Warm up with this delicious homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe. Made with rich chocolate and refreshing peppermint, it’s the perfect cozy drink for the colder months.

a warm mug of creamy chocolate beverage with minty flavors added.

Nothing warms you up more during cold weather or the Holiday season than a mug of hot cocoa, right?! Add some whipped cream, crushed candy canes, sprinkles, and/or chocolate sauce and you have pure creamy comfort in a cup! My family loves going out in the snow, sledding, tubing, and then coming in and making a pot of hot chocolate to enjoy. When we have family over during the Holiday season, it is also the perfect addition to my goodie trays consisting of Fantasy Fudge, Christmas Cookies like my Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies, and Starbucks Copycat Gingerbread Loaf. If you prefer hot chocolate without peppermint, check out my “Pop Pop’s Homemade Hot Cocoa” recipe for a cocoa powder version that has been a family favorite for many years.

a mug of peppermint hot cocoa with whipped cream and crushed candy cane on top.

Why You’ll Love this Peppermint Hot Cocoa Recipe

Flavor Packed– creamy chocolate paired with peppermint flavor is the ultimate December combination! Just like pumpkin screams Fall, chocolate peppermint screams December (or even January).
Uses Simple Ingredients– rather than using store bought cocoa mix or powder packets that contain ingredients you may not have ever heard of, this peppermint cocoa uses ingredients you know and may already have on hand.
Customizable– if you love peppermint, you can add more. Change up the chocolate, have fun with the toppings, etc.
Comfort in a Mug– whether you are cold and trying to warm up, or simply are relaxing by a fire, this hot chocolate with peppermint is nostalgic, comforting, and perfect for cozy weather!
Quick to Prepare– from start to finish, you can have this drink ready to serve in only 10 minutes!

Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate Ingredients Needed

Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed. To see printable recipe card, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Milk– any type works, dairy or plant based, use what you have on hand.
Heavy Cream– this adds to the creaminess of the warm drink, if needed, you can use half and half, however, heavy cream really makes this incredible.
Sugar– granulated sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness throughout.
Salt– just a pinch as this will balance the sweetness perfectly.
Chocolate Chips– I use semi sweet chocolate chips, if you prefer milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate, that works too.
Vanilla Extract– use pure vanilla extract versus imitation as it adds more flavor. If you love peppermint, you can use peppermint extract in place of the vanilla extract.
Peppermint Candies– any brand works, if you prefer to use crushed candy canes, that is a great option too.
Whipped Cream– optional, but isn’t this one of the best parts? Load it on top of each mug just before serving and its the perfect topping.

all the ingredients needed to make peppermint hot chocolate.

How to make Peppermint Hot Chocolate

To a medium saucepan, add milk, cream, sugar, salt, chocolate chips, and peppermint candies.
Heat over medium heat until steamy, and chips have dissolved using a whisk, careful not to boil.
Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
Top with whipped cream and serve!

Variations to try

If you don’t have heavy cream on hand, increase the milk to offset the cream. It won’t be as thick and creamy, but it will still be delicious.
Add marshmallows, sprinkles, candy canes, and/or chocolate sauce to the whipped cream topping just before serving.
To make it even more chocolate filled, you can add in chocolate chunks or additional chocolate chips for melted chocolate throughout.
Melt mint chocolates into your mug of hot cocoa for additional peppermint chocolate taste.
Add in some peppermint schnapps for a boozy alcohol addition.

Tips for Chocolate Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Stir stir stir! You don’t want the mixture to burn over the heat.
Don’t use high heat. Burned milk and cream does not taste good, low and slow is best.
Use a ladle to pour the hot chocolate in mugs. This keeps it easy and makes less of a mess.
You can also keep this warm in a slow cooker on the keep warm setting. This is a great option for parties or hosting as you can increase the batch to make as much as needed and everyone can customize their own.
To make this vegan and/or dairy free, simply use vegan chocolate chips and dairy free milk. Omit the heavy cream. Oat milk is a great option as is almond milk.

a creamy chocolate drink in a glass mug with whipped cream on top.

Serving Peppermint Hot Chocolate

It’s all based on preference for how you choose to serve your beverage. Some love lots of sweetness and want to load up the toppings, whereas others prefer keeping it simple and serving the hot chocolate on it’s own in a mug. I love adding a few mini marshmallows and letting those melt into my drink to make things even creamier. Of course, my kids pile on their whipped cream, add on some sprinkles, and even add peppermint sticks to stir in. If serving at a party, it can be fun to make a hot cocoa bar by putting toppings into bowls and letting everyone make their own.

Wondering what to pair with your hot chocolate? Here are some yummy recipes:

a mint infused chocolate drink with whipped cream on top.

Storing and Making Ahead

This hot chocolate can be refrigerated and reheated later should you have leftovers. Reheat on the stove-top on medium to medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed through. Make sure you don’t let it burn.
To make ahead, prepare as directed and store in fridge up to 3 days. Move to saucepan and heat through. Serve and enjoy!