A peppermint mocha latte combines two of the best flavors: chocolate and mint. During the holiday season, it’s hard to resist spending your hard-earned cash on this delicious drink any chance you get. But this year, it’s time to take control. Whip up your own peppermint mocha latte at home to save yourself money — and become the best barista on the block.
A Delicious Peppermint Mocha Latte Recipe
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong coffee (or 1 shot of espresso)
- 1/2 cup milk, divided
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- sweetener of your choice, to taste
- 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup
- garnish of your choice
Supplies
- medium saucepan
- 2 mugs
- small saucepan
- small bowl
- whisk
Directions
Add the coffee (or espresso), 1/4 cup of milk, cocoa powder, and sweetener to a medium saucepan. Bring everything to a boil over medium heat (4-5 minutes); stir occasionally to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Gently add your peppermint syrup and stir.
Once the ingredients are combined, pour the mixture into 2 mugs.
Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of milk into a small saucepan over medium heat and wait for bubbles to form around the edges (3-4 minutes).
As soon as this happens, remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the milk into a small bowl. Whisk the milk quickly until it starts to froth.
When the milk begins to froth, pour it over the mugs of coffee.
Top with a garnish of your choice.
Make Your Peppermint Mocha Latte Your Own
Garnish Options
You can top your peppermint mocha latte with any number of garnishes. Crush candy canes or peppermint candies over the lattes for an extra shot of mint. If you’re leaning more toward chocolate, you can sprinkle some chocolate chips or milk chocolate shavings over the lattes. Don’t forget to add whipped cream, too!
Diet-Friendly Options
If you’re vegan, use coconut milk instead of cow’s milk. If you’d rather not taste a splash of coconut, you could use almond milk. Bear in mind that most vegan whipped creams are coconut-flavored, too.
To make a healthier latte, use unsweetened almond milk or fat-free milk with unsweetened cocoa. Skip the garnishes and instead of using sugar as a sweetener, turn to Splenda.
Alcoholic Options
An ordinary latte is twice as nice with a shot of coffee liqueur. Technically you could add bourbon or whiskey, but these won’t preserve your latte’s coffee flavor. If you decide to go this route, you could try adding peppermint schnapps to preserve the flavor.
Turn your kitchen into your local Starbucks! Create your own peppermint mocha latte with a few simple ingredients and a foolproof recipe anyone can manage. Top with your favorite garnishes, and you’ve got yourself the perfect holiday drink.
