Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a decadent homemade hot chocolate pumped up with festive peppermint flavor. You can make this drink boozy or tame to serve anyone on your holiday guest list this year.
Hot chocolate is the perfect drink for the season, and adding peppermint to the mix makes it even better. I love stopping by Starbucks in December for a peppermint mocha or peppermint hot chocolate, and I really love being able to make this peppermint hot cocoa at home too.
If you love the combination of chocolate and peppermint, you’ll want to make these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and Chocolate Peppermint Mini Cakes. And if you love hot chocolate, be sure to try my Grinch hot chocolate bombs for the holidays!
I’m giving you choices with this recipe. You can add a bit of peppermint schnapps to make this an adults-only mint hot chocolate, or you can omit the schnapps if you’d prefer it to be non-alcoholic. Either way, this hot chocolate with peppermint will be a huge hit at your holiday parties or a nice treat for a relaxing night at home.
Check out this Christmas Vodka Cocktail too, you’ll love the red and white details and the sweet flavors.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe: Hot chocolate made from real milk and dark chocolate is always going to be so much better than the powdered mix. This homemade recipe is completely decadent.
- Super Creamy: Not only are we making our Peppermint Hot Chocolate with milk, but we’re also adding heavy cream so that it’s extra rich and creamy.
- Easy to Make Ahead: Serving Peppermint Hot Chocolate at a party? Double or triple this recipe, mix it up and keep warm in a small crockpot or at a low heat on the stove. A quick stir and it will be ready to ladle into holiday mugs when your guests are ready for it.
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Milk and Cream: A half and half mix of whole milk and heavy cream makes this hot chocolate amazingly creamy. I don’t suggest using lower fat dairy products here, but you can try them if you’d like.
- Powdered Sugar: Using powdered sugar in hot chocolate means that you don’t have to worry about making sure that it all dissolves.
- Peppermint Extract: Pick this up near the baking supplies. Make sure you use peppermint extract. Mint extract will be too strong of a flavor for this hot cocoa.
- Bittersweet Chocolate: I’m using a 70% cacao baking chocolate, chopped finely. We’ll be melting it down and whisking it into the hot milk.
- Peppermint Schnapps: Make your peppermint hot chocolate a bit more exciting with some alcohol. Rumple Minze or any other brand will work. You can omit this and replace it with additional milk if you’d like.
- Toppings: Whipped cream and miniature marshmallows make any mug of hot chocolate better.
How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Heat Milk and Cream: Combine milk, heavy cream, peppermint schnapps (if using) and powdered sugar in a medium saucepan. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a light simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Melt Chocolate: While the milk is heating up, add the chopped chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring between each one.
- Combine: Once the milk mixture has come to a simmer, remove it from the heat. Whisk in the melted chocolate until the hot chocolate is well combined. Serve in mugs topped with whipped cream and/or mini marshmallows.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Add-Ins
We already have a delicious and fun hot chocolate recipe, but why not get creative and make it over the top amazing?
Stirrers: Make an edible stirrer out of a candy cane, or a pirouette wafer cookie.
Toppings: Shaved chocolate, crushed candy canes, or red and white holiday sprinkles would be so pretty on top of a swirl of whipped cream.
Add-ins: Totally optional, but try adding a couple of drops of vanilla extract, or a squeeze of dark chocolate syrup to the mixture for a more decadent flavor.
Other Alcohol: Instead of peppermint schnapps, try creme de menthe, peppermint vodka, or any of the seasonal spirits that pop up in December. Look for Kahlua Mint Mocha or RumChata peppermint bark, which is a blended rum drink.
Non-alcoholic peppermint flavor: You can also use peppermint Italian soda mix or peppermint coffee syrup in place of the alcohol in this recipe.
How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate for a Party
As written this recipe serves two people, and so it’s perfect for a cozy night at home. If you’re having a few friends over, feel free to double or triple the recipe. You can cook the hot cocoa before everyone gets there, and then keep it warm in a small crockpot. Check out my Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate Recipe for more tips.
More Sweet Holiday Treats
Make sure to serve peppermint hot chocolate with a big plate of Christmas Cookies! Here are some of my best Christmas treat recipes:
FAQs
It may be a bit more effort to make hot chocolate from scratch than it is to make it with a mix, but I promise that it’s worth it.
While some recipes do use powdered cocoa powder, my recipe for hot chocolate with peppermint uses a dark chocolate bar instead. I find that this makes it extra rich.
Technically, a hot drink made using powdered cocoa is called hot cocoa, and one made with milk and real chocolate is called hot chocolate. In real life, the terms are used interchangeably though.
Rumplemintz is the most popular brand of peppermint schnapps and is generally considered a premium liquor. To save money, look for less expensive brands like DeKuyper or Mr. Boston.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate is going to be your favorite hot drink this holiday season! Pin this recipe so you can make it for all of your festive gatherings.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup peppermint schnapps or more milk for non-alcoholic
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
- Whipped cream for topping
- Marshmallows for topping
Instructions
- Combine milk, heavy cream, peppermint schnapps (if using) and powdered sugar in a medium saucepan. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a light simmer, stirring occasionally.
- While the milk is heating up, add the chopped chocolate to a microwave safe bowl and melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring between each one.
- Once the milk mixture has come to a simmer, remove it from the heat. Whisk in the melted chocolate until the hot chocolate is well combined. Serve in mugs topped with whipped cream and/or mini marshmallows.
Notes:
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
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