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    Home » Festive Asian Recipes » Christmas

    Published: Dec 17, 2022 by Zen · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A creamy and cosy cup of Starbucks Pepper Hot Chocolate is the perfect copycat recipe for cold winter days. The velvety chocolate is the perfect Christmas morning drink!

    Overhead shot of a mug of hot chocolate with a peppermint cane and whipped Cream.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why This Recipe is a Star
    • 🍫 Ingredient
    • 📖 Variations & Substitutes
    • 🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
    • 🥡 How to Store
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 🍵  Starbucks Copycat Recipes
    • Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate

    ⭐ Why This Recipe is a Star

    1. Warming and delicious: This delicious hot cocoa is the perfect warm-me-up drink for the winter months!
    2. Budget-friendly: This Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate Copycat Recipe tastes just as good as the original but is so much better for your wallet!
    3. Easy: you only need a few ingredients and it's done in minutes! If you can turn on the stove to steam milk, you can make this winter warmer drink perfectly!

    🍫 Ingredient

    You will only need a few simple ingredients:

    • unsweetened Dutched cocoa powder: I use pure cocoa powder as it's unsweetened and thus easier to adjust the sweetness specifically to your taste, especially if you don't have a very sweet tooth. (Also no risk of the chocolate seizing up this way.) However note that the Starbucks original uses real chocolate, so you can substitute the cocoa powder with a good quality, high cocoa content chocolate bar (chopped up) or chocolate fevres. (I don't recommend chocolate chips as they contain stabilisers which affect the quality.)
    • full cream milk: Starbucks uses 2%. You can also substitute with a mixture that is half heavy cream and half water. I have not tested this recipe with plant-based alternatives such as soy milk or almond milk. Alternatively, for a creamier drink, substitute with half whole milk, half whipping cream.
    • Peppermint extract: you can substitute this (and the white sugar) with peppemint simple syrup. (You can buy the actual one that Starbucks uses on Amazon!)
    • White sugar: you can substitute with honey, maple syrup or another of these sugar substitutes.

    📖 Variations & Substitutes

    • Peppermint Chocolate Mocha: Chocolate and coffee go together really well. If not making this as a nightcap- the caffeine makes it hard to sleep- add in 1-2oz of espresso. In fact, even if just making a regular peppermint cocoa drink, I recommend adding ½ teaspoon of coffee powder to enhance the chocolate flavor.
    • Peppermint Chocolate Latte: After the drink has been assembled (sans toppings), whisk the warm milk till frothy.
    • White hot chocolate recipe with peppermint: use white chocolate bars- not white chocolate chips- instead of cocoa powder if you prefer a lighter drink.
    • Add a pinch of salt: salt is a terrific flavor enhancer. If you love salted desserts such as salted caramel, you'll love a sprinkle of salt in your hot drink!
    • Happy Hour: add in some Kahlua or Baileys!

    What's your favorite topping?

    The fun part! Some optional but recommended toppings are:

    • Whipped cream: highly recommended
    • Marshmallows
    • Dark Chocolate curls
    • Crushed up Peppermint candy canes
    • Vanilla ice cream!
    • A drizzle of chocolate syrup

    🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions

    Adding cocoa powder to hot milk.
    1. Pour milk into a small saucepan and heat gently over medium-low heat.

    Note: You only want it to steam, not boil so that it doesn't curdle!

    Whisking cocoa powder in milk to remove lumps.

    2. Whilst the milk is gently heating, whisk in the cocoa powder till well-combined.

    Note: if using solid chocolate, wait till the milk is steaming, switch off the fire then stir in the chocolate.

    Adding peppermint flavor to a pot of hot chocolate.

    3. Add in the peppermint flavor to the hot milk and stir well.

    Sweetening a pot of mint hot chocolate.

    4. Sweeten the milk mixture to taste. If using, add in the pinch of salt now.

    Optional but recommended: top this hot chocolate starbucks recipe with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed peppermints and a candy cane!

    🥡 How to Store

    Leftovers of this copycat starbucks peppermint drink can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days but will need to be reheated over a low fire and whisked before drinking.

