Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate is rich, creamy and delightfully minty! It’s the ideal cocktail for chilly weather.
Need a stunning hot drink for winter entertaining? Try Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate! It’s rich and chocolaty, with just the right smoothness from the cool mint finish. Peppermint schnapps is a holiday tradition in our family, and it’s just right for adding to this creamy drink. Even better: ditch the pre-packaged mix for homemade hot chocolate you can make in 5 minutes on the stove.
Ingredients in peppermint schnapps hot chocolate
Mint and chocolate go hand in hand: the bitter richness is ideal with a hint of fresh peppermint. So there’s no better way to combine them for winter than peppermint schnapps hot chocolate! You’ll start with the base of our Homemade Hot Chocolate, then add a hint of schnapps. This stuff is potent, so don’t be too heavy handed! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cocoa powder
- 2% milk
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
- Peppermint schnapps, 30 or 60 proof
Important: 100 proof schnapps
There are a few types of peppermint schnapps that you’ll find at stores and online: 30 proof (15% ABV), 60 proof (30% ABV), and 100 proof (50% ABV). As you might guess, 100 proof is very strong. If the bottle says 100 proof, skip the quantity in the recipe and add it to taste!
About peppermint schnapps, and a substitute
Peppermint schnapps is a clear alcohol made by adding peppermint flavoring to a clear grain spirit. It tastes like a candy cane, with a spicy, boozy finish. This type of schnapps is usually consumed in the winter during the holiday season, but of course you can add it to cocktails in any season!
- What ABV is peppermint schnapps? Peppermint schnapps is sold in three different ABV levels: 15% ABV (30 proof), 30% ABV (60 proof), and 50% ABV (100 proof). Compare this to 40% ABV of hard alcohol like whiskey, gin, tequila, and rum.
- How much does it cost? Peppermint schnapps is very inexpensive: a 750 ml bottle costs $8 to $10.
- Are there any substitutes? White creme de menthe can work as a substitute: it has a gentler, more balanced mint flavor. Just make sure not to get the green Creme de Menthe (which makes the signature green color in a Grasshopper)!
How to make peppermint schnapps hot chocolate: a few tips!
Once you’ve got your ingredients, this peppermint schnapps hot chocolate is a breeze to make! Here are a few tips:
- Multiply the recipe as needed for a crowd. The recipe below makes two 1-cup servings, so multiply as desired!
- Substitute 2 cups hot chocolate mix. It’s not nearly as good, but it works in a pinch.
- Top with whipped cream…and peppermint candies if desired. If you want to go over the top Christmas-themed, top this drink with crushed peppermint candies. And maybe a peppermint stir stick?
More spiked hot chooclate
You can spike hot chocolate with lots of different types of liquor and liqueurs. In fact, our favorite is with rum! Here are a few more adult hot chocolate recipes to try after this one:
- Go for Spiked Hot Chocolate with aged rum or bourbon
- Try Baileys Hot Chocolate with Baileys Irish Cream
- Opt for coffee liqueur with Kahlua Hot Chocolate
- Try cozy Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 drinks 1x
Description
Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate is rich, creamy and delightfully minty! It’s the ideal cocktail for chilly weather.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- ¼ cup (1 ½ ounces) semisweet or dark chocolate chips*
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) 30 or 60 proof* peppermint schnapps
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until the cocoa powder is mostly integrated. Whisk in the remaining milk until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and heat over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Do not boil.
- Stir in the peppermint schnapps. Serve immediately, garnished with whipped cream.
Notes
*Check the bottle before you make this drink! If using 100 proof (50% ABV) schnapps, skip the 2 ounces and just add a drizzle to taste.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate
Let us know if you have any questions!
★★★★★
Got it a little too strong. I realized way too late that you were using 30 proof, and what I had was 100 proof. But that was my mistake. This was super good! And I liked the process because I could scoop out how chocolate for the kids before spiking it (another reason I made it ridiculously strong, because I didn’t account for the lesser hot chocolate amount). I’ll have to be more careful with my alcohol amounts next time, but this was a fantastic recipe. Tasted great! For anyone else looking to try this one out, I would just add the schnapps shot by shot and taste as you go.
★★★★★
Thank you so much for letting us know! We didn’t realize 100 proof was so widely available. I’ve added a paragraph to the article to clarify and a special note in the recipe. Looks like peppermint schnapps actually comes in 30 proof, 60 proof and 100 proof. Thanks again!