Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Using Peppermint Tea)

My peppermint hot chocolate is made from scratch with a peppermint tea bag! No peppermint extract or candy here, just simple wholesome ingredients and sweetened with honey. It’s perfect for the Christmas season! My wild idea of flavoring hot chocolate with a tea bag turned into one of my favorite drink recipes! I hope it finds a special place on your table this Christmas!

This post may contain affiliate links of items I know and love. Read our disclosure policy for more information. I NEVER use AI (artificial intelligence) to create content for Plum Branch Home. Recipes, blog posts, photos, videos, podcasts, social media content: everything is made from scratch by me, Molly LaFontaine. After developing my recipes, they’re tested 2x by my husband, Tyler, and I before publishing. What you see from Plum Branch Home is real. It’s made for a reason, tested, and loved!

Oh, how I love this recipe! There’s nothing better than sipping a minty hot chocolate on a cold winter night with the Christmas lights turned on and a holiday movie on the TV. Once you give this recipe a try, it’ll become a staple during the holiday season. I can’t wait for you to give it a try!

Inspiration Behind My Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

I have always loved peppermint hot chocolate during the holidays! It’s such an iconic, nostalgic flavor. But it’s usually made with some kind of peppermint candy or peppermint extract. So, I wanted to create a wholesome, easy to make recipe that still gives you the beloved peppermint chocolatey flavor, just in a better way.

I had the idea of using a peppermint tea bag, but I didn’t know if it would work. It was one of those thoughts that popped into my head and made me stop and think if it was too wild haha!

But like anything I develop, you never know if it works until you try it. So I gave it a test and never looked back. It was so dang good and easier than I expected!

I always have a box of Traditional Medicinals peppermint tea in the pantry. It’s so good to unwind with or sip after a heavy meal, but who would have known it would also flavor hot chocolate?!

I hope this recipe finds a special place in your heart this holiday season! It’s a better for you drink you can feel good sipping on while you watch a Christmas movie or wrap presents!

What Kind of Peppermint Tea is Best to Use?

This section contains Amazon affiliate links to items I use and love for this recipe.

I highly recommend using Traditional Medicinals peppermint tea. They use organic, pure, peppermint tea that has the best flavor of any I’ve tried. They also use plastic-free, glue-free tea bags so you don’t have to worry about microplastics or chemicals seeping into your hot chocolate.

Why I Love This Mint Hot Chocolate and So Will You!

• Perfectly Minty: The mint tea bag gives the hot chocolate the best minty flavor that doesn’t taste fake!
• No Candy or Peppermint Extract: You don’t have to use any peppermint candy or extract for this recipe.
• Easy to Make: The steps are really simple to follow!
• Perfect for Christmas Time: I can’t think of a better holiday drink than peppermint hot cocoa!
• Better Than Coffee Shop Cocoa: The taste is so much better than what you’d get at a coffee shop.
• Better for You: The wholesome ingredients are so much better for you than fake extracts, candies, and processed sugars.

My Tips for Making the Best Peppermint Hot Chocolate

• Add a Pinch of Salt: Adding a pinch of sea salt adds the perfect flavor.
• Use a Whisk: Using a whisk to combine the ingredients makes the cocoa powder combine so much smoother.
• Add a Little Half and Half: Using a little half and half makes a creamier hot chocolate.
• Use Real Vanilla: Don’t use imitation vanilla. It doesn’t have the best flavor and usually has caramel coloring.
• Use Traditional Medicinals Tea: Choose a good peppermint tea like Traditional Medicinals.
• Steep Tea for Only a Few Minutes: Don’t let the tea bag sit in the hot chocolate for too long or it will become overpowering.

Ingredients You’ll Need  (with notes and substitutions)

Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for measurements.

• milk: whole milk is what I use but you can use any
• half & half: you can also just use more milk
• raw honey: you can also use pure cane sugar
• pinch of sea salt: this adds flavor!
• pure vanilla extract: I don’t recommend using imitation vanilla
• unsweetened cocoa powder: make sure it’s regular baking cocoa not hot chocolate mix
• peppermint tea bag: Traditional Medicinals is the best, it must be pure peppermint tea

Helpful Kitchen Tools for this Recipe

This section contains Amazon affiliate links to items I use and love for this recipe.

• mugs (glass ones like this are my favorite!)
• medium saucepan
• whisk

How to Make Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Tea

Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for the full written recipe.

Add all ingredients to a medium sized saucepan.

