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Chocolate Monkey

Name: Chocolate Monkey Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 1 oz Banana Liqueur; 2 oz Creme De Cacao; 2 Scoop(s) Chocolate Ice Cream; 1 oz Chocolate Sauce; 4 oz Chocolate Milk; 1.5 oz Whipped Cream; 1 Cherry; 1 Banana(s)

The Chocolate Monkey is a no-nonsense dessert cocktail that delivers exactly what it promises: a rich, creamy blend of chocolate and banana. It is a sweet indulgence, perfect for wrapping up a meal or satisfying a serious sweet tooth. Expect a smooth, milkshake-like texture with a gentle boozy kick. This is the kind of drink you order when you want a treat, not a thinking drink.

Chocolate Monkey Cocktail Recipe

4.60 from 20 votes

Calories: 640kcal

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes minutes

The Chocolate Monkey Cocktail is a decadent and creamy dessert drink that combines the rich flavors of banana liqueur, creme de cacao, and chocolate ice cream. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, this cocktail is a delightful treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

▢ 1 oz Banana Liqueur
▢ 2 oz Creme De Cacao
▢ 2 Scoop(s) Chocolate Ice Cream
▢ 1 oz Chocolate Sauce
▢ 4 oz Chocolate Milk
▢ 1.5 oz Whipped Cream
▢ 1 Cherry
▢ 1 Banana(s)

Instructions

Blend Ingredients:

▢
Blend the banana liqueur, creme de cacao, chocolate ice cream, chocolate milk, and chocolate sauce until smooth.

Pour and Serve:

▢
Pour the mixture into a parfait glass. Top with whipped cream, and garnish with a cherry and a slice of banana.

Notes

The Chocolate Monkey Cocktail is a rich and indulgent drink that’s perfect for dessert lovers. The blend of banana liqueur and creme de cacao with chocolate ice cream creates a creamy, dreamy drink that’s hard to resist. It’s an excellent choice for a special treat or a fun party drink.

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Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 640kcal (32%)Carbohydrates: 80g (27%)Saturated Fat: 30g (188%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 33mg (11%)Potassium: 917mg (26%)Sugar: 76g (84%)Vitamin A: 381IU (8%)Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)Calcium: 93mg (9%)Iron: 4mg (22%)

CourseCourse: Beverage, Cocktail, Drinks

CuisineCuisine: Beverage, Cocktail, Drinks

KeywordKeyword: Beverage Recipe, Cocktail Recipe, Drink Recipe

Where it came from

This is a modern creation, likely born in a casual bar or restaurant looking to expand its dessert menu with something fun and boozy. It doesn’t trace back to classic cocktail eras, but rather emerged from the trend of blended, dessert-style drinks popular since the latter half of the 20th century. Think vacation resort bars or a Friday night treat.

The Chocolate Monkey sits squarely in the dessert cocktail family, a boozy milkshake if you will. Its cousins include the Mudslide, the Bushwacker, and various blended daiquiris. What sets it apart is the specific, indulgent pairing of banana and multiple forms of chocolate, creating a distinctively rich flavor profile.

You would typically find or serve a Chocolate Monkey in a relaxed setting: a casual restaurant’s dessert menu, a poolside bar, or during a home gathering where a fun, easy-drinking treat is in order. It is a crowd-pleaser for those who enjoy sweet, creamy concoctions.

What it tastes like

On the front, you get a rush of sweet, creamy chocolate from the ice cream, milk, and sauce. The mid-palate brings in the distinct, sweet banana flavor from the liqueur, which blends seamlessly with the rich creme de cacao. The finish is a smooth, lingering mix of chocolate and banana, with the creamy texture coating the mouth, leaving a satisfyingly sweet aftertaste.

With 1 oz of banana liqueur and 2 oz of creme de cacao, both typically around 20-25% ABV, this drink lands around 9-10% alcohol by volume. That puts it roughly in line with a strong craft beer or a glass of wine, but significantly less potent than a spirit-forward cocktail like an Old Fashioned. It’s a dessert, not a knockout.

The technique

Building a Chocolate Monkey is straightforward. Combine all your liquid ingredients, along with the chocolate ice cream, into a blender. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and uniform. Once you have that milkshake consistency, pour it into your chosen parfait or tall glass. Finish it off with a generous dollop of whipped cream, a cherry, and a fresh banana slice.

