Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a decadent chocolate lover's dream. The perfect cup of hot cocoa to warm you up on a cold winter's day is easy to make at home in minutes!
When there's a chill in the air, it's definitely hot chocolate season.
I love cozying up on the couch with warm blankets next to a roaring fire, sipping on a hot cup of cocoa. And this Peppermint Hot Chocolate, my friends, is absolutely dreamy! This homemade hot cocoa completes the idyllic winter scene.
If you've only had hot cocoa mix on its own (like those pre-mixed hot chocolate packets) and have never made your own homemade hot chocolate, this Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe is a great one to try. It's an easy hot chocolate recipe that will level up your basic hot chocolate to extraordinary delicious delights.
So grab a mug of cheer, and cozy up with this Peppermint Hot Chocolate. It's the perfect recipe for the holiday season!
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❤️ Why you'll love this hot chocolate recipe
On a cold day during chilly winter months, there's nothing quite like a mug of creamy homemade hot chocolate. And this Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe is one of my absolute favorites to make for the whole family. I hope you and yours will love it, too!
- Easy - This simple recipe is easy to follow.
- Simple ingredients - You can find all of these ingredients at your local grocery store.
- Rich and decadent - The result is a luscious, sweet hot chocolate with bright peppermint flavor that is both invigorating and comforting at the same time.
Perfect chocolate treat for chilly days, and especially the Christmas season!
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Milk and heavy cream - I like to use a mix of milk (whole milk, 2%, 1% or skim milk) and heavy cream. This allows it to be creamy but not too heavy. I've also substituted almond milk and dairy-free heavy cream in this recipe, with great success.
- Chocolate - I prefer to use semi-sweet chocolate, but you can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. I've also used dairy-free chocolate with success.
- Vanilla - Use pure vanilla extract.
- Peppermint - It's important that you use peppermint extract and not mint extract, as they impart different flavors. Just a little extract gives you the perfect hint of peppermint. You can also substitute peppermint syrup, but it will be sweeter than peppermint extract.
- Salt - I like to add a little bit of kosher salt to help balance out the sweetness.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
The full list of ingredients and detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how easy it is to make this delicious peppermint hot cocoa recipe.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir in the milk, cream, sugar, and salt.
- When the cream mixture starts to heat up, add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted.
- Into the melted chocolate, whisk in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
- Pour into two large mugs and top with whipped cream, crushed peppermint candies, and chocolate shavings, as desired.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes! I have made this dairy-free with great success. It's just as creamy and delicious! Simply substitute your favorite non-dairy milk (I use almond milk), dairy-free heavy cream, and dairy-free chocolate.
This peppermint hot chocolate is best enjoyed right after it's made, while it's still warm. However, you can cover the mug with plastic wrap, or pour the hot cocoa into an airtight container like a mason jar, and refrigerate for up to one day. Simply warm up in a microwave-safe mug in the microwave in 30 second intervals, until fully reheated.
🍽 Serving ideas
My favorite hot cocoa toppings:
- Whipped cream
- Crushed peppermint candies or peppermint candy canes
- Chocolate shavings
- Mini marshmallows
- Mini chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- Chocolate sprinkles
Hot cocoa variations to try
- Add a shot or two of espresso to make it a Peppermint Mocha.
- Substitute chopped white chocolate to make a Peppermint White Hot Chocolate.
- Make a 21+ adults only version by substituting peppermint vodka for peppermint extract.
Create a warm and cozy Christmas cocoa table by serving this peppermint hot cocoa along with:
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Saucepan - You'll need a medium saucepan to make this delicious peppermint hot cocoa.
- Whisk - Use a balloon whisk to stir together the hot cocoa ingredients.
More cozy winter recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- whipped cream, crushed peppermint candies, chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir in the milk, cream, sugar, and salt.
- When the cream mixture starts to heat up, add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted.
- Whisk in the vanilla and peppermint extracts.
- Pour into two mugs and top with whipped cream, crushed peppermint candies, and chocolate shavings, as desired.
- Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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