Warm on medium heat for 5 minutes or until desired warmth. Whisk frequently to combine ingredients and prevent the milk from scorching. Don’t let it boil.

Place tea bag in a large mug, remove hot chocolate from heat, and pour over tea bag. 

Let tea bag steep for 4-5 minutes, moving the bag around every so often. Cover mug in between if desired. (For a stronger peppermint flavor, keep tea bag in for double the time, for less peppermint flavor, take tea bag out after 2 minutes).

Remove tea bag (just let it drip, don’t squeeze it) then serve as 1 large drink or divide into two small. Top with homemade whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

My Favorite Way to Serve Peppermint Hot Chocolate

You can serve peppermint hot chocolate in many ways, but my absolute favorite is topped with homemade whipped cream! You could also top it with marshmallows if desired; that would be delicious too.

Best Snacks to Enjoy with this Recipe

If you’re looking for some snack ideas to enjoy alongside this drink, I’ve got a few ideas for you! These are the goodies I enjoy pairing with peppermint hot chocolate:

• a slice of sourdough challah bread toasted and buttered
• warm soft sourdough pretzels
• a sourdough bagel toasted and spread with plain cream cheese
• a sourdough croissant warmed in the toaster (my favorite pairing!)

How to Store Leftover Hot Chocolate

If you have extra hot chocolate or you want to make it ahead, be sure to take the tea bag out so it doesn’t become bitter or too strong. Then place the hot chocolate in an airtight glass, preferably glass, for a few days until you’re ready to enjoy it.

My Favorite Way to Reheat Hot Chocolate

To reheat hot chocolate, whether it’s leftover or just got cold, pour it into a small saucepan and warm over medium heat for a few minutes. It keeps the flavor wonderfully!

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cozy Drink Recipes To Try

If you’re looking for more hot drink recipes, try a few of these:

• Spiced Hot Chocolate From Scratch
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate From Scratch
• French Vanilla Hot Chocolate From Scratch
• Coconut Hot Chocolate From Scratch
• Slow Cooker Apple Cider From Scratch
• Simple Vanilla Latte From Scratch
• Chai Tea Latte Recipe With Tea Bag (better than Starbucks!)

If you made this recipe, give it a 5-star rating below and share a photo on your social media stories! Be sure to tag @plumbranchhome

Recipe

Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Using Peppermint Tea)

Molly LaFontaine

My peppermint hot chocolate is made from scratch with a peppermint tea bag! No peppermint extract or candy here, just simple wholesome ingredients and sweetened with honey. It's perfect for the Christmas season! My wild idea of flavoring hot chocolate with a tea bag turned into one of my favorite drink recipes! I hope it finds a special place on your table this Christmas!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Steeping Tea 4 minutes mins

Total Time 9 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 1 large or 2 small

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cups milk (whole milk is what I use)
• 1/2 cup half & half (you can also just use more milk)
• 2 Tbsp raw honey
• pinch of sea salt (1/16 tsp)
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 peppermint tea bag (Traditional Medicinals is the best, must be pure peppermint tea)

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients, besides peppermint tea bag, to a medium sized saucepan.
• Warm on medium heat for 5 minutes or until desired warmth. Whisk frequently to combine ingredients and prevent the milk from scorching. Don’t let it boil.
• Place tea bag in a large mug, remove hot chocolate from heat, and pour over tea bag.
• Let tea bag steep for 4-5 minutes, moving the bag around every so often. Cover mug in between if desired. (For a stronger peppermint flavor, keep tea bag in for double the time, for less peppermint flavor, take tea bag out after 2 minutes).
• Remove tea bag (just let it drip, don’t squeeze it) then serve as 1 large drink or divide into two small. Top with homemade whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

Notes

My easy homemade whipped cream recipe: https://plumbranchhome.com/homemade-whipped-cream/

 

Please see blog post for all kinds of helpful tips and storage information. You can double this recipe as many times as you’d like.

 

 

Did you make this recipe?

 

Please leave a comment below or share a photo on social media! If you share a photo be sure to tag me @plumbranchhome

 

 

 

This recipe was developed from scratch in my kitchen by me, Molly LaFontaine, and tested many times by my husband and me to ensure success. Just like all of my recipes on Plum Branch Home. They’re created with purpose, cherished in our own home, and developed with my experiences, trial and error, and skills. NEVER AI (artificial intelligence). Here at Plum Branch Home, we’re loving our families and serving our God one recipe at a time!

 

 

Keyword peppermint hot chocolate