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Dairy Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate

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This velvety peppermint hot chocolate is just the thing to warm you up on a frosty evening. Made with cacao and no added sugar, it feels indulgent but doubles as a healthy paleo dessert!

The combination of chocolate and peppermint always makes me think of snowy Christmas mornings, which is why peppermint hot chocolate is one of my favorite holiday drinks! It’s super quick and easy to make, perfect for entertaining during the festive season.

top view of a white mug with hot chocolate, whipped cream and crushed candy canes

If you’re looking to make your holiday peppermint hot chocolate into an event, you could set up a hot chocolate bar and let your guests add their toppings. We’ve been drinking it this week with coconut milk, whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and you could put out other toppings like gourmet marshmallows or dairy-free chocolate shavings.

Hot Chocolate For Special Occasions

Peppermint hot chocolate is a tasty non-alcoholic drink for kids and adults alike, but if you feel like it, you can easily turn it into a peppermint schnapps hot chocolate for some extra warmth!

This peppermint hot chocolate is free from dairy and processed sugar, making it the perfect paleo dessert. If you’re looking for other yummy paleo dessert ideas, try these chocolate hearts with macadamia nuts – you could even serve them with your peppermint hot chocolate for an extra treat!

Ingredients You Need

  • Oat Milk (or nut milk) – Oat milk has a natural sweetness that we love. Be sure to look for unsweetened Oat milk with no added sugar.
  • Cacao Powder
  • Maple Syrup – Honey will also work, but it won’t be as sweet and it will change the flavor slightly.
  • Peppermint Extract – You can make your own peppermint extract by putting a handful of mint leaves in a container and covering them with Vodka. Let it sit for several months until the vodka is infused.
  • Coconut milk whipped cream (optional)

Step by step process:

top view of a saucepan with milk and little bowls of cacao powder, maple syrup and peppermint extract
Heat the milk over medium heat until it starts to steam. Turn off the heat.
top view of a saucepan with cacao powder floating on the top
Add the cacao powder, maple syrup and peppermint extract.
Top view of a white mug on a white saucer filled with hot chocolate and some bubbles on top
Add whipped cream if desired and serve!

How To Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Begin by warming the milk in a non-stick pan over medium heat, occasionally stirring to avoid sticking. Heat the milk until you can see steam coming off of the top of it, but don’t allow it to boil.

Turn off the heat, and then whisk in the cacao powder, maple syrup and peppermint extract. 

Add the coconut milk whipped cream if you’re using it, plus any other toppings you like, and serve!

top view of a white mug with hot chocoalte and topped with whipped cream and crushed candy canes

Important Teaching Tips

Oat milk. I like to use oat milk because it’s sweeter than other kinds of dairy-free milk, but if you prefer, you can use nut milk instead. If you find it’s not sweet enough, then add a little extra maple syrup.

Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate. If you’d like to make your drink alcoholic, you can replace the peppermint extract with peppermint schnapps. If you’re going to do this, it’s a good idea to decrease the amount of maple syrup as schnapps can be pretty sweet.

Peppermint extract. If you don’t have peppermint extract, you can use a drop of peppermint oil instead.

Coconut milk whipped cream. Adding whipped cream is optional, but I would highly recommend trying it! It adds a little extra sweetness and an extra depth of flavor. Have you even had a hot chocolate if you don’t have a whipped cream mustache?

Frequently Asked Questions about Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Does peppermint hot chocolate have coffee in it?

Peppermint hot chocolate does not have coffee in it, but Peppermint Mochas do. Nothing tastes more like the holidays than a peppermint mocha! Coffee shots will add a shot of espresso, which is different than the drip coffee most people make at home. You can add drip coffee, but it won’t be as strong and may taste watered down.

What if I don’t have Peppermint extract?

You can leave out the peppermint extract and still have a delicious cup of rich hot chocolate! Try adding vanilla extract instead.

Can I use almond milk whipped cream?

Absolutely! Any dairy free whipped cream will work. I like the light coconut flavor from the coconut whipped cream, but almond milk whipped cream will give you a more traditional hot chocolate flavor!

What if I don’t have cacao powder?

The Cacao powder can be substituted with cocoa powder. Just make sure there is no added sugar. You can also use a block of dark chocolate that has been shaved, or cut in to small pieces with a knife. This will help it to melt faster and more evenly.

More Holiday Drink Recipes You Might Enjoy:

top view of peppermint hot chocolate in a white mug with whipped cream and crushed candy canes

Dairy Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes

This velvety peppermint hot chocolate is just the thing to warm you up
on a frosty evening. Made with cacao and no added sugar, it feels
indulgent but doubles as a healthy paleo dessert!

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Oatmilk
  • 1 Tablespoon Cacao Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
  • Coconut Whipped Cream (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Add the oatmilk to a small saucepan. Gently whisk the milk just until it starts to steam. Do not let it boil
  2. Turn off the heat and whisk in the cacao powder, maple syrup and peppermint extract
  3. Very carefully pour it into a mug.
  4. Add coconut whipped cream, if using

Notes

If you would like the hot chocolate to be sweeter, add more maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon at a time.

If you don't have peppermint extract, you can leave it out or add vanilla extract instead.

For a boozy drink, add a shot of peppermint schnapps in place of the peppermint extract.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 308Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 6gSugar: 31gProtein: 3g

Nutritional information was calculated automatically. Please verify accuracy

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By on September 27th, 2021

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9 thoughts on “Dairy Free Peppermint Hot Chocolate”

  1. 5 stars
    My daughter is lactose-intolerant and really misses having special treats like this. Thank you for the recipe! You have made one little girl very happy!!

    Reply

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