The Best Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

How to make the best peppermint hot chocolate. It’s rich and creamy, made with real chocolate and pure peppermint extract for a fun and festive twist on your regular cup of cocoa.

There is nothing quite so cozy as drinking a mug of hot chocolate with the kids after they’ve come in from playing in the snow. Its such a fun little tradition that we all look forward to this time of year.

And its one of those things that is so simple to throw together in a matter of minutes! Just warm up some milk, add your chocolate and there you go. Come and get it!

Have you tried making healthy homemade marshmallows?

But what’s even more fun, is adding a flavor like peppermint to your cocoa! The cool mint compliments the rich and creamy hot chocolate perfectly and brings it to the next level.

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What you need to Make peppermint hot chocolate

ingredients

• Chocolate Chips – You can use any type of chocolate chips you want. If you want a sweeter cup of cocoa, use milk chocolate. Semi sweet chocolate will give you a more balanced sweetness and dark chocolate chips are great for a less sweet cocoa.
• Milk – You can use any kind of milk you like too! Skim, 2%, whole, half and half, heavy cream, almond milk, oat milk…you name it! I like to use whole milk because its a good balance between healthy and fatty.
• Peppermint Extract – You only need a small amount of peppermint extract because a little goes a long way and adding too much can ruin your cup of cocoa.

Using a high quality chocolate bar works too! Just use 8 ounces in place of the chocolate chips the recipe calls for.

optional add ins:

• Vanilla Extract – Adding vanilla extract to the cocoa after its finished cooking really brings this recipe to the next level. Just add a teaspoon to the pot after you remove it from the heat.
• Sea Salt – Salt might sound like a funny thing to add to a sweet drink like this. But I find that adding just a pinch of salt actually brings out the sweetness in the chocolate and adds an extra depth of flavor to the cocoa.
• Candy Canes – Crushed candy canes add texture and another layer of peppermint flavor. Plus they just look cute and festive!

how to make Hot Chocolate With Peppermint

Melt the Chocolate – In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 1 and a 1/2 cups of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup of milk/cream. Stir constantly to keep it from burning.

Add The Milk – Gradually whisk in the remaining milk until the mixture is smooth and warmed through. It should be steaming but not boiling.

Remove From Heat – Add up to 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract, and if you want to add vanilla and salt, stir those in as well, after you take the saucepan from the stove top.

tips for success

To Serve – This recipe is best enjoyed right away when its nice and hot. Top with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed candy canes or sprinkles.

To Store – Let the cocoa cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave.

Variations – Any kind of chocolate chips will work for this recipe. Using milk chocolate will give you a sweeter, lighter flavor. Semi sweet or dark chocolate will have more of a mild sweetness and a deeper chocolate flavor.

Substitutions – In place of whole milk, you can use any nut milk, coconut milk, heavy cream or half and half.

Next you need to try pumpkin spice hot chocolate next!

FAQ about homemade peppermint hot cocoa

how do you make hot chocolate with milk if you don’t have cocoa powder?

If you don’t have any cocoa powder, you can still make hot chocolate by melting chocolate chips or a chopped up chocolate bar into a saucepan of steaming milk.

can you make dairy free hot chocolate?

You can definitely make hot chocolate that is dairy free by using a dairy-free milk such as almond or coconut milk and check to make sure the chocolate chips you are using for this recipe say “dairy free” on the package.

is this recipe gluten free?

It sure is! Since its made with just milk and chocolate chips, there isn’t any gluten in it at all!

more drink recipes for the holiday season

• Old Fashioned Hot Apple Cider
• Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Without Milk Powder
• Pumpkin Hot Cocoa Recipe
• Hot Chocolate Recipe With Chocolate Chips