Peppermint Holiday Hot Cocoa Cups

Delightful hot cocoa cups infused with peppermint, topped with festive decorations for a cozy holiday treat.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Dessert, Drink

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Calories: 250

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

For the mug decoration

150 g melted dark chocolate For mug decoration
Christmas sprinkles (red, white, green nonpareils) For coating the mugs

For the hot cocoa

3 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream Optional for richness
150 g semi-sweet chocolate Chopped
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2–3 tbsp sugar Adjust to taste
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp peppermint extract Or more to taste
Pinch of salt

For topping

Mini marshmallows For topping
Whipped cream For topping
Crushed candy canes For topping
Whole mini candy canes For garnish

Method

Preparation

Gather all your ingredients beforehand for a streamlined process.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring until smooth.
Dip the top rim of each mug into the melted dark chocolate and then into the Christmas sprinkles. Let the chocolate set in the fridge for about 5 minutes.

Cooking

In a saucepan, combine the milk and cream over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
Whisk in the cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt until dissolved.
Stir in the chopped semi-sweet chocolate until fully melted and smooth over low heat.
Turn off the heat and mix in vanilla and peppermint extracts to adjust flavor.

Serving

Pour the rich peppermint hot cocoa into each decorated mug.
Top with mini marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and whole mini candy canes.

Notes

You can set up a hot cocoa bar with extra toppings to let guests customize their drinks. Adjust the sweetness and richness based on your preference. Store any leftover cocoa in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheat gently.