Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the perfect recipe for a chilly day. All you need is 5 ingredients to make it, and it’s ready in just minutes!
What’s in Peppermint Hot Chocolate?
If you get one of these drinks from Starbucks, there are all sorts of ingredients , including their peppermint syrup and mocha sauce. This recipe is much simpler, using a handful of ingredients you may already have in your pantry.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Milk (I use almond milk)
- Cacao powder
- Maple syrup
- Peppermint extract
- Vanilla extract (optional)
Depending on which brand you buy, the bottle might say “peppermint flavor” instead of extract. In my experience, the product is very similar, but it’s not to be confused with peppermint essential oil, which could be much stronger in flavor.
How to Make It
Just like my famous Healthy Hot Chocolate recipe, all you need to do is combine the ingredients in a saucepan, and whisk them together until warm. It literally takes less than 5 minutes!
If you’re not a huge fan of peppermint flavor, I recommend starting really small with out much you add. I own an 1/8 teaspoon measuring spoon, and that amount was plenty for two servings of this hot chocolate in my family. We like a “hint” of peppermint, without it knocking you over.
If you have a measuring spoon that small, you might even want to start off with only HALF the amount (so, 1/16th of a teaspoon) just to make sure you don’t over-do it on the peppermint.
You can always add more peppermint to your taste, but it’s definitely harder to remove it once you’ve added it! So, again, start small with the peppermint addition.
If for some reason the peppermint flavor is too strong for you, you can always add more milk, cacao powder, and maple syrup to dilute the peppermint even more. If you make too much, store the extra in the fridge, and heat it up for another hot chocolate the next day!
Which Milk Works Best?
I prefer homemade almond milk for hot chocolate, but you can use practically any milk you regularly drink. The only one you might want to avoid is homemade oat milk , which can develop a “slimy” texture when heated.
For a drink with more plant-based protein, try hemp milk !
How to Serve It
Serve with coconut whipped cream on top, and a few crushed candy cane pieces for an extra-festive look.
It’s really delicious when the small candy cane pieces melt into the hot chocolate. (I used YumEarth brand candy canes here, which have no artificial dyes and are allergy-friendly.)
IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x
- 2 cups milk of choice (I use almond milk)
- 2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
- 2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon peppermint flavor* (I used Simply Organic brand)
- Coconut whipped cream for serving (optional)
- Crushed candy cane , for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the milk, cacao powder, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, vanilla, if using, and peppermint flavor. Whisk well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then taste and adjust as needed. Add 1 more tablespoon of maple syrup, if you’d like a sweeter flavor. You can add more cacao powder for a darker chocolate flavor, or a tiny-bit more peppermint if you want even more minty flavor.
- Serve warm, with coconut whipped cream and crushed candy canes on top, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
More Warm Drinks You’ll Love
If you love this, you’ll also love these other fan favorites:
- Easy Chai Latte
- Matcha Latte
- Golden Milk
- Instant Vegan Latte
- London Fog (my favorite!)
–
Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite warm drink?
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk of choice (I use almond milk)
- 2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
- 2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon peppermint flavor* (I used Simply Organic brand)
- Coconut whipped cream for serving (optional)
- Crushed candy cane , for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the milk, cacao powder, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, vanilla, if using, and peppermint flavor. Whisk well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then taste and adjust as needed. Add 1 more tablespoon of maple syrup, if you’d like a sweeter flavor. You can add more cacao powder for a darker chocolate flavor, or a tiny-bit more peppermint if you want even more minty flavor.
- Serve warm, with coconut whipped cream and crushed candy canes on top, if desired.
