12 Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipes

Cool peppermint meets rich chocolate in the ultimate winter warmer. These twelve hot chocolates range from classic stovetop to slow-cooker, white chocolate, and boozy grown-up versions.

Below you’ll find 12 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Classic Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Rich stovetop cocoa with cool peppermint and candy cane crunch.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Whipped cream
• Crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. Warm the milk and cream in a saucepan until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chopped chocolate until melted.
3. Stir in the sugar and peppermint extract.
4. Heat gently 2 minutes more; do not boil.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.

2. White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Creamy white chocolate with a refreshing mint finish.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• Whipped cream
• Crushed peppermint candies

Instructions

1. Warm the milk and cream until steaming.
2. Whisk in the white chocolate until completely melted.
3. Stir in the peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.

3. Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Party-sized cocoa that stays warm for hours.

Ingredients

• 6 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 12 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. Add the milk, cream, chocolate, and sugar to a slow cooker.
2. Cook on LOW 2 hours, whisking every 30 minutes.
3. Stir in the peppermint extract.
4. Switch to WARM for serving.
5. Ladle into mugs.
6. Top with mini marshmallows.

4. Double Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Extra-chocolatey cocoa with both cocoa powder and chopped chocolate.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Whisk the cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan.
2. Add the milk and warm, whisking, until steaming.
3. Stir in the chopped chocolate until melted.
4. Add the peppermint extract.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream.

5. Dairy-Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Lusciously creamy without a drop of dairy.

Ingredients

• 4 cups oat milk
• 1 cup coconut cream
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• Coconut whipped cream

Instructions

1. Warm the oat milk and coconut cream until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chopped chocolate until melted.
3. Stir in the maple syrup and peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with coconut whipped cream.
6. Dust with cocoa powder.

6. Candy Cane Hot Chocolate

Real melted candy canes for the ultimate peppermint punch.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 8 oz milk chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
• Whipped cream
• Extra candy canes, for stirring

Instructions

1. Warm the milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in the milk chocolate until melted.
3. Stir in the crushed candy canes until dissolved.
4. Add the peppermint extract.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and a candy cane stirrer.

7. Boozy Peppermint Schnapps Cocoa

A grown-up version with a warming peppermint kick.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup peppermint schnapps
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings

Instructions

1. Warm the milk and cream until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chocolate until melted.
3. Stir in the peppermint extract.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the schnapps.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

8. Toasted Marshmallow Peppermint Cocoa

Gooey marshmallow melted in, torched marshmallows on top.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Torched marshmallows, for topping

Instructions

1. Warm the milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chocolate and sugar until melted.
3. Stir in the marshmallow fluff until dissolved.
4. Add the peppermint extract.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with marshmallows and torch until golden.

9. Nutella Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Hazelnut-chocolate decadence with cool mint.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/3 cup Nutella
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Whipped cream
• Chopped hazelnuts

Instructions

1. Warm the milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in the Nutella and cocoa powder until smooth.
3. Stir in the sugar and peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts.

10. Peppermint Mocha

Coffeehouse mocha with a festive peppermint twist.

Ingredients

• 2 shots espresso
• 3 cups whole milk
• 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Brew the espresso.
2. Warm the milk until steaming; whisk in the chocolate and sugar.
3. Stir in the espresso and peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Dust with cocoa powder.

11. Sea Salt Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Flaky sea salt makes the chocolate taste even richer.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of sea salt
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Warm the milk until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chocolate, sugar, and vanilla until melted.
3. Stir in the peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

12. Salted Caramel Peppermint Cocoa

Buttery caramel swirled into minty chocolate.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup caramel sauce
• Whipped cream
• Extra caramel, for drizzling

Instructions

1. Warm the milk and cream until steaming.
2. Whisk in the chocolate until melted.
3. Stir in the caramel sauce and peppermint extract.
4. Pour into mugs.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Drizzle with extra caramel.