With the perfect blend of peppermint and chocolate, you can make those chilly winter mornings a little more cozy with a warm cup of peppermint hot cocoa.
It’s the holidays, and peppermint is “in,” and pumpkin is “out” – just kidding, pumpkin is never out! But seriously, it is the season of all-things-peppermint! And for those of you who love hot cocoa, it’s time to welcome the Christmas season with a cup of indulgent peppermint hot cocoa. But no rule says you can only drink this during the holidays, so you have my permission to indulge whenever the mood strikes!
My kids go crazy for this peppermint hot cocoa. I decided to create this recipe because, for one, Starbucks is expensive (that’s where I used to buy it), and two, it’s too easy not to make it at home. So if you have 10 minutes to spare, you can make homemade peppermint hot cocoa. This is a bulk recipe and will yield about 20 servings, so this recipe should last you a few months.
For this Recipe:
I started with my basic Hot Cocoa mix recipe and added crushed peppermint candy. A small change but a completely different, indulgent drink.
The recipe has four ingredients: confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar), powdered cocoa, peppermint candy, and salt. The salt brings out the chocolate flavor, so don’t omit the salt.
You can use either candy canes or Peppermint Starlight Mints. Place them in a food processer and pulse into very fine crumbs, basically pulverizing them into candy dust. This only takes a few seconds.
When making hot cocoa mix, it’s important to sift all your ingredients. This removes any clumps and helps to get everything incorporated thoroughly.
Store in an airtight container; it will stay fresh for up to 6 months. But if your kids are anything like mine, it won’t last that long!
To Serve:
- Stove Top: Mix 1 cup of milk with 2-3 tablespoons (depending on sweetness preference) of peppermint hot cocoa mix in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat. Bring just to a simmer – but do not boil. Stir so the milk does not scald. Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream or mini marshmallows. Garnish with crushed candy canes or mints.
- Microwave: Mix 1 cup of milk with 2-3 tablespoons (depending on sweetness preference) of peppermint hot cocoa mix. Heat in the microwave until hot and steaming. Top with whipped cream or mini marshmallows. Garnish with crushed candy canes or mints.
**Pro-tip from my kids: Add a splash of French Vanilla creamer to the hot cocoa for a truly decadent experience!
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely crushed candy canes or Peppermint Starlight Mints (about 40 candy mints)
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
- 1 cup unsweetened powdered cocoa, regular or dark
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a food processor, process the candy canes or mints until you have fine candy dust. Set aside.
- Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl to remove any clumps. Next, sift the cocoa powder into the same bowl.
- Add the salt and crushed peppermint candy, mix.
- Sift the mixture one last time.
- Store in an airtight container.
To Make a Cup of Peppermint Hot Cocoa: (Single serving)
- Stove Top: Mix 1 cup of milk with 2-3 tablespoons of peppermint hot cocoa mix (depending on how sweet you like it) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat. Bring to a simmer – but do not boil. Stir so the milk does not scald. Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream or mini marshmallows. Garnish with crushed candy canes or mints.
- Microwave: Mix 1 cup of milk with 2-3 tablespoons of peppermint hot cocoa mix (depending on how sweet you like it). Heat in the microwave until hot and steaming. Top with whipped cream or mini marshmallows. Garnish with crushed candy canes or mints.