Who else got chocolate cordial cherries as gifts during the holidays? The chocolate-covered cherries with a sweet syrup inside, which I always thought was alcohol! Chocolate cherry flavor reminds me of the holidays, so here’s a drink that combines this classic seasonal flavor with coffee!

This chocolate cherry cream mocha has a luscious, sweet cherry cream that floats on top of a rich, chocolatey mocha. Together, they make a sweet and creamy mocha that is so good and easy to make.

Here’s how to make a chocolate cherry cream mocha at home!

What is a Mocha?

Ever wonder what a mocha really is? It’s like a chocolatey twist on a latte, made with espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate syrup. The result is rich, with that perfect balance of bittersweet cocoa and coffee aromas.

The type of chocolate used can totally change the mocha’s flavor! Chocolate and coffee are a natural pair—they’re both tropical fruits that bring out fruity, floral, and earthy notes when processed. Personally, I love using dark chocolate or cocoa powder in my mochas because it keeps the sweetness in check, unlike milk chocolate, which can get a bit too sugary.

Most big coffee chains stick to premade chocolate syrups for convenience, but many smaller cafes go for cocoa powder or even melted-down chocolate for a more authentic taste.

What is a Cherry Mocha?

A cherry mocha is a mocha that has cherry syrup or flavoring in it. Typically, a cherry mocha tastes like a rich, chocolatey coffee with a distinct cherry flavor, similar to a chocolate-covered cherry. You get the slightly bitter coffee, creamy chocolate, and bright cherry tartness in every sip!

Cherry and chocolate complement each other so well, and together in coffee, they create this unique flavor! Cherries are sweet and tart, but they don’t have a strong flavor once cooked down. They also have a slight bitterness that’s incredibly similar to the bitterness that coffee and cocoa have. Altogether, it has a slight herbal aftertaste!

What is Sweet Cream?

Sweet cream is lightly whipped, sweetened heavy cream with a silky, pourable texture that’s perfect for topping off coffee or tea. It’s often made using sweetened half-and-half instead of heavy cream, which gives you that same creamy effect without the extra richness.

This popular addition at places like Starbucks instantly adds sweetness, creaminess, and a little indulgence to any drink. Plus, it looks amazing on top!

The best part? You can make it at home with just two ingredients, so it’s super quick and easy to whip up whenever you want. And since you can customize it with any sweetener or flavor—like vanilla, caramel, or even a dash of cinnamon.

Tip: Try adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness, or experiment with different extracts to get that perfect seasonal twist!

Does Chocolate Go Well with Cherries?

Yes, chocolate and cherries are a classic flavor pairing that is great all year round. It’s typically popular during Christmas and Valentine’s Day, and you’ll find shelves stocked with chocolate-covered cherry bonbons or chocolates.

Cherry helps balance the intensity of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, with its sweetness and tartness. Cherries also have a slight bitterness that pairs really nicely with chocolate’s bitterness, so they complement each other nicely.

You can easily incorporate this flavor combination in desserts and drinks, like chocolate cherry cake, mochas, lattes, smoothies, and even granola bars. I love making cherry syrup to put in drinks, and it’s easy to make.

How to Make Cherry Syrup

Making fruit syrups is super straightforward. You’ll need fresh or frozen sweet dark cherries, water, and sugar to make cherry syrup. That’s it!

Boil the cherries, sugar, and water in a small pot until the sugar dissolves. The cherries will slowly burst open and release their juices into the syrup. You can also mash the cherries with a potato masher for more juice.

Simmer the syrup until it thickens slightly, then strain it and let it cool before use. The syrup might look watery hot, but it will thicken as it cools.

Which Chocolate to Use

You can use various chocolate forms to make a mocha, but the easiest ones are cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.

Cocoa powder is easy to mix with hot espresso or coffee and gives a great chocolate taste to your drink without extra sugar. It’s also easy to buy in bulk and store when needed.

Chocolate syrup is probably the most convenient option, as it’s already sweet, and all you need to do is add it to your beverage for a delicious mocha or chocolate milk. However, many premade chocolate syrups are heavily sweetened and have a lot of preservatives in them.

The best way to add chocolate to mochas is by melting high-quality chocolate. You get the delicious cocoa flavor and a little fattiness from the cocoa butter, making your mocha rich and tasty.

Depending on your flavor preference, you can use either milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate. Dark is best for a bold cocoa flavor, while milk is better for a milky and sweet drink.

Do I Need Espresso?

Traditionally, espresso works best for all cafe drinks. However, not everyone has a coffee or espresso machine, and you can easily make a cafe-style drink without espresso!

You can use espresso instant powder or a strong-brewed coffee instead. Cold brew concentrate or coffee concentrate also works perfectly too! You want to use a strong, concentrated coffee that will still taste like coffee after adding milk.

How to Make a Chocolate Cherry Cream Mocha

Here’s what you’ll need to make a chocolate cherry cream mocha:

• Cocoa powder or chocolate
• Dark sweet cherries
• Sugar
• Water
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla extract (optional)
• Milk
• Ice
• Espresso
• Optional: cherry garnish

Chocolate Cherry Cream Mocha

1. Make cherry syrup. Add cherries, sugar, and water into a small pot and boil on medium heat for 2 minutes. Mash cherries using a potato masher until all the juices leak out. Simmer the syrup until it thickens, then strain it and let it cool before use.
2. Make cherry cream. Add cherry syrup, vanilla extract, and heavy cream in a small cup and whip using a handheld frother or electric whisk until soft and fluffy. The cream should still be pourable and not stiff.
3. Brew espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso or strong coffee equivalent. Mix cocoa powder into the warm coffee until well dissolved.
4. Assemble drink. Add ice, cocoa espresso, and milk in a separate cup and mix until well combined. Then, top with the cherry cream and garnish with a cherry.
5. Mix and enjoy!

Other Ways to Make a Cherry Mocha

Not keen on heavy cream? No worries! You can always make a cherry mocha without the cream and add the cherry syrup directly into your milk.

Instead of homemade cherry syrup, you can also buy premade cherry syrup and use that instead! It’s more convenient and pre-sweetened. You can also try cherry extract or flavoring, but it may have a chemical flavor.

You can also make cherry milk by blending cherries and milk together for a very cherry-flavored drink!

You can also use cherry juice to make an easy syrup! I wouldn’t recommend adding milk to cherry juice because it might coagulate due to the acidity.

Tips

Here are some tips for making a chocolate cherry coffee at home!

• You can buy chocolate cherry-flavored coffee and brew it for a similar, subtle flavor. I’m not sure how they add cherry flavor to the coffee beans, but I think they might use cherry wood while roasting.
• If you accidentally make cherry whipped cream, you can add a little cream and re-whip it to the desired consistency.