Godiva Spirits Party

Do you host a cookie swap or holiday open house and want to add a fun little twist?  Or are you looking for a great mid-winter party to help break up the monotony of the long cold months? This Godiva Spirits party could be just the thing!  It would also be a lot of fun as a Valentine's party or unique retirement or anniversary party.

I hosted this party as a date-night party for my friends last winter.  I had a couple of pregnant friends and those who gave up liquor for lent so I adjusted a couple of the recipes to non-alcoholic versions and you'll find both below.  The non-alcoholic are also kid-safe recipes but make sure you either personally serve everyone or have them all well-labeled so there are no mix-ups.  

In keeping with the chocolate and richness of Godiva theme, I decorated with browns and metallic and a pop of red - I found these elegant napkins and plates at the Dollar Tree.  I broke out my good serving trays and brought out all the Godiva desserts and drink samples in rounds every 10-15 minutes.  I bought the little condiment cups with covers (see the Chocolate Pomegranate Twist recipe below for a picture) and served drink samples, pudding shots and mousse in those.  The condiment cups I found at Walmart but most wholesalers also carry them.

The goody bags I found at the Dollar Tree, along with the metallic bead necklaces.  Also in the goody bags were several items sent from Godiva including: mail-in rebates for $ off Godiva spirits, a refrigerator magnet with a few drink recipes, and a Godiva napkin and plastic cup.  I also couldn't find Godiva chocolates locally so I added chocolate coins I found at Meijer.

I asked guests to bring an appetizer to share and I had plenty of supplies for guests to try mixing their own concoctions with the Godiva products.

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Godiva Cake

This is an adaptation of a recipe for Kahlua Cake from the Sunday Night Football Cookbook.  I’ve made it with the Kahlua following the original recipe too and it is hands down the best cake ever!  So dense and moist even without the glaze.  Remember, the baking cooks off the alcohol so for kids use the non-alcoholic glaze and it will be fine.

1 box yellow cake mix

1 3.9-ounce package instant chocolate pudding

½ cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 large eggs

¼ cup Godiva chocolate liqueur

¼ cup vodka

¾ cup water

Glaze for Grownups – ¼ cup Godiva chocolate liqueur and ½ cup powdered sugar whisked together.

Non-Alcoholic Glaze – ¼ cup milk and ½ cup powdered sugar whisked together.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 10-inch Bundt pan (I don’t have one so I used a 13x9x2 glass baking dish).  In a large bowl using an electric mixer, combine all the ingredients and beat for about 2 minutes, until smooth.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (about 55 minutes).  

Invert the cake onto a serving plate.  While the cake is still warm, pour the glaze over.  Dust with powdered sugar before serving.  The original recipe calls for letting the cake cool completely.  I've served this chilled in the fridge but you probably won’t be able to keep your hands off it until it’s cooled – I much prefer it still warm.

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Boozy Cupcakes

(adapted from a Betty Crocker Recipe called Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes)

Cupcakes

1 box devil’s food cake mix

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

¼ cup Godiva chocolate liqueur

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease or line your muffin cups (this recipe made 12 regular-sized cupcakes and 54 mini cupcakes for me).  Mix all ingredients well and fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.  Bake full size cupcakes about 20 minutes and mini’s about 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely.

Frosting

1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow crème

1 cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons vanilla vodka (substitute vanilla extract for the non-alcoholic version)

3 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, beat marshmallow crème, butter and vodka (or vanilla) with an electric mixer until well blended.  Beat in powdered sugar until fluffy.  If it’s not stiff enough, add additional powdered sugar until piping consistency.  Frost cupcakes.  You can also top with shaved chocolate, cocoa powder or a drizzle of melted chocolate.

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Chocolate Covered Cherry Bomb (Shot)

½ ounce maraschino cherry juice

½ ounce Pinnacle whipped cream vodka

1 ounce Godiva chocolate liqueur

1 vodka soaked cherry

Do not make these ahead as they will curdle.

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Drunken Chocolate Strawberries

Thanks to Erica at Erica's Sweet Tooth for this idea and recipe!  I did use whipped cream vodka in place of the vanilla vodka.  Loved these and they look awesome!  I served them on a deviled egg platter which worked perfectly and looked beautiful.

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Chocolate-Raspberry Pomegranate Twist

1 1/2 ounces Godiva chocolate-raspberry vodka
3/4 ounces pomegranate juice

I multiplied the measurements and made a pitcher full and then poured into serving sizes.  Potent and awesome!

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Vodka Soaked Cherries

1 large jar maraschino cherries

Vanilla vodka

Drain juice from cherries (save it in another jar or use it to make fruit punch!) and fill jar with vanilla vodka.  Refrigerate for 2-3 days – these will be strong!

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Vanilla Spice Pudding Shots

(These taste like eggnog only better!)

1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix

1 cup milk

½ cup vanilla vodka

½ cup Godiva white chocolate liqueur

¼ teaspoon allspice

1 small container whipped cream

In a blender, mix the first 5 ingredients until well blended.  Add whipped cream and blend just until mixed.  Pour into small plastic shot cups and freeze.  Serve slightly thawed.

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Chocolate Mousse Shots

1 large box chocolate mousse mix

1 cup Godiva chocolate liqueur

Mix well in blender until mousse thickens.  Pour into small plastic shot cups and refrigerate until set.

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Lots of other recipes I had gathered that we didn't end up getting to but we may do this one again!