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.
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!