• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Baker's Almanac

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Baking Tips
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Baking Tips
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Drinks

    Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate

    Published: Dec 20, 2021 · Last Modified: Jan 24, 2022 by Leslie Jeon · 2 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Mug of peppermint hot chocolate with text that reads 'Peppermint hot chocolate'


    Rich, creamy homemade hot chocolate flavored with a hint of peppermint! You'll only need five ingredients to make this delicious holiday drink.

    Mug of peppermint hot chocolate in front of two spoons this post

    Ahh, December — the month of hot chocolate. Or if you're anything like me, the month of peppermint hot chocolate.

    Because is there anything better than cozying up by the Christmas tree with a snuggly blanket, a good book, and a steaming mug of hot chocolate? (In case you couldn't tell, that was a rhetorical question.)

    I seriously cannot get enough peppermint this time of year, and hot chocolate is no exception. I've been sipping on this homemade version for weeks now, and I decided that I just had to share the recipe with all of you. It's too good to keep to myself!

    Jump to:
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Tips to Make Perfect Hot Chocolate
    • Peppermint Hot Chocolate Toppings
    • Common Questions About This Recipe
    • How to Store This Recipe
    • Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate
    • More Peppermint Recipes You'll Love
    • Comments

    What You'll Need

    Here's a quick overview of some of the ingredients and tools needed to make this hot chocolate. The full recipe can be found at the bottom of the post!

    Overhead shot of the ingredients for peppermint hot chocolate labeled - whole milk, cocoa powder, sugar, semisweet chocolate, and peppermint syrup

    Ingredients

    • Whole milk - I prefer to use whole milk, but you can use whatever milk you'd like for this recipe.
    • Cocoa powder - Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Granulated sugar - I like to add just a teaspoon of granulated sugar to sweeten up this recipe, but feel free to adjust the amount as needed!
    • Semisweet chocolate - I typically opt for semisweet chocolate chips when making this recipe, but you can use chocolate chunks or shavings instead.
    • Peppermint extract - You can use whatever peppermint syrup you'd like, but my personal favorite is the Torani peppermint syrup.

    Equipment

    • Medium saucepan - To make this recipe, you'll cook all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. The milk might start to bubble up towards the end, so you want to use a saucepan with higher sides.
    • Whisk - As the hot chocolate starts to cook, you'll want to whisk the mixture constantly to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn on the bottom. This balloon whisk is a good option!

    How to Make This Recipe

    You only need 5 ingredients to make this recipe, and it comes together in just a few minutes. Here's a quick overview of how to make it:

    Steo-by-step photos of making peppermint hot chocolate labeled 1, 2, 3, 4

    1. Combine all the ingredients except the peppermint syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and semisweet chocolate. (Image 1)

    2. Start cooking the mixture. Place the mixture over medium heat and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. (Image 2)

    3. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat. Whisk in the peppermint syrup, then let it cool to your desired temperature and serve. (Image 3 and Image 4)

    Tips to Make Perfect Hot Chocolate

    Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making this recipe:

    • Stir the mixture constantly while it cooks. Chocolate has a tendency to burn, so you'll want to continuously stir the mixture as it cooks. I typically like to do this using a whisk.
    • Add in the peppermint syrup at the end. When testing this recipe, I've found that the peppermint flavor comes through the strongest if you add in the peppermint syrup at the end. If you add it in with all the other ingredients, the flavor tends to get lost.
    • Let the hot chocolate cool slightly before serving. I definitely burned my tongue a few times when testing this recipe, so learn from my mistakes! Let the hot chocolate cool for just a few minutes before taking that first sip.
    Overhead shot of peppermint hot chocolate in a mug

    Peppermint Hot Chocolate Toppings

    If you're asking me, the best part about hot chocolate is layering on all the toppings! And in my house, the more toppings, the better. Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration:

    • Whipped cream
    • Mini marshmallows
    • Chocolate shavings
    • Crushed peppermint
    • Cinnamon sticks
    • Chocolate sprinkles
    • Mini cookies
    • Chopped nuts
    • Crushed graham crackers

    Common Questions About This Recipe

    These are some questions I frequently hear about this recipe. If you have a question that isn't answered below, feel free to leave it in the comments.

