If you think I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession with chocolate + cherries recently, you’re probably right. But if there’s ever a time for chocolate cherry donuts and chocolate cherry dessert martinis, that time is almost here! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends or beau, a delicious and potent dessert martini is definitely in order. Indulge a little, why don’t ya!

I created this chocolate martini to resemble the chocolate cherry cordial candies I used to enjoy sneaking from my Grandpa’s stash that he kept year round in Grandma’s pantry. I’m pretty sure he knew what was going on behind closed kitchen doors, but the thrill of climbing up the stool to sneak a delicious cherry candy was about as great as the crunch of its chocolate shell and then the oozing cream and cherry center. Oh man. Queen Anne, ya done good. This chocolate cherry cordial martini tastes exactly like a liquid version of the classic treat- I was really blown away by how similar they are, actually. The beginning part of the drink is a rich and creamy chocolate, and as you sip, you reach the creamy cherry bottom and finish with the crunch of the skewered cherry garnish. It’s the most amazing martini I’ve ever tasted. But, uh… let’s not talk about the calories, okay? Okay. Check out the recipe below!

• 3 oz Homemade Chocolate Liqueur (or sub 2 oz vodka + 1 oz chocolate syrup)
• 2 oz Half & Half (divided)
• 1 oz Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz Grenadine or Cherry Juice
• 2 Ice Cubes
• Two Cherries
• Swizzle Stick or Drink Skewer
• Martini glass
• Cocktail Shaker
• Jigger (for measuring liquids)
• optional: Cocoa Powder (for dusting)

Pour one ounce of grenadine syrup, 1 ounce of half and half, and one ounce of vanilla vodka into the bottom of the martini glass. Stir with to combine. Then, in a cocktail shaker filled with two ice cubes, add three ounces of homemade chocolate liqueur (or two ounces of vodka plus one ounce of chocolate syrup) along with one ounce of half and half. Shake until the cocktail shaker is frosty and too cold to handle. Then, slowly pour its contents over the liquid that’s already in the martini glass, aiming for the slanted edge of the glass, not the center of the martini. You don’t want the top and bottom halves to mix.

Finish the drink with a light dusting of cocoa powder and skewered cherries.

I chose to remove the pits of my cherries and skewer them upside-down, so that the closed side of the cherry faced the top. You can add as many cherries as you want, but I think two looks the prettiest for one drink. You don’t have to pit the cherries, but when you’re looking glamorous drinking a martini, you probably don’t want to awkwardly spit out a cherry pit! If you don’t have fresh cherries on hand. you can always used canned cherries or maraschino cherries as well.

If you prefer a bit stronger and less decadent of a martini, add vanilla vodka instead of half and half to the top portion of the drink. But I do recommend that you make this drink with my chocolate liqueur recipe, because it’s pretty stinkin’ delicious and thick compared to the stuff you can get at the store!