Name: Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
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))

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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.)

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

5 from 3 votes

Peppermint Hot Chocolate is the perfect treat on a chilly day. All you need is 4 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of time to make it! Dairy-free & naturally-sweetened.

prep2 mins cook3 mins total5 mins

Servings:2

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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.

Notes

Nutrition information is per cup, using 2 tablespoons of maple syrup for the recipe. This information is just an estimate, and not a guarantee.

*Peppermint flavoring can be very strong, so start with the smallest amount possible. I have a 1/8th teaspoon, so that's what I use here, but if you want to be extra-cautious, you can fill it only half-full to start. (So, you'd use 1/16th of a teaspoon instead.)

You can always add more to taste, but it's hard to remove the peppermint flavor once you add it. Feel free to dilute a strong peppermint flavor with more cacao powder or almond milk, if you need to. If you end up making too much, you can always store the leftovers in the fridge to reheat another night!

Nutrition

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: peppermint hot chocolate

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If you try this Peppermint Hot Chocolate, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all benefit from your experience.

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