Peppermint Hot Chocolate
I love a good hot chocolate and so do my kids, this peppermint hot chocolate recipe came to be, as a result of my effort to turn the sticky candy canes my kids were given into something a little more special, and a little more heartwarming.
Something real food memories can be made about, rather than just sucking on a sticky candy cane (and leaving said sticky candy cane around my home)
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy to make
- Absolutely delicious, loved by both kids and adults
- The perfect hot drink to have around Christmas time, especially before or after you head out to see the Christmas lights
Ingredients you will need
Candy Canes are obviously a give in, well actually they aren't if you don't have candy canes you can substitute with peppermint essence. You will also need milk, cream, cocoa and dark chocolate.
Substitutes
Candy Canes: If you don't have candy canes you can substitute for ¼ to ½ a teaspoon of peppermint essence
Milk and Cream: If you wish to avoid dairy you can substitute for your preferred milk and cream substitutes.
Step by step instructions
- In a saucepan heat the milk and cocoa, use a whisk to ensure the cocoa dissolves into the milk, as the milk heats the cocoa will dissolve more easily
- Add the candy canes, I break these into smaller pieces but don't crush them entirely, simmer over a low heat until the candy canes are melted. This took around 8 minutes. Stir occasionally as the partially melted candy canes do stick to the bottom of the pot occasionally, they release easily with a quick stir.
- Once the candy canes have dissolved add the chocolate chips, stir until melted
- Turn off the heat and stir through the cream
- Pour into mugs to serve. I get 3 child-sized portions (160ml, two-thirds of a cup) or 2 adult portions (250ml, 1 metric cup) from this recipe so scale it up if you need to.
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Top Tips
Here is how you can make this peppermint hot chocolate recipe perfectly every time!
- Don't skip the cream, it really does make these hot chocolates super special, giving them a wonderful mouthfeel.
- This hot chocolate is definitely not just for kids. It is a divine alternative to a dessert at the end of a meal for adults, an after-dinner mint in a mug!
FAQs
My advice on this is no, essential oils should not be ingested. If you do not have candy canes to hand then a peppermint essence will work well.
Other Christmas Treats
This hot chocolate recipe is not particularly healthy, but my blog is about so much more than healthy food, it's about kids building great relationships with food, and special hot chocolates definitely build the most amazing food memories.
If you do want some healthier ideas then check out:
- Carrot Oat Energy Bites: We call them reindeer food in my house!
- Coconut Snowballs: These coconut bliss balls are divine!
- Christmas layered smoothies
- Strawberry Santas
- Low Sugar Christmas Cookies
- Fun decorated Reindeer Cookies
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cup full fat milk 375 ml
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa Heaped Tablespoons, 15g
- 2 candy canes
- ¼ Cup Dark chocolate chips 50g
- ½ Cup Cream 125 ml
Instructions
- In a saucepan heat the milk and cocoa, use a whisk to ensure the cocoa dissolves into the milk, as the milk heats the cocoa will dissolve more easily
- Add the candy canes, I break these into smaller pieces but don't crush them entirely, simmer over a low heat until the candy canes are melted. This took around 8 minutes. Stir occasionally as the partially melted candy canes do stick to the bottom of the pot occasionally, they release easily with a quick stir.
- Once the candy canes have dissolved add the chocolate chips, stir until meltedTurn off the heat and stir through the cream
- Pour into mugs to serve.
Notes
- I get 3 child-sized portions (160ml, two-thirds of a cup) or 2 adult portions (250ml, 1 metric cup) from this recipe so scale it up if you need to.
- Don't skip the cream, it really does make these hot chocolates super special, giving them a wonderful mouthfeel.
- This hot chocolate is definitely not just for kids. It is a divine alternative to a dessert at the end of a meal for adults, an after-dinner mint in a mug!
- If you do not have candy canes you can substitute with peppermint essence 0.25-0.5 of a teaspoon. Peppermint essence is different from peppermint essential oils, essential oils should not be ingested. If you do not have candy canes to hand then a peppermint essence will work well.
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