    Does hot chocolate have caffeine?

    Hot chocolate does contain small amounts of caffeine because chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which naturally have caffeine. However, the amount of caffeine in hot chocolate is much less than the amount found in coffee and tea.

    What is the best milk to use for hot chocolate?

    In my opinion, whole milk is the best for hot chocolate because it's the creamiest. However, it's your hot chocolate — feel free to use any milk you'd like!

    Can you make this hot chocolate vegan?

    Definitely! Swap the whole milk for plant-based milk and use dark chocolate instead of semisweet chocolate for a delicious vegan version of this recipe.

    How to Store This Recipe

    Store any leftover hot chocolate in a jar with a lid or an airtight food storage container in the fridge for up to one week. To reheat the hot chocolate, either heat it in a saucepan or the microwave until you reach the desired temperature.

    Mug of peppermint hot chocolate with a spoon resting on top of it

    Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to The Baker's Almanac for even more baking recipes and tips.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Mug of peppermint hot chocolate

    Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Leslie Jeon
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Rich, creamy homemade hot chocolate flavored with a hint of peppermint! You'll only need five ingredients to make this delicious holiday drink.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 cups (454g) whole milk 
    • 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 
    • ¼ cup (43g) semisweet chocolate (chips, chunks, or shavings)
    • 3 tablespoons peppermint syrup

    Instructions

    1. In a medium saucepan, combine the whole milk, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and semisweet chocolate. 
    2. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil while whisking constantly. This helps ensure that the chocolate doesn't burn on the bottom. 
    3. When the mixture comes to a boil, remove from the heat and whisk in the peppermint syrup. Let cool to your desired temperature, then serve. 

    Equipment

    Image of Peppermint syrup

    Peppermint syrup

    Buy Now →
    Image of Balloon whisk

    Balloon whisk

    Buy Now →
    Image of Medium Saucepan

    Medium Saucepan

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    • Scaling: If you'd like, you can double or triple this recipe to serve a crowd. Just make sure to use a large pot or larger-size saucepan. 
    • Inspiration: This recipe is adapted from Natasha's Kitchen. I made just a few tweaks to her hot chocolate recipe and added in peppermint syrup to create this version. 
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Drink
    • Method: Boil
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: peppermint hot chocolate, hot chocolate, homemade hot chocolate, starbucks copycat peppermint hot chocolate

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @thebakersalmanac on Instagram and hashtag it #thebakersalmanac

    More Peppermint Recipes You'll Love

    • Homemade Peppermint Patties
    • Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
    • Peppermint Chocolate Mousse

    More Drinks

    • Homemade Shamrock Shake
    • Oat Milk Matcha Latte
    • Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
    • Chocolate Banana Smoothie

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Noah

      January 06, 2022 at 9:31 pm

      Delicious. I did half milk half water and it turned out great.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Leslie Jeon

        February 09, 2022 at 6:56 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it, Noah! I like doing half milk/half water sometimes too for a lighter version.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    hi there, i'm leslie!

    I'm a professionally-trained pastry chef, and here at The Baker's Almanac, I share unique dessert recipes and baking tips to help you bake with confidence. You can usually find me with a cookie (or two) in one hand and a cookbook in the other!

    Learn more about me →

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    find the perfect recipe

    summer recipes

    • Banana Crumb Muffins
    • Easy Strawberry Jam (No Pectin)
    • S'mores Rice Krispie Treats
    • Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts

    bake like a pro

    • 11 Common Baking Mistakes You Might Be Making
    • The Ultimate Fruit Flavor Pairing Chart
    • Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder: What's the Difference?
    • The Difference Between French, Swiss, and Italian Meringue

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Portfolio

    Recipes

    Cakes and Cupcakes

    Cookies

    Muffins

    Scones

    Learn

    Baking Tips

    Pastry School Recaps

    Culinary Industry

    Blogger Resources

    Copyright © 2022 The Baker's Almanac. All rights reserved.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


    We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Learn more here.

    The Baker's Almanac
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.