Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Candy Cane Hot Chocolate)
This homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe is made with 6 ingredients in 6 minutes! It has two kinds of chocolate so it's ultra-rich and creamy and it's flavored with candy canes instead of expensive extracts. Watch the video to learn how to make homemade candy cane hot chocolate!
Add milk, sugar and cocoa powder to the container of a Vitamix blender.
Blend, starting on low speed and increasing to high. Blend on high speed for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and warm.
Add chocolate, vanilla and candy cane pieces and blend for 3 minutes until mixture is smooth and hot.
Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream, marshmallows and crushed candy cane pieces and serve!
Video
Notes
*I like a subtle candy cane flavor. If you like a more pronounced mint flavor, add more candy canes or ½ tsp of peppermint extract.To Make Without a BlenderUse peppermint extract instead of candy canes you can heat the ingredients on the stovetop, whisking to combine, until chocolate is melted and the mixture is warm.Ingredient Substitutions
Whole milk. Half and half, heavy cream, and 2% milk (or a combination of these) are good substitutes. Coconut milk is a good dairy-free option.
Cocoa Powder. Use pure, unsweetened cocoa powder (not hot chocolate mix).
Granulated sugar. organic cane sugar and coconut sugar are good substitutes.
Chocolate. I recommend using semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate. You can use milk chocolate or white chocolate for a sweeter final outcome. For a dairy-free/vegan version, use dairy-free chocolate. You can also use bakers chocolate (100% cocoa) and increase the amount of sugar to suit your tastes.
Vanilla Extract. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Candy Canes. Choose your favorite candy canes to use in this peppermint hot chocolate. I use Wholesome organic candy canes or Yum Earth Organic Candy Canes because both of these varieties have no food dyes or corn syrup. If you'd prefer, you can use ½ tsp peppermint extract instead of the candy canes. Or add it along with the candy canes for a more pronounced peppermint flavor.
StoreStore any leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I like to stir leftovers into my coffee in the morning for an extra special treat.Peppermint Hot Chocolate Toppings