Anyone who prefers their chocolate “loaded” is familiar with the chocolate martini. Although there are countless variations of this classic cocktail, it’s most commonly made with a combination of vodka, chocolate liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur, and it is simply divine.
However, a martini isn’t complete without its garnish, and chocolate martinis allow you to get more creative than with many other variations. Still, there are rules to follow. A proper garnish should bring both style and flavor to a martini, adding to the sensory experience without taking away from the drink itself. A garnish has the power to turn an otherwise ordinary cocktail into something extraordinary or make it downright forgettable, so choose wisely!
Fortunately, chocolate martinis are one of the easiest cocktails to garnish. That sophisticated glass and smooth chocolate surface make the perfect canvas for whatever your heart desires. If you need some inspiration, we’ve got you covered with these creative ways to garnish your chocolate martinis.
Double down on the chocolate
What better way to garnish chocolate than with more chocolate? Chocolate is by far one of the most foolproof ingredients for decorating a chocolate martini, and it opens up plenty of room for creativity as well. You can make it as simple as dusting the top with any number of different types of cocoa powder, or as complex as creating intricate chocolate decorations.
If you want to get fancy, you can make decorations by piping tempered chocolate into a shape or design before letting it dry. You can make anything from hearts to flowers to swirls — you’re only limited by your imagination. One unusual but intriguingly effective hack is to create beautiful chocolate garnishes with bubble wrap. By spreading melted chocolate over clean bubble wrap and letting it harden, you can create a stunning, textured garnish in no time.
Chocolate ribbons are another great garnish for a chocolate martini, and once you get the hang of it, they’re easy to make. Use a vegetable peeler to make perfect chocolate ribbons by gently scraping the edge of a chocolate bar, resulting in pretty curls.
Give it a swirl
As one of the most elegant styles of glassware, the martini glass has a cone-shaped body and long stem, all practically begging for a swirl. This elegant look can be easily achieved by taking your choice of syrup and lightly swirling it into your glass, starting from the bottom up, before adding the liquid.
Not only does this give your cocktail an elegant look, but it adds great flavor as well. Whether you want to add extra chocolate, butterscotch, or fruit syrup, just be sure to choose a quality ingredient that will add flavor to your martini. Ghirardelli offers a range of flavorful dessert sauces, or you can make your own in flavors like strawberry, salted caramel, or blueberry. That said, there are no rules when it comes to syrup swirls, beyond that they should taste fantastic and be thick enough not to mix too readily with the liquid you’re adding to the glass.
Choose a unique rim for your glass
A rim is one of the most common ways to garnish any drink. Rimming your glass is one of the easiest and most fun ways to beautify and enhance the flavor of any cocktail, and it can be especially fun for chocolate martinis.
The best rims for a chocolate martini depend on the season, occasion, and aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. No matter what you decide to run with, the process of rimming a cocktail is the same. You’ll need to start with a liquid bond — like fruit juice, chocolate syrup, or caramel sauce — followed by a grainy ingredient like sugar, toasted coconut shavings, or crushed candy. Simply wet the rim of your glass, then dip it into a plate full of your unique ingredients for flavorful cocktail rims, and voilà!
It’s also fun to get creative with this element. Crushed peppermint candy is always a great pairing choice when it comes to chocolate, and you can use white or dark chocolate syrup to bond it. Crushed cookies, pretzels, and sprinkles are also great toppings to rim with a chocolate base. You can also make a salted caramel rim by starting with a caramel sauce and rolling it in a sugar and sea salt mixture.
Sweeten things up with a candy garnish
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If you’ve got a sweet tooth, topping your chocolate martini with a candy garnish might be just the thing you need to elevate this already delightful cocktail. So many candies pair well with chocolate martinis, adding not only a pop of color and a bit of flavor but something fun to snack on as well, adding to the overall sensory experience.
Mint, peanut butter, and fruity candies all taste great when paired with chocolate, not to mention toffee, marshmallow, and vanilla. So don’t be afraid to use anything from gummy bears to candy canes to a Snickers bar as a garnish for your chocolate martini. Depending on the candy, you can sprinkle it on top of your drink, affix it to the side of the glass, or even stick two to three pieces onto a cocktail skewer for a larger garnish. You can get as classy or as playful as you like with this one, and either way, you’ll have a sweet and indulgent cocktail that’s reminiscent of dessert.
Play around with fresh or freeze-dried fruit
Fruit and chocolate are a match made in heaven, especially since the unexpectedly modern origin of chocolate-covered strawberries. Nowadays people pair everything from oranges to blueberries to watermelon with chocolate. And, since fruit makes such a fantastic cocktail garnish to begin with, it only makes sense to use it as a garnish for a chocolate martini.
