Whip up this creamy Peppermint White Hot Chocolate in just five minutes!
Don’t get me wrong, I love coffee; the flavor, the aroma, and the way it makes me feel warm and cozy as I sip it. However, as much as I’m addicted to the caffeine in coffee, I’m hooked on the ritual of savoring a warm beverage.
Even though I’m fairly immune to caffeine’s effects, even I can’t drink coffee and go bed. White hot chocolate comes in handy when I want to feel warm and toasty but don’t want to be up all night. I usually sleep like a baby after a mug of this kind of warm milk.
I like hot chocolate made with both cocoa powder or with white chocolate, depending on my mood. For sleeping purposes, white is preferred to dark since it doesn’t have caffeine. Truthfully though, the caffeine in regular chocolate never keeps me up. I can eat a Quintuple Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Cookie and go right to bed and sleep peacefully.
Whether it’s coffee or hot chocolate, I like it really hot, on the sweet side, very creamy, and I like to have a little coffee with my cup of creamer.
I enjoy the seasonally availabe Coffee-Mate Peppermint Mocha creamer, occasionally found year-round at select Target stores in my area. It’s sweet and minty without being overpowering.
The flavor of the peppermint white hot chocolate is reminiscent of the peppermint creamer, but it’s made from all-natural ingredients, no funky syrups required. The recipe can easily be halved, doubled, or tripled and comes together in five minutes from start to finish.
Add four cups of milk to a large microwave-safe bowl. I use 2% milk because it’s a nice balance between richness and creaminess without gluttony. I could happily and easily drink a mug melted white chocolate and heavy cream, but I like to be able to zip my jeans.
Adding a splash of half-and-half to each mug before serving is also a good trick to add a touch of luxury without being ridiculous. Feel free to use almond, soy, goat, or any milk you desire. I don’t know if coconut milk goes with peppermint, but feel free.
Add one heaping cup white chocolate chips, about six to eight ounces, to the milk. A chopped white chocolate baking or candy bar may be used instead of white chocolate chips. Don’t use white almond bark or white chocolate candy melts. They are made for candy-making and the packaging explicitly indicates they’re not to be mixed with milk or water or they will seize; and you’d have a gloppy mess.
Heat the mixture on high power for about ninety seconds, up to about two minutes. Cooking times will vary by microwave but the mixture should be very warm, but don’t let it boil. White chocolate is notorious for scorching so keep a watchful eye. You could do this over the stovetop and low heat, but at midnight when I crave this, the microwave is infinitely easier and faster.
Stir or whisk the mixture until it’s smooth and the white chocolate chips have melted. Then add the peppermint extract. Adding anywhere from one-quarter to three-quarters of one teaspoon is probably where most people will enjoy the beverage, but the extract should be added slowly and to taste.
I mention these items every time I call for peppermint extract in a recipe: It’s infinitely stronger and more potent than vanilla extract and a little goes a very long way. One-quarter teaspoon of peppermint extract is extremely noticeable whereas I’d hardly bat an eye at the same quantity of vanilla extract. You can’t un-do or mask it once added, so start slowly, taste drink, and add more if necessary.
There are different types of mint extracts including peppermint, spearmint, wintermint, and mint. I use generic store-brand peppermint extract. There’s also peppermint oil and because I don’t use it, I don’t know how much would be needed.
After stirring in the peppermint extract, I like to transfer the mixture to my Vita-Mix for a quick buzz to make sure any white chocolate bits are fully blended, and to fluff it up and add froth. It’s an optional step and sometimes I don’t do it if I don’t want to dirty my blender, but a thirty second whirl is nice. I love froth. Plus, marshmallows sit nicely on top of a frothy shelf rather than sinking.
Garnishing with marshmallows is also optional, but recommended because everything tastes better with marshmallows. They soften and absorb some of the sweet minty liquid and are prized little floating globes.
I could drink mug after mug of this creamy white elixir. I’m a huge white chocolate fan but it’s nice to break up that sweetness and the peppermint is soothing and palate-cleansing. It counterbalances the sweetness from the white chocolate without feeling like I just drank Listerine.
I’ve tried peppermint creamers and peppermint specialty drinks from coffee shops and sometimes the peppermint is far too overwhelming to even enjoy the drink. I prefer peppermint-infused rather than peppermint-takeover.
The best part is that it takes less than five minutes to make.
And I can be slurping in no time.
Pin This Recipe
Enjoy AverieCooks.com Without Ads! 🆕
Go Ad Free
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 cups 2% milk, whole, soy, almond, goat, half-and-half, cream, heavy cream or any combination of milks desired may be used
- 1 heaping cup white chocolate chips, 6 to 8 ounces or white chocolate bar, chopped
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract, see note below
- mini marshmallows for garnishing, optional
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the milk (I use 2% but use the type of milk or cream in preferred combinations) and the white chocolate and heat on high power for about ninety seconds, up to about two minutes. Cooking times will vary by microwaves but the mixture should be very warm, but don’t allow it to boil. White chocolate is notorious for scorching so keep a watchful eye. You could do this over the stovetop and low heat, but I prefer the microwave for ease.
- Stir or whisk the mixture until it’s smooth and the white chocolate chips have melted. Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and stir to incorporate. Taste the mixture and determine if more is desired. I use about 1/2 teaspoon in this recipe, but this will vary based on brand of extract and personal taste presences. Notes - Peppermint extract is infinitely stronger and more potent than vanilla extract and a little goes a very long way, it cannot be un-done or masked once added, so start slowly, taste the beverage, and add more if desired, to taste.