    For food safety, do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

    Don't add the whipped cream and other toppings till just before you want to drink the hot chocolate, if not the whipped cream will sort of sink into the drink and look quite unappetising, really.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    Tip #1: If you use too much, the Starbucks' peppermint hot cocoa drink will taste a bit bitter. You will need to add more sugar to try to salvage it! A great way to increase the minty flavor is to add a sprinkle of crushed up peppermint candies as a topping (instead of using a ton of peppermint syrup.)

    Tip #2: If you make this mint chocolate drink a lot, considering "meal prepping" and making a big batch of chocolate syrup! (Mix sugar, cocoa powder and water then store in the fridge.)

    A mug of Starbucks-inspired peppermint hot chocolate with Christmas decorations around.

    🍵  Starbucks Copycat Recipes

    • A mug of hot Starbucks white chocolate mocha coffee without whipped cream.
      Starbucks Iced White Chocolate Mocha
    • A cup of hot matcha green tea latte.
      Starbucks hot matcha green tea latte recipe
    • A glass of cold Hojicha tea latte next to pandan cookies and flowers.
      Hojicha Latte (Starbucks)
    • Mug of spiced Masala Chocolate Chai with a cinnamon stick and whipped cream topping.
      Chocolate Chai Latte

    Enjoyed this easy Homemade Peppermint Chocolate Recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below! If it brought a lot of cheer to your holiday season, please consider supporting my work by buying me a coffee! 🙂 (No obligation though!) Thank you and have a great day!

    A mug of peppermint hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipper cream and candy canes.

    Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate

    Zen
    A creamy and cosy cup of Starbucks Pepper Hot Chocolate is the perfect copycat recipe for cold winter days. The velvety chocolate is the perfect Christmas morning drink!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 min
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 person
    Calories 319 kcal

    Equipment

    • Small pot or saucepan
    • Heat proof whisk

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ Cups whole milk Substitute: ¾ Cup heavy cream and ¾ water or ¾ Cup whole milk and ¾ whipping cream for a creamier drink.
    • 1½ Tablespoons unsweetened, Dutched cocoa powder You can use more if you want a more intense chocolate flavor Substitute: dark chocolate bar (chopped up) or chocolate fevres. Don't use chocolate chips.
    • 1 teaspoon peppermint flavor Substitute: peppermint syrup
    • 1½ Tablespoon white sugar, or to taste Substitute: honey, maple syrup or peppermint simple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon instant coffee powder Optional, to enhance the cocoa powder. Not recommended if drinking at night.
    • Pinch of Salt Optional for those who like salted desserts. It enhances the flavor.

    Optional Toppings

    • Marshmallows
    • Candy Cane
    • Crushed up Peppermints
    • Chocolate Shavings
    • Dusting of cocoa powder

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the milk gently over low or medium low fire till steaming but not boiling.
    • Whilst the milk is heating up, whisk the cocoa powder in till no lumps remain. If using, stir in the coffee powder now.
      If substituting with solid chocolate, wait till the milk is steaming, switch off the fire, then stir in the chocolate till melted.
    • Add the peppermint flavor then add the sugar. (Sweeten after adding the mint, as the amount of mint affects the amount of sweetener you will need!)
    • If using, add a pinch of salt. Pour into a mug and garnish with the appropriate toppings.

    Notes

    Variations
    For a boozy Christmas drink, add Kahlua or Bailey's.
    For a lighter flavours substitute the cocoa powder with white chocolate syrup.
    For a Peppermint Mocha, pour in 1 shot of espresso.
    For a Peppermint Latte, froth the milk after it has heated up.
     
    Note: the nutritional information is an estimate automatically calculated using the WPRM recipe maker and I am not responsible for its accuracy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 14gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 141mgPotassium: 687mgFiber: 3gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 593IUCalcium: 461mgIron: 1mg
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    Hi I'm Zhen also known as GGG! I couldn't boil water till I was 18 but after living abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years and having to cook for myself, I now love cooking for friends and family. Learning to cook late, I make sure my recipes go into enough detail for those new to Asian cuisine or who love a test kitchen approach to cooking!

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