You can always take the simple route by sticking a slice of fruit onto the rim of your glass. Or, if you’re feeling creative, hand-cut fruit fans make a stunning cocktail garnish guaranteed to impress. Making these garnishes involves thinly slicing your choice of firm fruit, spearing the slices onto a toothpick or cocktail skewer, and spreading them out into a fan shape. Or, for a unique twist on the fruit garnish, float a piece or two of freeze-dried fruit on the surface of your martini, or use dehydrated fruit to garnish your rim.
Stick with a honeycomb garnish
Sweet, flavorful, and sticky, honey is one of nature’s best desserts. Honey or honeycomb also happens to pair well with both chocolate and cocktails, making it one of the tastiest and most creative ways to garnish your chocolate martinis. There are two ways you can go about this. The first is to garnish your cocktail with a cube of raw honeycomb, while the second involves making honeycomb toffee. Both are a fantastic addition to a chocolate martini, so it comes down to your preference.
Raw honeycomb is not only a unique and sensory-rich garnish, but also has natural aesthetic appeal thanks to its hexagonal pattern. To make a honeycomb garnish, cut a block of it into small cubes, pierce them with cocktail spears, and freeze them until ready to serve. The best place to buy raw honeycomb is at your local farmer’s market or natural food store, or through an online vendor like the Savannah Bee Company.
If you’re not a fan of raw honeycomb or need a quick solution with ingredients you already have on hand, honeycomb toffee is a great alternative. This recipe is made with sugar, honey, water, and baking soda, and the result is light, crunchy, candy-like pieces that you can use as a garnish on their own, or dip them in melted chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Add a little cookie crunch
Cookies. Need we say more? Not only are they one of the most nostalgic desserts, but they’re also easy to customize and make into a fantastic chocolate martini garnish. There are multiple techniques you can use to garnish your cocktail with a cookie, including using the crumbs for a rim, balancing a small cookie atop another stabilizing garnish like whipped cream, or positioning a half or whole cookie on the rim itself if it’s soft enough to cut.
As far as the type of cookie you should use, the sky’s the limit. Manufactured cookies like Oreos, Biscoff, and Girl Scout Cookies all taste great with chocolate drinks. If you enjoy baking, you can get as creative as you want, and may even want to make mini cookie garnishes. There are so many types of cookies to choose from, and you can’t go wrong with any of them — although chocolate chip, peanut butter, shortbread, and biscotti are all classic choices that pair well with a chocolate martini.
Beautify your martini with edible flowers
A garnish is largely about adding aesthetic appeal to a cocktail, and what’s more beautiful than a flower? Because you’re incorporating them into a beverage, edible flowers are typically the best choice. Fortunately, there are plenty of edible flowers to choose from that not only look pretty but also add flavor and aroma to the cocktail.
When choosing a floral garnish for a chocolate martini, consider the type of chocolate you’ll be using. If you’re making a white chocolate martini, you can use nearly any flower, as the chocolate’s subtle sweetness will allow even the lightest floral notes, like rose and lilac, to come through. Milk and dark chocolate martinis tend to pair better with more fragrant flowers, as the strong cocoa flavors can easily overpower lighter floral varieties. Some of the best flowers to garnish a classic dark or milk chocolate martini include pansies, lavender, cherry blossoms, and hibiscus.
Pour in some cereal
You may not be enjoying your martini during breakfast, but reaching for that box of cereal in your cupboard might be just the thing you need to add a little playfulness to the drink. Not only does cereal add different flavors and a crunchy texture to a cocktail, but it can incorporate some nostalgia and whimsy into the martini.
Although puffed cocoa cereal is an obvious choice — a concept introduced with Bar Margot’s Weekend at Vinnie’s cocktail , instantly becoming one of the most unique cocktail garnishes from bars around the U.S. — you can get as creative as you want. There are so many cereals to choose from, with Golden Grahams, Reese’s Puffs, and Cookie Crisp all pairing nicely with chocolate, while Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops are fun options as well.
When choosing a cereal, avoid anything that might get soggy too quickly, since a martini is a slow-sipping cocktail. The last thing you want is a lump of mush in your drink. Once you’ve determined your cereal of choice, simply sprinkle a small pile onto the top of your martini just before serving, and enjoy.
Sprinkle in a few espresso beans
For a chocolate martini with an added pick-me-up, espresso beans make a subtle and sophisticated garnish. Traditionally used in espresso martinis, a high-quality bean also works well to give chocolate martinis a mocha twist. But, there’s more to it than simply tossing a few java beans into your drink. Exactly three beans are traditionally used to garnish an espresso (in this case, chocolate) martini, a trifecta that represents health, wealth, and happiness.
Like most garnishes, the espresso beans aren’t necessarily meant to be eaten, although they are edible and can make for a nice, crunchy addition to your drink. Either way, you’ll want to choose a quality espresso bean with a bold, rich flavor that’ll add beauty and aroma to your cocktail. Using actual espresso beans over coffee beans is ideal, as they have an oily sheen that looks great atop a creamy chocolate martini.
