Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Cool, creamy peppermint meets rich, velvety chocolate. It’s the winter classic that tastes like December should.☕️

🕒 Total Time:

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

🛒 Grocery List:

• Whole milk (or dairy-free alternative)

• Heavy cream (optional, but makes it chef’s kiss rich)

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips or a good-quality chocolate bar

• Unsweetened cocoa powder

• Granulated sugar

• Peppermint extract

• Whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)

• Crushed candy canes or chocolate shavings for garnish

✨ Ingredients (Serves 2):

• 2 cups whole milk (or your fave dairy-free option)

• 1/2 cup heavy cream (or more milk if you want it lighter)

• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate bar)

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)

• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (just a little — it’s strong!)

• Whipped cream, crushed candy canes, or chocolate shavings for topping

🥄 Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and cream. Warm it until steamy, but don’t let it boil (think hot tub, not volcano).

2. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar until fully dissolved and smooth.

3. Add the chocolate chips and stir until completely melted. The mixture should look glossy and dreamy — like a chocolate commercial.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract. Start small here — peppermint can go from yum to mouthwash real quick.

5. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, or whatever makes you feel festive and slightly over-the-top (as one should in winter).

💡 Tip:

Want ultra-silky texture? Use an immersion blender or handheld frother at the end to whip it up for 10 seconds. It gives café-level creaminess — no barista required. Also: this recipe doubles perfectly if you're making a batch for friends or just know you’ll want more (trust me, you will).

Lilly-