Chocolate and Orange 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 10/25/21
Chocolate and Orange Martini in martini glasses, garnished with orange slices

The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Freeze: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The combination of chocolate and orange is a favorite in cocktails and there are a number of drinks that highlight the delightful duo. This chocolate and orange martini is one of them and it's a very fun vodka martini to mix up.

The recipe is not the chocolatiest of cocktails, so it's a nice change of pace. It begins with a base of vodka and white crème de cacao, which is richly sweet but not creamy. To that, just a touch of orange liqueur is added as an accent to find the delicate balance between the two flavors.

The other unique thing about this cocktail is that it uses a melted chocolate rim. Though optional, it's a nice homemade touch. It's fun for a party or when you already have chocolate in a double boiler (you can also melt the chocolate in a microwave). Next time you're making chocolate covered strawberries, go ahead and treat yourself to this martini, too!

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Rim:

  • 1/2 cup chopped chocolate (or chips)

For the Cocktail:

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka

  • 3/4 ounce white crème de cacao liqueur

  • 1 splash orange liqueur

Steps to Make It

To Make the Chocolate Rim

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chocolate and Orange Martini ingredients in glasses

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  2. Place chunks of chocolate into a heat-safe metal or glass bowl and put the bowl over a pot of water.

    Chocolate chunks in a glass bowl over a saucepan on a burner

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  3. Heat and simmer the water until the chocolate is completely melted, stirring regularly.

    Melted chocolate in a glass bowl over a saucepan on a burner

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  4. Pour the melted chocolate onto a small plate and dip the rim of a cocktail glass into the chocolate.

    Martini glass dipped into melted chocolate on a plate

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  5. Stand the glass upright and allow the chocolate to set.

    Martini glass with chocolate on the rim

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  6. Chill the glass in the freezer or refrigerator for 10 to 30 minutes.

    Chilled martini glass with chocolate on the rim

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  7. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, crème de cacao, and orange liqueur.

    Vodka, crème de cacao, and orange liqueur poured into a metal cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  8. Shake well.

    Shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

  9. Strain into the prepared glass.

    Chocolate and Orange Martini poured into a martini glass with a chocolate rim

    The Spruce / Preethi Venkatram

Tips

  • You can certainly use dark crème de cacao. The taste will remain the same, but the cocktail will be brown rather than clear.
  • For the orange liqueur, pour your favorite. Cointreau, Grand Marnier, and any premium orange curaçao are all good choices.

Recipe Variations

  • If you want to skip the melted chocolate rim, powdered cocoa is an easier option that gives you the same chocolate taste with each sip. For this, mix equal parts of sugar and cocoa in a small dish. Wet the rim by dipping it in a dish of the orange liqueur (wiping an orange wedge around the rim works, too), then roll the rim in the cocoa-sugar mix.
  • Double up on the chocolate by pouring a chocolate vodka. You could also highlight the orange with citrus vodka.

How Strong Is a Chocolate and Orange Martini?

As with most martinis, this is not a light drink. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, though, since the recipe contains nothing but liquor. It shakes up to about 28 percent ABV (56 proof), so don't let its sweet taste trick you into mixing up one too many.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
194 Calories
0g Fat
11g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 194
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
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.)