodness.” Lukas also likes Smoke Lab Saffron Vodka, noting that white chocolate and strawberries provide “a perfect match for the subtle earthiness and floral notes of saffron” in this premium Indian vodka made with Basmati rice and distilled using a charcoal filtration process.

You can also embrace a current beverage trend by adding tequila to your strawberry hot chocolate. Hightower recommends highlighting the juicy, fresh strawberries by pairing them with the “bold, juicy character” of Lunazul Añejo, while Coates recommends another Lunzazul tequila (and NYISC winner), Primero. Coates suggests spiking your drink with a 1-ounce portion, along with 1/2 ounce of Licor 43, a Spanish liqueur with notes of citrus and vanilla which pair well with white chocolate, adding flavor without making the drink taste overly “boozy.”

Or, double down on the white chocolate and strawberry flavors with Ole Smoky White Chocolate Strawberry Cream Moonshine. “If you’re looking to add a zing to your hot chocolate but maintain the exact flavor profile,” says Hightower, “this would be the move.”

Strawberry White Hot Chocolate

Serves two (but easily multiplied for entertaining!)

Strawberry Hot Chocolate with white chocolate

Ingredients

3/4 cup diced fresh strawberries (110 g)

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon powdered freeze-dried strawberries

1 1/2 cups whole milk (360 ml)

1/2 cup Callebaut W2 28% white chocolate callets (90 g / 3.15 oz)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Pinch fine sea salt

Whipped cream, shaved white chocolate, or freeze-dried strawberries, to garnish

Directions

Strawberry purée:

Add the diced strawberries to a small bowl. Toss in granulated sugar and set aside, allowing the berries to macerate for 15 minutes.

Add the macerated berries and powdered freeze-dried strawberries to the bowl of a food processor and purée until smooth. If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get the blades moving.

Pass purée through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds.

Hot chocolate:

In a medium saucepan, warm the milk over low heat until steaming. Do not boil.

Add the white chocolate callets, stirring gently until completely melted.

Remove from heat. Gently whisk in the strawberry puree, vanilla bean paste, and sea salt. If desired, add a drop of food coloring for a brighter shade of pink.

For spiked hot chocolate, stir in liquor or liqueur of choice.

Pour into mugs and garnish as desired. Serve immediately.