Homemade peppermint hot chocolate that’s made the same way Starbucks does. See how easy it is to make this rich, decadent drink at home in just 5 minutes!
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Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Cooling peppermint and rich chocolate are combined to create a deliciously rich and decadent peppermint hot chocolate.
This holiday favorite is a Starbucks copycat recipe. It’s made using chocolate sauce and peppermint syrup.
The syrup and sauce are mixed with frothed hot milk to make the drink. It’s topped off with a homemade whipped cream and chocolate curls or shavings.
Frothed or heated milk can easily be made at home using an electric milk frother or a French press.
There’s no coffee in this peppermint hot chocolate but if you do add a bit, you’ve got yourself a peppermint mocha.
RELATED: Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
Recipe Highlights
- This hot drink is made with chocolate sauce, peppermint syrup, and 2% milk, the same way Starbucks does.
- Store-bought or homemade syrups can be used but homemade is best since you know exactly what goes into the syrup. Make the syrups ahead of time.
- The whipped cream is what makes this drink extra special. Try my trick of using a handheld milk frother to make fluffy whipped cream in literally seconds.
RELATED: Homemade Hot Chocolate
Ingredient Notes
- Chocolate sauce or syrup
Homemade chocolate syrup made from scratch is the best option but if you want to get store-bought, that works too. - Peppermint syrup
Use homemade mint syrup or store-bought. The mint syrup is super easy to make using just 3 ingredients. - Milk
This drink is made with 2% milk at Starbucks but you can use any kind of milk you like. - Heavy cream
This is make the whipped cream. - Vanilla syrup
To sweeten the whipped cream, Starbucks uses vanilla syrup. You can use 2 teaspoons of white granulated sugar instead. - Shaved chocolate
An optional garnish to top off your drink.
Step-by-Step Instructions
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.
- Whisk together vanilla syrup and heavy cream. Set aside.
Use a handheld frother to make the whipped cream. Whisk until soft peaks form. - Froth or heat milk.
Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother or with the steam wand from an espresso machine. - Put chocolate sauce and peppermint syrup into a mug.
- Add frothed or heated milk. Stir.
- Top with whipped cream.
- Add shaved chocolate.
Expert Tips
- Homemade chocolate syrup and peppermint syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Once the syrups are made, it’s just a matter of heating up and combining the milk and the syrups.
- Milk doesn’t need to be frothed and can just be made hot since whipped cream is added to the drink.
- An option is to add peppermint syrup to the heavy cream instead of the sugar to make peppermint whipped cream. Take out the sugar or vanilla syrup and replace with 1 tablespoon of peppermint syrup.
- The whipped cream can be made as stiff or soft as you like by adjusting the time you whisk. If you want a more pourable whipped cream with soft peaks that will stir into the drink easier, whisk until it thickens slightly. Make sure to move the handheld milk frother up and down to get air into the cream.
- Whipped cream can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Stir it a little since it may have deflated a bit.
Questions You May Have
Starbucks makes their peppermint hot chocolate with 2% milk, mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, whipped cream, and dark chocolate curls.
You can but it can be a bit messy if the milk overflows. If you want to use a microwave, heat 15 seconds at a time, making sure the milk doesn’t boil.
Yup, there’s caffeine in chocolate so there’s caffeine in peppermint hot chocolate. There’s about 20 mg of caffeine in a 12 ounce drink, which isn’t a lot of caffeine, especially if you compare it to a cup of black coffee which has about 240 mg.
Related
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate
- Easy Mocha
- Matcha Hot Chocolate
- Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
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Peppermint Hot Chocolate
INGREDIENTS
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- 1 ½ cups 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce
- 2 tablespoons peppermint syrup
Whipped Cream Topping
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- 1 teaspoon shaved chocolate (optional garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Whisk together vanilla syrup and heavy cream. Set aside.Use a handheld frother to make the whipped cream. Whisk until soft peaks form.
- Froth or heat milk.Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother or with the steam wand from an espresso machine. Milk can be heated on the stovetop.
- Put chocolate sauce and peppermint syrup into a mug.
- Add frothed or heated milk. Stir.
- Top with whipped cream. Add shaved chocolate.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- This drink is made with 2% milk at Starbucks but you can use any kind of milk you like.
- To sweeten the whipped cream, Starbucks uses vanilla syrup but you can use 2 teaspoons of white granulated sugar instead.
- Homemade chocolate syrup and peppermint syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Milk doesn’t need to be frothed and can just be made hot since whipped cream is added to the drink.
- An option is to add peppermint syrup to the heavy cream instead of the sugar to make peppermint whipped cream. Take out the sugar or vanilla syrup and replace with 1 tablespoon of peppermint syrup.
- The whipped cream can be made as stiff or soft as you like by adjusting the time you whisk. If you want a more pourable whipped cream with soft peaks that will stir into the drink easier, whisk until it thickens slightly. Make sure to move the handheld milk frother up and down to get air into the cream.
- Whipped cream can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Stir it a little since it may have deflated a bit.