- After stirring in the peppermint extract, optionally transfer the mixture to a blender and whirl for about 30 seconds, helping to ensure all white chocolate bits are fully blended, and to create froth. Pour into mugs an optionally garnish with mini-marshmallows. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
©averiecooks.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Related Recipes:
Old-Fashioned Butter Mints (no-bake, gluten-free)
Homemade Thin Mints – (no-bake, vegan, gluten-free)
Creme de Menthe Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, GF)
Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Oreo Brownies
Do you like hot chocolate – white or regular?
Peppermint fan? White chocolate fan?
I do love coffee and nothing will ever take it’s place but rotating in hot chocolate is a nice change-up.
Mint, especially this time of year, is perfect; whereas white chocolate is a year-round love. Here are 50 white chocolate recipes because I just can’t get enough of it.
I LOVE white hot chocolate with peppermint. I’m actually drinking some RIGHT NOW. ha :)
I love peppermint and all those mini marshmallows, wish I had a mug right now!
I’ve discovered white hot chocolate this year and consider it a revelation. Soooo good. I would love a big piping mug before bed but I’m afraid the sugar will keep me awake. Wah waah.
Love the frothing trick and the ginormous pile of marshmallows!
I would never tire of this white chocolate–ever! White chocolate hot chocolates are my favorite. So rich and dreamy–this peppermint infused version is on the top of my list!
I can’t get all your 7 Layer bar recipes out of my head! Would never tire of those!
Sounds so good, Averie! Wish I had a big mug of this right now!!
I’m a coffee girl as well. I’m actually drinking a cup now as we speak. I only have it in the morning with breakfast though. If I have it any other time of day (even decaf) it will totally mess me up. I may have to try your warm, comforting white chocolate as I have been sleeping terribly the past two nights. I’ve been waking up between 2:00 and 4:00. It’s like I’m preparing for a newborn again :) I’m sure you’re not sipping on this before bed in Aruba. Your most likely sipping something cool and refreshing!
Jackie
Believe it or not, I am sort of seasonally-immune with beverages and can drink hot coffee in the dead of summer, hot chocolate here, and iced coffee in the winter. I do end up either sweating/shivering though if I take it too far :)
MMm this is like comfort food (drink!). It’s making me relax just thinking about it
Comfort food drink, yes!
This sounds like the perfect nightcap. I think I could easily sip this any time of day while curled up on the couch! I saw the mention of peppermint oil. I was making a peppermint mocha and tried 1 measly drop of it in about 16 oz. of liquid. Waaaay too potent and kind of awful! I’d even be nervous about trying a drop in 32 oz of liquid. I’d definitely stick with extract for this recipe…it would be a shame to waste all that creamy white chocolate goodness!
Good call on the peppermint oil info – I have people write to me all the time with questions about it for my other p’mint recipes and I always say – be careful :) All this stuff varies so widely, from brand to brand, and oil to extract, etc. Sorry you messed up your mocha! And yes, this is a great nightcap – or an all-day sipping drink :)
I love the marshmallow overload! The marshmallows are my favorite part about hot chocolate. Need to try this white chocolate version!!
I can totally drink coffee and go to bed- so bad!! This sounds delicious. I actually had my first peppermint mocha from starbucks and was shocked how much I enjoyed it (I’m not usually a peppermint gal). I’ll have to try this!
This is my dream hot drink for the holidays. Love this Averie!!
I’ve never made nor drank white hot chocolate. But I think that’s something I need to do very very soon. It looks so pretty and festive!!
while i adore coffee and religiously drink it every single day (i’m not joking – over 3 cups per day – I am an addict), i do enjoy a creamy hot chocolate from time to time in the chilly months. Creamy being the word of importance here – need it thick and creamy and NEVER made with water. I’ve never made white hot chocolate at home before, but when I make my own hot chocolate, I use creamer + almond milk, cocoa powder + chocolate chips. I adore that peppermint mocha creamer – in fact, i just had some last weekend at my sister’s. we made peppermint mocha coffee and stirred in peppermint mocha creamer. overload? never.
i have to make this white hot chocolate at home sometime – it just looks SO fluffy and creamy and I can imagine it going down well just before bed. I’d sleep happily like a baby after one of these!
Sally you would love tihs! It’s everything I know you love – the creamy, sweet, white chocolate focus; and with the mint! And really, it’s a 4-5 min microwave project, tops. So easy. Too easy!
And your peppermint mocha coffee and stirred in peppermint mocha creamer sounds about perfect to me. This is almost like drinking a mug of the peppermint creamer, and for me, that’s a beautiful thing :)
And only 3 cups? That’s nothing!
I’m a weirdo who would probably order a hot chocolate on ice-I don’t care for any chocolate dessert that has been warmed.
I loooove me some peppermint though! I can see making this drink for myself then putting it in the fridge because the flavor sounds great!
I’m going to make this and ice it down, too – and see what happens. Sometimes when working with melted chocolate, chilling it will cause the choc to re-solidify and cause issues but I’m going to try anyway!
If it starts to solidify maybe it could be blended and be like a shake!
Exactly – frappucino style. There are no ‘wrong’ ways here :)
Averie’s Peppermint White Hot Chocolate is being sent by express e-mail to my sister. She has a similar chocolate ritual before bed. As do I.
And as a fellow froth fan, I can vouch for the blender trick.
=)
Froth is such a key element!