Brandy Alexander Recipe with Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Modified: Published: by Nora Breyer Combine Good Flavors 0 Comments
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Creamy, smooth, and full of dark chocolate flavor, this Brandy Alexander combines Cognac, chocolate liqueur, and fresh cream in one easy fall cocktail.
Some cocktails belong to sunny afternoons with plenty of ice. Others feel much more at home once the evenings turn cooler and you start craving something a little richer. This Brandy Alexander with dark chocolate liqueur is definitely in the second camp.
Cognac brings warmth, fresh cream makes the drink beautifully silky, and Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur adds a deep cocoa flavor without making it overly sweet. Even the creamy chocolate color seems made for fall.
Looking for something cozy to sip when those first chilly evenings arrive? You only need three ingredients and about five minutes.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What Is a Brandy Alexander?
A Brandy Alexander is a classic creamy cocktail made with brandy or Cognac, brown crème de cacao, and cream. Traditionally, the three ingredients are used in equal amounts, which makes the recipe wonderfully easy to remember.
For my version, I kept that same 1:1:1 ratio but swapped the crème de cacao for Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur. You still get everything I love about a Brandy Alexander: warm Cognac, silky cream, and plenty of chocolate. The dark chocolate liqueur gives the cocoa flavor a bit more depth, though, and I especially like that for fall.
 | $ $ 19.99 |
| Creme de Cacao Dark Chocolate Liqueur | Chocolate Sweets & Candy Chocolate by Drillaud | 750ml | France | |
 | $ $ 16.99 |
| VS | Brandy & Cognac by Courvoisier | 375ml | |
 | $ $ 25.99 |
| Dark Chocolate Liqueur | Chocolate Sweets & Candy Chocolate by Mozart | 750ml | Austria | |
 | $ $ 27.99 |
| VSOP | Brandy & Cognac by Remy Martin | 375ml | |
Only three ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 How to Make a Brandy Alexander
This one could hardly be easier.
Step 1: Fill the Shaker with Ice
Fill a cocktail shaker generously with ice.
Step 2: Add the Ingredients
Pour in:
- Cognac or brandy
- Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
- Fresh cream or heavy whipping cream
The equal-parts ratio makes this cocktail especially easy to remember.
Step 3: Shake
Close the shaker and shake well for about 15 seconds. You want the drink properly chilled. Shaking also gives the cream that soft, silky texture that makes an Alexander so good.
Step 4: Fine Strain
Fine strain into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass. I used an old stemmed cocktail glass from my granny for this one. I love bringing it out for classic drinks, and somehow it feels especially fitting for an Alexander.
Step 5: Garnish
Grate a little fresh nutmeg over the top, or add a few dark chocolate shavings, and serve right away.
Note
From Nora’s Cocktail Corner
One of my favorite things about the Alexander is how much the drink changes when you switch the spirit and the style of chocolate liqueur.
My Gin Alexander is the lightest of the three, with gin and white chocolate liqueur.
The Spiced Rum Alexander goes in a richer, warmer direction, pairing spiced rum with chocolate cream liqueur. That one feels very much like Christmas to me.
This Brandy Alexander sits right between the two.
The Cognac brings warmth without all the spice of the rum version, while the dark chocolate gives the drink richness without making it too sweet.
For me, this is the fall Alexander.
It is exactly the kind of cocktail I want when the leaves start changing, the evenings get darker earlier, and something creamy after dinner suddenly sounds like a very good idea.
Party tip: Batch Version & Make Ahead!
For 6 cocktails, you will need:
6 oz (180 ml) Cognac or brandy
6 oz (180 ml) Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
6 oz (180 ml) fresh cream or heavy whipping cream
Mix the Cognac and chocolate liqueur ahead of time and keep the mixture chilled.
When you are ready to serve, add the cream and shake with ice in smaller batches. Fine strain into chilled glasses and finish each drink with nutmeg or dark chocolate shavings.
That way, most of the prep is already done, but you still get the freshly shaken, creamy texture that makes the drink so good.
Tools you’ll need
Some of the equipment links below may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Tips & Tricks
- Chill the glass first. I usually pop mine into the freezer while I make the cocktail. Since the drink is served without ice, starting with a cold glass really helps.
- Use plenty of ice in the shaker. You want the cocktail to get properly cold before it reaches the glass.
- Give it a good shake. Shaking does more than chill the drink. It also gives the cream that smooth, lightly frothy texture that makes an Alexander so pleasant to sip.
- Grate the nutmeg fresh if you can. It takes only a few seconds, and the aroma is much better than pre-ground nutmeg. You really do not need much.
More Fall Recipes
Looking for more cozy ideas for the season? These fall recipes are full of warm flavors, comforting bakes, and beautiful drinks that are perfect for cooler days.
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Brandy Alexander with Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Equipment
- Fine mesh cocktail strainer
- Chilled cocktail or coupe glass
- Fine grater, optional
Ingredients
- Cubed Ice
- 1 oz Cognac or brandy
- 1 oz Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
- 1 oz Fresh cream or heavy whipping cream
Optional
- Freshly grated nutmeg or dark chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker generously with Cubed Ice.Cubed Ice
- Add 1 oz Cognac or brandy, 1 oz Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur, and 1 oz Fresh cream or heavy whipping cream.1 oz Cognac or brandy, 1 oz Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur, 1 oz Fresh cream or heavy whipping cream
- Shake well for about 15 seconds, until cold and lightly frothy.
- Fine strain into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass.
- Garnish with Freshly grated nutmeg or dark chocolate shavings and serve right away.Freshly grated nutmeg
Video
Notes
Batch Version for 6
6 oz (180 ml) Cognac or brandy6 oz (180 ml) Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
6 oz (180 ml) fresh cream or heavy whipping cream
Mix the Cognac and chocolate liqueur and keep chilled until you are ready to serve.
Add the cream just before serving, then shake with ice in batches. Fine strain into six chilled glasses and garnish with nutmeg or dark chocolate.
Nutrition
⛑️ Food Safety
- Wash your hands, cocktail tools, glasses, and work surfaces before preparing the drink.
- Keep the fresh cream or heavy whipping cream refrigerated at 40 °F / 4 °C or below until you are ready to use it.
- Use fresh, clean ice and handle it with a clean scoop or tongs rather than your hands.
- If using freshly grated nutmeg or chocolate shavings, prepare them with clean tools and keep the garnish away from unclean surfaces.
- If you prepare the Cognac and chocolate liqueur mixture ahead, store it in a clean, sealed bottle or covered pitcher in the refrigerator.
- Add the cream shortly before serving and shake each batch fresh for the best texture and safest handling.
- Do not leave the finished cocktail or a batch containing cream at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F / 32 °C.
- Discard any cream that has been left unrefrigerated for too long rather than chilling it again.
- Serve alcoholic drinks only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
For further information, see Safe Food Handling from the FDA.
