Spiked Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate

Peppermint Mocha Spiked Hot Chocolate takes traditional hot chocolate to the next level with the addition of the flavors of mocha, peppermint, and some optional Irish cream. Top it all off with Peppermint Mocha Whipped Cream and Marshmallows for an unbelievable sweet treat.

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Spiked Hot Chocolate Recipe

Happy December! For me, a few things come with December. Things like: getting the lights up on the house, putting the tree and accompanying house decor up, holiday tunes, and the combo of chocolate + peppermint.

Kevin got the lights up a couple days after Thanksgiving. Really no one is better at it than he is. I told him that he is the best ever Christmas light putter upper. Sometimes we joke about that being his new business name.

We have the most perfectly straight, evenly spaced lights on our house. It looks so pretty!

We got the tree up. But, I haven’t decorated the tree yet or put all of the rest of the inside the house decor up. I am hoping to get that done this weekend when all the kids are here together with us.

I think we are going to end up with two trees decorated. We will have one in the front room and one upstairs in the large hallways between the boys’ rooms and the game room.

I love having a pretty decorator-style tree. Kevin traditionally has lots of ornaments that are mostly personalized. Logan, Madeline, and I have a few of those, too.

Several years back I started buying my kiddos each a new ornament every year to symbolize something about them for that year. We had an extra mini tree that we would put those ornaments on.

I’m curious how many people have decorator trees vs. personalized trees, or if many people put up two trees (one of each). We always had a personalized tree growing up, and for whatever reason I didn’t really love it. Even though individually I loved some of the special ornaments…I loved the way a decorator tree looked more so I always wanted to have that.

And now for the chocolate and peppermint. Or specifically, the peppermint mocha spiked hot chocolate. The way peppermint pairs with rich chocolate, especially dark or bittersweet chocolate is one of my seasonal favorites.

For some reason all things candy cane signify winter and the upcoming holiday season to me…as soon as December 1 hits! You may have seen my Instagram teaser earlier featuring crushed candy cane and some super cute candy cane swizzle sticks. I was going through the photos for this spiked peppermint hot chocolate recipe and loved the way the candies looked on the white marble.

It is finally starting to feel like winter here in Colorado after an unusually long, warm, and sunny fall. It is always a little bit of a shock to the system when the weather finally switches over, especially after such an extreme like that. There were days with 80 degree highs a couple of weeks ago.

But, I’m definitely going to embrace the winter temps if it means I get to turn on the fire place and cozy up with a book while drinking warm winter drinks like this peppermint alcoholic hot chocolate. Or, blast my favorite seasonal tunes from the kitchen so I can sip and sing while I’m cooking or working.

Spiked hot chocolate is the perfect seasonal delight!

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Spiked Hot Chocolate Ingredients

This is one peppermint alcoholic drink everyone will love! Here’s what you’ll need to make this alcoholic hot chocolate recipe:

• Whole milk
• International Delight Peppermint Mocha Creamer
• Bittersweet chocolate chips
• Irish cream
• Whipping cream
• Powdered sugar
• Marshmallows
• Peppermint candy canes

How to Make Spiked Hot Chocolate

This is seriously such an easy hot chocolate recipe. Homemade hot chocolate always tastes better than the powdered stuff you mix with water. Here’s how I like to make this peppermint mocha spiked hot chocolate:

1. Add the milk, creamer, and chocolate to a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
2. Once simmering, stir continuously and continue cooking for about a minute.
3. Stir in Irish cream, then pour into mug.
4. To make the homemade whipped cream, whip the whipping cream, peppermint mocha creamer, and powdered sugar until medium peaks form.
5. Dollop whipped cream over peppermint hot chocolate and enjoy.

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Can I Omit the Alcohol?

Don’t worry, you can make this mocha peppermint hot chocolate recipe without the Irish cream if you are serving anyone under drinking age or if you don’t consume alcohol. It tastes just as fantastic sans alcohol!

Can I Use A Different Type of Chocolate?

I’m sure you could! Personally, I like the combination of bittersweet chocolate and sweet creamer, but you’re welcome to use dark or even milk chocolate if preferred. Just keep in mind that the sweeter the chocolate is, the sweeter your spiked hot chocolate will be.

Can I Make This in Advance?

No, spiked hot chocolate is best fresh. You can definitely make the homemade marshmallows in advance and make the whipped cream a few hours before you intend to serve it. But the spiked hot chocolate itself should be made just before you plan to drink it.

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Tips for Making Spiked Hot Chocolate

For an extra rich, dessert-like mug of joy, top your drink with a dollop or swirl Peppermint Mocha Whipped Cream. You can add homemade whipped cream to a piping bag if you want to get some nice swirls like you would when piping cupcakes with buttercream.

Then, try adding these homemade chocolate-dipped marshmallows. Seriously, if you’ve never tried homemade marshmallows, try them at least once. They are amazing even if they are an extra step.

Or if you’d like a simpler method, temper chocolate and dip store-bought marshmallows in the tempered chocolate, then sprinkle in crushed candy canes. Serve those tasty marshmallows in your mug of spiked hot chocolate.

If you’d like to recreate this special treat at home, be sure to check International Delight’s product locator to find a store near you that carries the Peppermint Mocha variety creamer. They also have a few other fun seasonal flavors too!

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More Holiday Drink Recipes:

December is the perfect time to enjoy seasonal sips, whether you’re enjoying them by the fireplace or Christmas Tree as you cozy up with a good book or serving them at a holiday get together. Here are a few more favorites that we love:

Traditional chocolate hot cocoa is steeped with peppermint herbal tea to create this Candy Cane Hot Cocoa.

Get into the holiday spirit by making yourself a Gingerbread Martini! This Christmas martini is made with Baileys and vodka, and it tastes just like gingerbread!  

Sweet, creamy, and spiced, this Spiked Eggnog is the perfect holiday drink! Learn how to make eggnog with alcohol, how to safely use raw eggs in eggnog, and more.

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider is a twist on the classic mulled apple cider with the addition of fresh pomegranate juice.

Salted caramel and chocolate pair so well together, so why not put them together and enjoy a mug of this Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate is like hot chocolate, but with white chocolate instead, plus the addition of real pumpkin puree and your favorite pumpkin spice flavors. Ok, so it isn’t really anything like hot chocolate, but it is so good!

Christmas Wassail is a classic this time of year. Apple cider, orange juice, and cranberry juice are spiced with  plenty of cinnamon and cloves for a holiday treat.

What are your favorite seasonal drinks?

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think of it by leaving a comment below.

Save this recipe for Peppermint Mocha Spiked Hot Chocolate to Pinterest!