If winter had an official drink, it would be peppermint hot chocolate. Rich, creamy, and kissed with just the right amount of minty sparkle. This festive mug tastes like the holidays in liquid form. It’s the perfect way to warm up, wind down, or make any winter night feel a little more special.
I use my base recipe for “The Best Hot Chocolate” but substitute peppermint extract for vanilla extract, and when garnishing I love to add whipped cream with crushed candy cane sprinkled on top. Now we go from “The Best Hot Chocolate” to “The Best Peppermint Hot Chocolate”. This mug of hot cocoa has a deep chocolate flavor with a cool peppermint finish. It’s the perfect family sip to serve with classic shortbread cookies, Christmas sugar cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, or gingerbread cookies to name a few.
Why You Will Love This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe
Rich and Velvety yet lower in calories: It’s thickened with a bit of cornstarch for a luxurious texture therefore negating the need for heavy cream.
Made with Pantry Staples: Made with 2% milk, real chocolate, cocoa powder, cornstarch and peppermint extract. You probably already have all of this in your pantry.
Loved by Kids and Adults: Not too sweet, perfectly smooth, and comforting for everyone.
Quick to Make and Can be Made Ahead of Time: Ready in about 10 minutes. Can store in the fridge until needed.
Equipment Needed
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Ingredients to Make Chocolate Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Cocoa Powder – one of two ingredients used to provide the chocolate flavor.
Cornstarch – a thickening agent that makes the peppermint hot chocolate slightly thick giving it a luxurious mouth-feel.
2% milk – the liquid portion of the drink. No need to use whole milk or heavy cream as the cornstarch helps mimic the creamy thickness, but you can if you want. You can also replace with milk substitutes if you want.
Dark chocolate – the second of two ingredients used to bring in the chocolate flavor. The cocoa butter in chocolate also adds some fat and richness to the drink.
Sugar – completely optional, but adds sweetness. Amount will vary depending on the sweetness of the solid chocolate you use and your personal tastes.
Peppermint Extract – Provides the cool peppermint flavor (you could replace with a shot of peppermint schnapps if you wanted an adult boozy version)
Garnishes – whipped cream and/or marshmallows, crushed peppermint, cocoa powder or chocolate shavings (not shown)
How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate (aka Christmas Hot Cocoa)
Follow the recipe for my Best Hot Chocolate, but do not add the vanilla extract. This hot chocolate has a deep chocolate flavor and is slightly thick delivering a super luxurious mouth feel.
In place of the vanilla extract, stir in peppermint extract.
Divide the hot chocolate between two mugs.
Garnish with whipped cream, and crushed candy canes.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If allowed to cool on its own without stirring the drink will form a skin on the surface. I don’t mind the skin myself, but you can stir it into the drink if it is still warm. Putting a lid on the pot while the peppermint hot chocolate is cooling helps keep the surface moist preventing skin formation.
FAQs
What To Serve With Peppermint Hot Chocolate? This hot chocolate is great on its own, but its even more delicious with cookies to munch on. Check out these great cookie recipes: shortbread cookies, Christmas sugar cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, gingerbread cookies, raspberry thumbprint cookies, and chocolate chipless cookies.
Can I make Peppermint Hot Chocolate ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the ungarnished hot chocolate ahead of time. Keep it covered with plastic wrap or a lid to help prevent the formation of a skin, and store in the fridge until ready to use. You can reheat it over the stove or in the microwave.
What are the best garnishes for Peppermint Hot Chocolate? I like whipped cream and crushed candy canes, but you could also do whipped cream with chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, or chocolate sauce. You might prefer marshmallows over whipped cream, or maybe even go for both!
How long can you store Peppermint Hot Chocolate? Once the hot chocolate is prepared, it’s best to drink it hot, but if you have leftovers, keep it covered in the fridge. It should last about as long as the milk is dated for.
Chocolate Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- 1 Small Saucepan
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 1 Measuring Spoons
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder Dutch processed preferred
- 1 ½ tsp cornstarch
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 3 oz chocolate
- ¼-½ tsp peppermint extract depending on your tastes
- 3 tsp sugar optional
Garnishes
- Whip cream and/or marshmallows
- Crushed candy canes to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- In a small saucepan mix together the cocoa powder and cornstarch.
- Add a couple tablespoons (roughly) of milk to the saucepan. Use a whisk to mix together the cocoa and cornstarch into the milk to form a thin paste. Keep whisking until no clumps remain.
- Pour in about a 1/4 cup of the milk and whisk to incorporate. Now add in all the milk and whisk to fully mix.
- Heat the saucepan over medium heat while stirring with a wooden spoon. After about a minute add in the chopped up chocolate or chips if using. Keep heating and stirring. You don't want the milk to boil, so stop once bubbles start to form around the edges of the pan. You should see steam beginning to release from the surface, and the hot chocolate should have slightly thickened.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in ¼ tsp of peppermint extract. At this point, you can taste it and determine if you want to add more peppermint extract and/or the sugar. It will depend on how strong your extract is, and how much sugar was in your chocolate to begin with.
- Pour the peppermint hot chocolate into mugs and garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of chopped candy canes if you have. See Notes for other garnishing suggestions.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If allowed to cool on its own without stirring the drink will form a skin on the surface. I don’t mind the skin myself, but you can stir it into the drink if it is still warm. Putting a lid on the pot while the peppermint hot chocolate is cooling helps keep the surface moist preventing skin formation.
- You can garnish however you like. I used whipped cream and crushed candy canes, but you could also do whipped cream with chocolate shavings, cocoa powder, or chocolate sauce. You might prefer marshmallows over whipped cream, or maybe even go for both!
- What To Serve With Peppermint Hot Chocolate? This hot chocolate is great on its own, but its even more delicious with cookies to munch on. Check out these great cookie recipes: shortbread cookies, Christmas sugar cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, gingerbread cookies, raspberry thumbprint cookies, and chocolate chipless cookies.
- You can prepare the ungarnished hot chocolate ahead of time. Keep it covered with plastic wrap or a lid to help prevent the formation of a skin, and store in the fridge until ready to use. You can reheat it over the stove or in the microwave
- Once the hot chocolate is prepared, it’s best to drink it hot, but if you have leftovers, keep it covered in the fridge. It should last about as long as the milk is dated for.
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We loved this hot chocolate! Thank you!