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Peppermint Hot Chocolate is sweet and creamy white chocolate with a hint of peppermint. Serve with whipped cream and a candy cane for the perfect holiday treat!
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This peppermint hot chocolate is like the Christmas season in a cup. I don’t know about you but there is nothing like warming your hands with hot chocolate during the chilly winter months and especially the holiday season. This homemade peppermint hot chocolate recipe is far better than any hot chocolate mix you can find at the store and is much cheaper than grabbing a cup of cocoa from Starbucks. If you have never tried to make a hot chocolate from scratch, you’ll be surprised both at how easy and delicious homemade hot chocolate can be!
Ingredients in Peppermint Hot Chocolate
All you need are a few simple ingredients to make the most decadent, easy chocolate ever. I like to keep these in the pantry and refrigerator all during the winter so I can serve them alongside holiday cookies whenever the mood strikes. Here’s what you need:
FOR THE HOT CHOCOLATE:
- Heavy cream – about one cup of heavy whipping cream. You can find heavy cream next to the milk in the grocery store.
- Sweetened condensed milk – NOT evaporated milk. This is the rich, gooey stuff that makes this cocoa rich and extra creamy.
- Milk – you can use any kind of warm milk you like in this recipe: whole milk, soy. non-fat, etc.
- Peppermint extract – a little goes a long way, so this will last you a long time, and has a long shelf life.
- White chocolate chips – I find that the chips have a better flavor than almond bark, but either will work in this recipe.
TOPPINGS:
- Whipped topping
- Crushed peppermint candy – candy canes, round disks, etc.
- Chopped chocolate – optional
- Mini marshmallows – optional
Tips for Melting Chocolate
Make sure to heat the chocolate with low heat while you are melting the chips. Microwave in a glass bowl for thirty seconds, whisk, then repeat until the chocolate is completely melted. Or combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and stir until melted. You can cook it in a saucepan too. Just make sure to stir constantly on medium heat or the chocolate chips can burn and leave you with a scalded flavor. Like all good things, this peppermint hot chocolate is worth the wait!
How to Add Peppermint Flavor
This peppermint hot chocolate has a double dose of mint flavor to add some freshness to the sweet, creamy beverage. Firstly, the recipe has peppermint extract added to it. You can make peppermint extract at home, but I personally don’t have the patience for that so I generally just pick up a bottle of extract at the store. You can find it in the baking aisle, near the vanilla extract. If you can’t find peppermint extract, you can also use peppermint oil. Oils are more concentrated than extracts, so you only need to use a 1:4 ratio of oil to extract. So, for this recipe you would use ¼ teaspoon oil. You can also add peppermint syrup – there are dozens of delicious syrups available at the grocery store.
Substitute Chocolate
This peppermint hot chocolate recipe is made with white chocolate chips, rather than the classic milk chocolate. I like white chocolate the best with peppermint personally, but there’s no way to go wrong with hot chocolate. I also make this same recipe with milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet or even bittersweet chocolate, and they all taste amazing. Whichever chocolate you prefer, you won’t be disappointed with this recipe. You’ll get the best results if you use a nicer brand of chocolate chips like Ghirardelli or Guittard.
Questions about Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Any chocolate has a minimal amount of caffeine, but unlike a peppermint mocha from Starbucks or other coffee places, this recipe has no additional caffeine.
This rich drink is creamy with a hint of sweet peppermint that isn’t too spicy, but complements the sweetness of the white chocolate perfectly.
Serve hot chocolate immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat in the crock pot or in the microwave.
Read Next: 35+ Valentine’s Day Dessert Ideas
Other Recipes to Try
If you love this peppermint hot chocolate recipe, try one of our other favorite holiday drinks!
- Unicorn Hot Chocolate
- Candy Bar Hot Chocolate
- Frozen Hot Chocolate
- Mayan Hot Chocolate
- DIY Hot Chocolate Mix
How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 8 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
For the Topping:
- whipped topping
- crushed candy canes
For the Candy Cane Rim (optional)
- white chocolate
- crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Combine the cream, milks, peppermint extract and chocolate chips in a slow cooker or over the stove on low heat. Stir occasionally until chocolate chips have dissolved.
- Bring mix to desired temperature then serve in mugs and top with whipped topping and crushed candy cane pieces.
For Candy Cane Rims
- Crush candy canes and place in a bowl.
- Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave. Cook for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until melted. Dip rim into the bowl.
- Immediately dip into the crushed candy canes until the white chocolate is covered.
Notes
- Make sure to heat the chocolate with low heat while you are melting the chips. Microwave in a glass bowl for thirty seconds, whisk, then repeat until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Or combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and stir until melted. You can cook it in a saucepan too. Just make sure to stir constantly on medium heat or the chocolate chips can burn and leave you with a scalded flavor.
- If you can’t find peppermint extract, you can also use peppermint oil. Oils are more concentrated than extracts, so you only need to use a 1:4 ratio of oil to extract. So, for this recipe you would use ¼ teaspoon oil.
- You can also add peppermint syrup – there are dozens of delicious syrups available at the grocery store.
Yum!!! It’s peppermint hot chocolate season!!!
I completely agree with you on the white chocolate with peppermint. This drink looks and sounds amazing.
This is the perfect drink for cold nights while watching Christmas movies!
I love peppermint hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.
I tried your recipe last night and loved it! Can’t wait to make it again!
Have to give it a try, I have a daughter who dislikes Chocolate.
Heavenly and sinful all in one!!! My daughter’s eyes just got wide when she saw the picture. I will definitely be making this soon 🙂