Cozy Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink for Winter
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This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink is a warm and cozy winter treat with a festive minty twist!
If you love classic hot cocoa with a hint of refreshing mint, this easy recipe will be a winter favorite. Made with simple pantry ingredients and topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candy, it’s perfect for chilly evenings or holiday celebrations. Enjoy this comforting hot chocolate all season long.
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Why You’ll Love Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink Recipe
- It’s a quick and cozy drink you can make in just a few minutes on the stovetop.
- The perfect balance of creamy chocolate and refreshing mint—ideal for winter nights.
- Great for Christmas parties, movie nights, or warming up after spending time outdoors.
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, or candy canes.
- Uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
Need more winter warmers? Explore our collection of Hot Drinks.
Ingredients for Peppermint Hot Chocolate
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card.
- Dairy & Chilled: Milk
- Hot Cocoa Powder
- Brown Sugar
- Peppermint Extract—A concentrated mint flavoring used for drinks and desserts.
- Whipped Cream
- Mini Marshmallows
- Peppermint Candies or Candy Canes—crushed, or whole, for garnish.
The complete list of ingredients, along with their measurements, is provided on the recipe card. The Purple Pumpkin Blog uses both cups and weighted measurements in its recipes, making American cups and kitchen food scales valuable tools for trying all the recipes. We provide measurements in US customary, imperial, and metric units. Still, it’s essential to note that while you can combine cup measurements with weighted measures, never mix US customary/imperial units (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.) with metric units (kilograms, grams, liters, etc.).
How Do I Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate?
Warm the milk, whisk in the cocoa and sugar, stir through the peppermint, then pour into a mug and finish with your favorite festive toppings—so quick and easy!
Check out the recipe card further down this post—you can print or save it for later—please don’t forget to leave a star rating!
Then, continue scrolling for food pairings and more delicious recipes.
Pair This Minty Hot Cocoa With…
If you’re settling in after a busy day of Christmas prep—shopping bags in tow and cheeks still rosy from the cold—pair this minty hot cocoa with one of these delicious cookies. They’re ideal for when you’re hosting, too!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- For Garnish
- Whipped cream
- Mini marshmallows
- Crushed peppermint candy
- Candy canes
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
- Small Saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Ladle
Instructions
- Warm the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder and brown sugar until fully combined and smooth.
- Stir in the peppermint extract.
- Continue heating for 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until hot and well-blended.
- Ladle the hot chocolate into a mug.
- Add whipped cream, marshmallows, and crushed peppermint candy. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Tips
- Adjust the peppermint extract to taste—¼ teaspoon gives a balanced mint flavor.
- Add a pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate richness.
- For extra creaminess, swap half the milk for heavy cream.
Substitutions
- Use almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk in place of dairy milk.
- Replace brown sugar with maple syrup or white sugar if preferred.
- Add chocolate chips for an extra-rich treat.
Leftovers & Freezing
- Store leftover hot chocolate in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warm.
Not recommended for freezing, as dairy-based hot chocolate can separate when frozen.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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More Warm Winter Drinks
Looking to build out your cold-weather drink menu? Try these warm winter favorites to keep the whole family snug and happy.
Ready to Make This Minty Hot Cocoa for Winter?
This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Drink is perfect for Christmas celebrations, cold afternoons, or simply winding down by the fire. It’s easy, comforting, and full of seasonal flavor. Enjoy it with cookies, share it with family, or save the recipe to make again and again throughout the winter.
Don’t forget to ♥ save this recipe and share it with fellow foodies! And if you give it a try, we’d love to hear how it went—leave a comment or tag us in your creations.
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This post is part of my long-running Create the Holidays series on The Purple Pumpkin Blog. Since 2012, I’ve shared free printables, crafts, recipes, and more for Christmas and the Winter Holidays. While I don’t officially run the series anymore, seasonal inspiration will still be here! Browse past Create the Holidays (formerly Create Christmas) years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.