Snow Queen’s Iced Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A rich hot chocolate with a cooling peppermint twist, finished with whipped cream and crushed candy canes for a magical winter drink. This recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, brings together whole milk, bittersweet chocolate chips, granulated sugar 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 4, 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
- 4 cups whole milk
- 8 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
- 1 cup whipped cream
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
- 1/2 cup (optional) mini marshmallows
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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, heat 4 cups whole milk over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Add 8 oz bittersweet chocolate chips and 2 tbsp granulated sugar to the milk. Whisk continuously until chocolate melts completely and the mixture is smooth and glossy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract. Taste and adjust peppermint flavor if desired.
- Step 4: Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top each with 1/4 cup whipped cream, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows if using, and sprinkle 1 tbsp crushed candy canes over the whipped cream.
- Step 5: Serve immediately for a warming, minty treat.