The single most important technique for any blended ice cream drink is to avoid overblending. Run the blender just long enough to achieve a smooth, uniform consistency. Overdoing it will melt the ice cream too much, resulting in a thin, watery drink that loses its luxurious texture and dilutes the flavors.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Creme De Cacao

Use: A good quality dark creme de cacao will give you a richer, deeper chocolate flavor. Brands like Tempus Fugit, Bols, or Godiva work well here.
Skip: Do not substitute with chocolate syrup alone. While it provides chocolate flavor, it lacks the alcoholic depth and specific liqueur notes that creme de cacao brings.
Why: Creme de cacao is a foundational ingredient, providing a significant portion of the chocolate flavor and contributing essential alcoholic body to the drink’s profile.

Banana Liqueur

Use: Opt for a banana liqueur that tastes like actual banana, not artificial candy. Bols Banana or Giffard Banane du Bresil are solid choices.
Skip: While fresh banana is a garnish, it is not a direct substitute for the liqueur. The liqueur provides concentrated banana flavor and alcohol that a fresh fruit alone cannot replicate in this recipe.
Why: This liqueur is the ‘monkey’ in the drink, delivering the distinct, sweet banana note that defines the cocktail and balances the heavy chocolate elements.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Mocha Monkey

Add coffee for a caffeinated kick.: Introduce 0.5 oz of coffee liqueur or a shot of chilled espresso into the blend for a mocha-chocolate-banana treat.

Spiked Monkey

Boost the ABV with a neutral spirit.: Add 1 oz of dark rum, spiced rum, or vodka to the blend for a more potent version of the dessert cocktail without altering the core flavors too much.

Nutty Monkey

Introduce a hint of nutty richness.: Blend in 0.5 oz of hazelnut liqueur, like Frangelico, or even a tablespoon of peanut butter for a Reese’s-esque twist on the classic.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Banana Liqueur?

Use 1 oz of banana syrup and add 0.5 oz of a neutral spirit like vodka to maintain some alcoholic content. The flavor will be sweeter and less complex.

No Creme De Cacao?

Substitute with 2 oz of chocolate syrup and 1 oz of a neutral spirit. The texture might be slightly different, and the flavor less refined.

No Chocolate Ice Cream?

Use vanilla ice cream and increase the chocolate sauce by 0.5 oz, or use coffee ice cream for a mocha-banana twist.

No Blender?

For a less smooth but still cold drink, shake all liquid ingredients vigorously with crushed ice in a shaker. Pour into a glass and add a scoop of regular ice cream on top. It will not be a true blended drink, but it works in a pinch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Chocolate Monkey?

A Chocolate Monkey contains banana liqueur, creme de cacao, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate milk, whipped cream, a cherry, and a banana slice.

Is the Chocolate Monkey a strong drink?

No, it is not particularly strong. With an ABV typically around 9-10%, it’s comparable to a strong beer or a glass of wine, making it a pleasant dessert drink rather than a potent cocktail.

What kind of glass should I use?

A parfait glass is ideal for its visual appeal and to accommodate the whipped cream and garnishes. A hurricane glass or any tall, stemmed glass also works well.

Can I make the Chocolate Monkey non-alcoholic?

Absolutely. Omit the banana liqueur and creme de cacao, and increase the banana syrup and chocolate syrup to taste. You’ll still get a delicious dessert shake.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

It is best made fresh. Blended ice cream drinks tend to separate and lose their ideal creamy texture if left to sit for too long. Prepare and serve immediately for the best experience.

What’s the best chocolate ice cream to use?

For the richest flavor and texture, use a full-fat, good quality chocolate ice cream. Avoid low-fat or ‘light’ varieties as they may not blend as smoothly or provide the desired creaminess.

Why is it called Chocolate Monkey?

The name likely comes from the prominent banana flavor, as monkeys are famously associated with bananas. It’s a playful name for a dessert drink featuring a classic chocolate and banana pairing.

Can I add espresso to a Chocolate Monkey?

Yes, adding a shot of chilled espresso or 0.5 oz of coffee liqueur will give it a ‘Mocha Monkey’ twist, adding a pleasant coffee bitterness that complements the chocolate and banana.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read