Make the Best Peppermint Hot Chocolate in 3 Easy Steps
Smooth, velvety, and richly flavored with milk chocolate and notes of peppermint, this peppermint hot chocolate recipe combines wholesome ingredients to make the perfect drink for the holiday season!
Wholesome cooking is all about balance—using simple ingredients to create meals that taste amazing and truly support your well-being. I’m passionate about making that process easy and fun, and I’d love for you to join me over on Instagram where I share new recipes and inspiration every week.
Oh and by the way, I’m so glad you’re here!
It’s August 21st and it was 49 degrees here this morning. We actually set a record low!
I don’t mean to jump ahead, but Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Never mind that it will be 85 degrees by the end of the week. I’m officially ready for all the cozy drinks that come with my favorite time of year (ahem…September-December).
Although I have a delicious recipe for a homemade pumpkin spice latte here on the blog, I must confess that my heart lies with hot chocolate. And maybe even more so, a well-made peppermint mocha is pretty high up on my list.
I knew I had to take the best of both worlds and combine the two, therefore creating the ultimate peppermint hot chocolate recipe. Divine!
While I go set up my Christmas tree, you do yourself a favor and make this hot chocolate right now. Your taste buds will thank you, I promise.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is a quick overview of a few essential ingredients needed for this recipe. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list!
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Tips for Preparing to Make This Recipe
- If you are looking for a dairy-free option, I would suggest using full-fat coconut milk in place of the milk and cream. You could also use oat milk or almond milk, but the hot chocolate will not be as creamy. Be sure to also use dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Variations: Use whatever combination of chocolate you prefer. A mixture of milk and dark chocolate would be delicious, or even white chocolate!
- Don’t skip the cornstarch! It may seem like an odd or unnecessary addition, but it really helps make the hot chocolate luscious and creamy.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below!
Step by Step Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the whole milk and heavy cream. Heat the mixture for 3-4 minutes. Be careful to never allow the milk to boil! You want to heat it just enough so it’s under scalding.
- After the milk and cream mixture is nice and hot, add in the milk chocolate chips, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cornstarch, vanilla extract and peppermint extract.
- Using a whisk, stir continually to begin to combine the mixture together. At first the mixture will be grainy, but as the chocolate begins to incorporate into the hot milk, the color will deepen and everything will come together. For best results, heat for around 5 minutes until thick and creamy.
- Pour the delicious hot chocolate between two mugs and garnish however you like.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Best Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1/2 cups 1x
Description
Smooth, velvety, and richly flavored with milk chocolate and notes of peppermint, this peppermint hot chocolate recipe combines wholesome ingredients to make the perfect drink for the holiday season!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp pure peppermint extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the whole milk and heavy cream. Heat the mixture for 3-4 minutes. Be careful to never allow the milk to boil! You want to heat it just enough so it’s under scalding.
- After the milk and cream mixture is nice and hot, add in the milk chocolate chips, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cornstarch, vanilla extract and peppermint extract.
- Using a whisk, stir continually to begin to combine the mixture together. At first the mixture will be grainy, but as the chocolate begins to incorporate into the hot milk, the color will deepen and everything will come together. For best results, heat for around 5 minutes until thick and creamy.
- Pour the delicious hot chocolate between two mugs and garnish however you like.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- If you are looking for a dairy-free option, I would suggest using full-fat coconut milk in place of the milk and cream. You could also use oat milk or almond milk, but the hot chocolate will not be as creamy. Be sure to also use dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Variations: Use whatever combination of chocolate you prefer. A mixture of milk and dark chocolate would be delicious, or even white chocolate!
- Don’t skip the cornstarch! It may seem like an odd or unnecessary addition, but it really helps make the hot chocolate luscious and creamy.
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
If you loved this easy recipe for homemade peppermint hot chocolate, be sure to come back and leave a 5 star rating and a review! Tag me on Instagram with your creations @ourhandcraftedhomeblog.
Cheers!