Go sweet and salty with a bacon garnish
If this suggestion sounds strange to you, you’ve likely never experienced the sweet-and-salty match made in heaven that is bacon and chocolate. Trust us when we say a bacon garnish will not only make for an interesting conversation starter at your next gathering, but it will create a fantastic flavor profile as well.
Fortunately, it’s a pretty easy garnish to whip up, too. While you can simply fry up some strips of bacon and pop them into your chocolate martini, chocolate-covered bacon is even better. To make chocolate bacon, simply use your preferred method to cook some bacon until it’s crisp, let it drain and cool completely, and use a basting brush to spread melted chocolate on both sides of each piece. Whether you cover the entire piece in chocolate or just half is up to you, as is the type of chocolate you prefer.
If you want an extra sweet garnish, you can make candied bacon by sprinkling a layer of brown sugar over the top as it cooks. Either way, you’re sure to be pleasantly surprised by how well this pairs with a chocolate martini.
Spice it up with a hot pepper
If you’re a fan of spicy cocktails or Mexican hot chocolate, a hot pepper might be the perfect garnish for your chocolate martini. Chocolate and spice are a fantastic combination, and a hot pepper garnish will give your martini a spicy twist. To do this, simply take a clean pepper of your choice and drop it into your martini just before serving. You can even toss a pepper or two into the shaker as you make your chocolate martini to add extra heat.
Several types of peppers pair with chocolate-forward beverages that can add a nice kick without overpowering your cocktail. Chili peppers and jalapenos both work well as chocolate martini garnishes while adding a nice pop of color to your drink. That being said, specific types of peppers tend to work better with certain chocolates than with others, which should be considered when choosing a garnish. Chipotle, for example, is a great option for adding a little smokiness to a dark chocolate martini, while ancho chilis are best with milder chocolates. Meanwhile, guajillo is a great choice for any type of chocolate martini.
Add some pizzazz with a smoked cinnamon stick
Some garnishes add subtle beauty to a cocktail, and some are just straight showmanship. If you prefer the latter and aren’t afraid to play with a little bit of fire, a smoked cinnamon stick might be the perfect choice for your chocolate martini — especially if you’re serving these up while entertaining guests.
A garnish should be an experience for all of your senses, and a cinnamon stick provides just that. Not only is it a beautiful addition to your cocktail, but you can torch a cinnamon stick to add spicy flavor and a wonderful, warm aroma as well. And this garnish is easier to execute than you might think. Simply use a kitchen torch or lighter to heat the cinnamon stick until it begins to smoke, then carefully balance it on the rim of your glass to create a smoky garnish that will leave an impression without requiring much prep work.
Finish with a classic citrus curl
Perhaps the most common cocktail garnish, citrus is one of the best ways to enhance a chocolate martini. Lemon, orange, grapefruit … we learned long ago that citrus varieties are among the best fruits to pair with chocolate. A citrus wedge, slice, strip, or curl are all great ways to add a bit of color to a traditional or white chocolate martini.
Curls are perhaps the most elegant of the citrus garnishes. If the idea of making a curl is a little intimidating, don’t worry. It’s a lot easier than it looks. Utilizing a cheese slicer is one of the best kitchen hacks for making citrus curls, and is much safer and easier to use than the classic Y-style peeler. Whatever method you choose, use fresh, vibrant fruit, and carefully balance the garnish on the edge of the rim for an elegant look.
Get cozy with a toasted marshmallow
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There’s something about a toasted marshmallow that takes you right back to childhood camping trips. But marshmallows aren’t just for kids anymore. A toasted marshmallow makes a fantastic garnish, adding a smoky-yet-sweet element to a cocktail, and this creates a stunning visual contrast when placed atop a dark and creamy chocolate martini.
There are a few ways to do this, depending on how much marshmallow action you’re looking for. The first is to spear a marshmallow with a cocktail skewer and toast it with a lighter or kitchen torch. Then, balance it over the rim of the glass. For an extra showy garnish, you can light the marshmallow on fire just before serving. If one marshmallow just won’t cut it for you, sprinkle a few (or a lot of) mini marshmallows onto the top of the drink, and gently toast them with an open flame.
Top with a swirl of whipped cream or meringue
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A chocolate martini is like dessert in a glass. Why not garnish it like one? Whipped cream and meringue have long been the toppings of choice for a wide range of desserts, and make a great addition to a chocolate martini as well. A dollop of regular whipped cream makes a lovely garnish on its own, but if you want to get more creative, adding a vanilla, peppermint, or coconut extract to your homemade whipped cream can add a boost of flavor as well. Bitters are another great addition to a whipped cream cocktail garnish, and can add some complex notes of spice and fruit.
If you want to get extra fancy, adding a swirl of meringue onto your martini is a great way to add some flair. Whether flavored or plain, this airy, glossy, and subtly sweet garnish is both visually appealing and tasty. It’s simple to make a meringue recipe, too, consisting of only egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, and extracts if you’re looking for added flavor.
