Kingdom Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A rich hot chocolate with a cooling peppermint twist, inspired by the icy magic of a winter kingdom. This recipe, ready in about 11 minutes, brings together whole milk, dark chocolate chips, cocoa powder for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 1/2 cup for topping whipped cream
- 2 tbsp for garnish crushed candy canes
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 cups whole milk, 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips, 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, and 2 tbsp granulated sugar. Stir constantly until the chocolate chips melt and the mixture is smooth and steaming, about 5-6 minutes.
- Step 2: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, mixing well to infuse the cooling flavor.
- Step 3: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs, top each with 2 tbsp whipped cream, and sprinkle 2 tbsp crushed candy canes on top for a festive, icy finish.






