There’s really no need to buy the instant powdered hot chocolate when you can do it yourself in less than 20 minutes. I personally think the powdered hot chocolate doesn’t even compare to the real homemade thing. There’s something about hot chocolate made with a real chocolate bar…it’s decadent, rich and heavy in the best way possible.
I’m totally that girl that can drink hot chocolate all year round. It’ll be 100 degrees outside and I’ll be drinking hot chocolate at night at home. What can I say, I’ve got a sweet tooth. And most times, I prefer to drink my dessert rather than eat it! Hot chocolate is definitely my guilty pleasure. Around this time of the year, I love to make a big pot of hot chocolate with an extra punch of my favorite holiday flavors. Peppermint hot chocolate is something I’ve loved since being a little girl. I was always that child that had far too many candy canes and peppermint chocolate dove squares when Christmas rolled around. I’d eat so much peppermint my stomach would ache…I couldn’t help myself I loved it! There’s something about the combination of the two that scream “it’s Christmas time!”.
Although this hot chocolate is tasty enough on its own…you can definitely turn up the heat a bit by adding a few splashes of bailey Irish cream and Godiva chocolate liquor. While the kids enjoy the original version, the adults can enjoy a spiked version instead. It’s incredible, I promise! I swear hot chocolate was made for baileys. You can’t have one without the other!
(Well you can…but it’s way more fun when baileys is involved!)
PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
Prep time: 1 minute
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 16 minutes
Serves: 6+
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 oz. semi sweet baking chocolate
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup half and half
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp peppermint extract
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat a large pot or Dutch oven to medium low heat. Add in semi sweet chocolate, dark chocolate cocoa powder, sugar, half and half, vanilla extract and peppermint extract. Whisk while chocolate melts (should take about 10 minutes).
- Once the chocolate is melted, slowly add in milk while whisking.
- Let the hot chocolate come to a soft boil then reduce to simmer to keep warm.
- Serve hot with whipped cream and a candy cane.