Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Turn those cold, wintry snow days into something magical with creamy Peppermint Hot Chocolate! It’s a festive homemade hot chocolate from scratch that tastes like Christmas with every sip. Top it with peppermint whipped cream or mini marshmallows.
That’s because most places will take shortcuts and use a cocoa mix without chocolate.
Or even worse – make it with hot water instead of milk.
I don’t want to label myself as a food snob BUT if I can make it better at home, then I’m disappointed in wasting my money on a lackluster treat.
Recently I bought a peppermint hot cocoa from a local amusement park, but it hardly had any candy cane flavor. Plus it wasn’t very creamy.
Disappointed, I went home and made this Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe!
It’s a festive Christmas hot chocolate from scratch that tastes like the holidays. On top I garnished it with peppermint whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
My peppermint hot chocolate recipe is the best because I use both baking chocolate and cocoa powder, which adds a fuller, more rounded chocolate taste that can’t be achieved using either one alone.
Cocoa has a deep, intense chocolate flavor while melting chocolate adds richness and a luscious creamy texture.
That’s why I always find hot chocolate made from prepackaged cocoa mixes lackluster in flavor, even if you do use warm milk instead of water.
It’s also not quite as decadent as my thick hot chocolate (which I love but that’s more of a treat and not an everyday hot cocoa).
The best part? This cocoa mixture can be made ahead of time and stored in your pantry!
My hot cocoa craving usually strikes in the evening when I don’t want to be dirtying my measuring spoons, cutting board, and knife every single time.
Since this peppermint hot chocolate recipe is based on my homemade hot chocolate mix scaled down for two cups, you can combine all of the dry ingredients ahead of time then keep in a jar in your pantry.
When you’re ready to make it, all you have to do is warm up your milk and add peppermint extract.
You can even make your whipped cream ahead of time and freeze into individual portions for serving.
Tis the season for easy Christmas drinks!
What’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?
The difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate is in the name.
Hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and milk (or hot water) while hot chocolate is made with real chocolate which you then melt into milk.
My peppermint hot chocolate recipe uses both baking chocolate and cocoa powder, so you can use the names interchangeably and call it peppermint hot cocoa.
Ingredients For Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Here’s what you need to make your peppermint and hot chococolate:
- Cocoa powder: I used natural cocoa powder as Dutch-processed is harder and pricier to find. It’s important to use high-quality cocoa because cheap ones may leave a chalky aftertaste.
- Semisweet chocolate: Melting baking chocolate adds creaminess as well as makes your drink more chocolatey.
- Brown sugar: Adds a subtle caramel flavor thanks to the molasses in it.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the drink without being too brown sugar forward
- Salt: Brings out the flavor even more
- Milk: Use whole milk for best results as you need that fat for creaminess. Using low fat or skim won’t have that same rich, velvety flavor
- Peppermint extract: Gives your hot drink that candy cane flavor (please don’t use oil as a 1:1 substitute as it’s stronger in flavor)
More Peppermint Recipes
Since you’ll have a bottle of peppermint extract to use up, you can add my Peppermint Cheesecake, Peppermint Bark Brownies, and Peppermint Brownie Cookies to your baking list.
How To Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ready to make your peppermint hot chocolate drink?
- Heat milk in a saucepan until warm (not boiling).
- Whisk in cocoa powder, chopped chocolate, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt.
- Cook for about 1-2 minutes, whisking often, until chocolate has melted and mixture has thickened slightly.
- Stir in peppermint extract then cool for 5 minutes so you don’t burn your tongue.
Serve with peppermint whipped cream or mini marshmallows on top.
Whipped Cream For Hot Chocolate
As mentioned earlier, I served my homemade hot chocolate with peppermint whipped cream to double up on that minty holiday flavor.
If you’re afraid that’s TOO much peppermint, you can use one of my other flavored whipped cream recipes:
- Homemade Whipped Cream (aka traditional vanilla)
- Chocolate Whipped Cream
- Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
You can also go a little fancy and pour your hot chocolate over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream like you would with an affogato.
Or throw a handful of mini marshmallows on top so you have fewer dishes to clean. No judgment here.
More Hot Chocolate Recipes
Enjoyed your peppermint hot cocoa? Check out these other hot chocolate recipes:
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Turn those cold, wintry snow days into something magical with creamy Peppermint Hot Chocolate! It’s a festive homemade hot chocolate from scratch that’ll taste like Christmas with every sip. Top it with peppermint whipped cream or mini marshmallows.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce semisweet baking chocolate*, finely chopped (use high-quality for best results)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (use high-quality for best results)
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar (soft and moist, not dry and crumbly)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Pinch of kosher or sea salt
- 1 cup whole milk (for best results, do not use low fat or skim)
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (not oil)
- Peppermint Whipped Cream, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together chocolate, cocoa powder, brown sugar, sugar, and salt.
If you're making this recipe ahead of time, store mix in an airtight container for up to 3 months. - Heat milk in a medium sauce pan until warm (not boiling).
- Whisk in cocoa mix then bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly, until melted and smooth and it starts to thicken.
- Remove from the heat and whisk in 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract. Taste and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon if needed (I personally like the full 1 teaspoon but not everyone likes a strong peppermint flavor).
- Cool for 5 minutes then serve with peppermint whipped cream (get recipe here).
Notes
- *In a pinch you can use 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips.
- For more hot chocolate recipes, check out Thick Hot Chocolate, Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate, and Smores Hot Chocolate.
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