This easy DIY peppermint white chocolate mocha is the ultimate winter coffee. Simple, sweet, and oh so cozy. The perfect drink to enjoy this holiday season!
Peppermint is just one of those flavors associated with Christmastime. Combining it with white chocolate and coffee takes this holiday taste to the next level in this peppermint white chocolate mocha recipe!
If you love making holiday coffees, this one needs to be on your short list this holiday season. A peppermint white chocolate mocha is the perfect way to start the day, is a cozy and cheerful treat after time out in the snow, and lovely enjoyed snuggled under a blanket by the fire.
If you love peppermint white chocolate mocha, you’ll also love a DIY sugar cookie latte, gingerbread coffee and an eggnog latte too!
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Why You’ll Love This Winter Coffee Recipe
Festive flavor! Peppermint is a signature flavor of the holiday season, making this peppermint white chocolate mocha a wonderful option to enjoy to celebrate the season (and get caffeinated in the process).
Easy to make. This Christmas latte comes together quickly and is so simple to make at home.
Cost effective. Enjoy your favorite holiday seasonal coffee daily for a fraction of the cost!
No funny ingredients. This white peppermint mocha recipe doesn’t use processed syrups like you would get at the coffee shop. We’re using real white chocolate, high-quality peppermint extract, real milk… all the good stuff.
Ingredients Needed
Espresso: The Starbucks version uses their signature espresso roast. However, you can make this white chocolate peppermint mocha recipe with whatever espresso you love most! You can also use strongly brewed coffee.
Milk of choice: I personally enjoy using 2% or whole dairy milk in this recipe. However, you can use whatever milk you prefer (dairy or non-dairy)! Almond milk and oat milk also work great.
White chocolate: using chopped white chocolate (from a baking bar) is the best choice here. You can also use high-quality white chocolate chips, however, chocolate chips have stabilizers in them to help them keep their shape. Meaning they don’t melt quite as well.
Peppermint extract: This is where you’re going to get that peppermint punch in your mocha! A little bit goes a long way when it comes to peppermint extract. So, if you’re worried your drink is going to be too minty, start with half the recommended amount and add more to taste.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Use strongly brewed coffee instead of espresso. Don’t have a way to make espresso at home? No worries! Brew strong coffee instead by increasing the amount of coffee grounds used in your normal brewing method to make a more concentrated coffee. A good place to start is by adding one or two extra scoops of grounds.
- Make an iced white chocolate peppermint mocha. If you’d prefer to enjoy this peppermint mocha cold, you can totally do that! Chill the white chocolate milk mixture and brewed espresso (or use cold brew coffee). Fill a tall glass about half full with ice. Then pour cooled ingredients over the ice, top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and enjoy!
- Make a decaf mocha. If you’d like to enjoy a cozy mug of this winter coffee at night, or cannot have caffeine, use your favorite decaf espresso or decaf coffee in this recipe.
- Omit the coffee to make a peppermint white hot chocolate! This is a great option, especially if you want to make a big batch of the white chocolate peppermint milk and divvy some out to kiddos or others who do not like coffee. Simply skip the coffee and add a little more of the milk mixture to your mug before topping with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
- Top with chocolate or white chocolate curls. This is another lovely addition to this coffee either in place of the crushed candy canes or in addition to them.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add milk to a small sauce pan over medium heat.
Step 2: Add roughly chopped white chocolate (or high quality white chocolate chips).
Step 3: Stir periodically until the white chocolate has melted and the milk mixture is steaming. Do NOT boil.
Step 4: Remove from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract.
Step 5: Select a mug and add freshly brewed espresso.
Step 6: Then fill with the peppermint white chocolate milk mixture.
Step 7: Top the peppermint white chocolate mocha with whipped cream.
Step 8: Sprinkle crushed candy cane pieces on top of the whipped cream and enjoy.
Possible Dietary Restrictions?
A peppermint white chocolate mocha is vegetarian as written. You can make your white chocolate peppermint mocha dairy free and vegan by using a non-dairy milk -AND- a dairy-free/vegan friendly white chocolate.
Note: most white chocolates do contain dairy, however, there are a few brands that do offer dairy-free and vegan-friendly white chocolate. I’ve found the Enjoy Life brand to be a good option.
Recipe FAQs
Starbucks uses 2% dairy milk in their peppermint mocha. I’ve found that either 2% or whole dairy milk are both great options in DIY coffees. If you prefer non-dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk are both great options.
Definitely! Replace the espresso noted in the recipe with strongly brewed coffee. Brew strong coffee by increasing the amount of coffee grounds used in your normal brewing method to make a more concentrated coffee. A good place to start is by adding one or two extra scoops of grounds.
Yes! To enjoy an iced version of this drink, chill the white chocolate milk mixture and brewed espresso (or use cold brew coffee). Fill a tall glass about half full with ice. Then pour cooled ingredients over the ice, top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and enjoy!
Helpful Equipment
If you’d like to make espresso at home, but don’t want the expense (or size) of an espresso machine, a Moka Pot is a great investment! I love and use mine a ton.
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Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
Ingredients
- ⅓ C hot, freshly brewed espresso*
- ¾ C milk of choice*
- 1.5 oz white chocolate, roughly chopped (approximately 3 Tbsp)
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- whipped cream for topping
- 1 small candy cane, crushed, for topping
Instructions
- Brew espresso (or strongly brewed coffee) in method of choice.
- While the espresso is brewing, add milk and white chocolate to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir periodically until the white chocolate has melted and the milk is steaming (do NOT boil).
- Remove the milk and white chocolate mixture from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract.
- Pour espresso into a mug and then fill the rest of the mug with the warm white chocolate peppermint milk mixture.
- Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane pieces and enjoy!
Notes
- Use strongly brewed coffee instead of espresso. Don’t have a way to make espresso at home? No worries! Brew strong coffee instead by increasing the amount of coffee grounds used in your normal brewing method to make a more concentrated coffee. A good place to start is by adding one or two extra scoops of grounds.
- Make an iced white chocolate peppermint mocha. If you’d prefer to enjoy this peppermint mocha cold, you can totally do that! Chill the white chocolate milk mixture and brewed espresso (or use cold brew coffee). Fill a tall glass about half full with ice. Then pour cooled ingredients over the ice, top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and enjoy!
- Make a decaf mocha. If you’d like to enjoy a cozy mug of this winter coffee at night, or cannot have caffeine, use your favorite decaf espresso or decaf coffee in this recipe.
- Omit the coffee to make a peppermint white hot chocolate! This is a great option, especially if you want to make a big batch of the white chocolate peppermint milk and divvy some out to kiddos or others who do not like coffee. Simply skip the coffee and add a little more of the milk mixture to your mug before topping with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
- Top with chocolate or white chocolate curls. This is another lovely addition to this coffee either in place of the crushed candy canes or in addition to them.
Ben says
What a nice copycat drink! Tasty and delish!
Meredith says
So glad to hear you enjoyed it – thank you!