Homemade Peppermint Mocha Recipe
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This homemade peppermint mocha recipe is the perfect way to ring in your holiday spirit!
Growing up, peppermint was never my favorite flavor. But now, as an adult, it’s one of the most soothing flavors I can enjoy. Particularly on a cold, winter day. And this healthy peppermint mocha is the perfect way to enjoy it! Well… healthy without the toppings. Ha! You don’t need any peppermint syrup or peppermint candies, or even any mint extract. Just some simple, dried, mint leaves will get the job done here.
And if you put peppermint and chocolate together, well that’s a whole new level of deliciousness right there!
What Is A Mocha?
A mocha is any drink that has a combination of coffee and chocolate. You can add other things, but that basic combo turns any coffee drink into a mocha.
Now, you purists out there will probably be tapping your toes right about now.
Technically, it should be espresso and chocolate. So if you are a true coffee snob, make sure you are brewing up some espresso instead of regular coffee.
But for the rest of us, coffee works just fine!
What Is A Peppermint Mocha?
If you love that chocolate and peppermint combination, just add that to your morning cup of coffee and you’ve got a peppermint mocha! It’s simply a peppermint and chocolate-flavored latte. What could be better?
How Many Calories Are In A Peppermint Mocha?
“A grande Starbucks peppermint mocha with 2% milk and whipped cream amounts to 440 calories. Not to mention: It also contains 10 grams of saturated fat and a whopping 54 grams of sugar.“
CheatSheet
Holy Moses! Just think, if you make this at home, you’ll not only be saving money, you’ll be saving a ton of fat, calories, and sugar as well.
The recipe below is only 23 calories per serving with 1 gram of fat (without any toppings). Can’t find that at Starbucks!
And this recipe doesn’t even contain any actual sugar except for whatever little bit of sweetener you add yourself.
Give Starbucks and your budget a break this holiday season and try making this drink at home!
Frankly, I think it could quite possibly be the perfect coffee drink for sipping around the holiday table with friends and family.
What You’ll Need
Boiling water – Use the purest water you can find. Tap water is usually way too flavored with chlorine, which will affect the flavor of your coffee.
Dried peppermint leaves – If you prefer a very strong peppermint flavor, you can add more if you like, but I found this amount is just about right. In a pinch, you could use a good peppermint extract, or even cut open a bag of peppermint tea.
Coffee grounds – Again, you can use espresso if you prefer that.
Unsweetened cocoa powder – In a pinch, you could actually use a hot chocolate mix. But that does tend to change the flavor just a bit (it won’t be as rich), and unless you make the hot chocolate mix yourself, it will be filled with all sorts of nasty chemicals you probably want to avoid.
Milk – I used unsweetened almond milk, but regular milk works too. Even cashew or oat milk would work, but I find that almond milk has the mildest flavor out of most dairy-free milk varieties. Simply add enough here to make your coffee enjoyable.
Sweetener – As with the milk, you’ll add sweetener to taste. I have found that pure maple syrup or honey is delicious in this. But you can also use Sucanat or monk fruit. Coconut sugar could work but may change the flavor just slightly.
How To Make A Homemade Peppermint Mocha
French Press Peppermint Mocha
Add the peppermint leaves, coffee, and cocoa powder to the French press, and then add the boiling water. Steep for about 15 to 20 minutes for a good strong flavor.
Press the handle down to strain the solids and pour the liquid into a mug.
Add milk and sweetener to taste and serve. Adding a fresh peppermint leaf for garnish is a fun way to serve this to guests.
Coffee Maker Peppermint Mocha
Add the coffee and herbs to your pepper coffee pot filter. Do not use coffee makers that don’t use paper filters. The herbs will clog your coffee pot.
Brew as you normally would.
Add milk and sweetener to taste and serve.
Homemade Peppermint Mocha Toppings
It’s really easy to make perfectly healthy whipped cream at home. You can use either full-fat coconut milk, or you can use heavy cream. Use a natural sweetener and you’re good to go.
As for the crushed peppermint candy cane you see in the photos here, I use one little candy a couple of times during the holiday season. I don’t see any reason not to since the rest of my eating plan is so clean. However, if that doesn’t fit your way of eating, simply skip it!
Growing up, peppermint was never my favorite flavor. But now, as an adult, it’s one of the most soothing flavors I can enjoy. Particularly on a cold, winter day. And this healthy peppermint mocha is the perfect way to enjoy it! Well… healthy without the toppings. Ha! You don’t need any peppermint syrup or peppermint candies, or even any mint extract. Just some simple, dried, mint leaves will get the job done here.
Recipe Supplies
For this recipe, you’ll need either a french press or a coffee maker and some dried peppermint leaves. You can find any of these items on Amazon by clicking on an image here. (Affiliate links)
Homemade Latte Recipes
Homemade Peppermint Mocha Recipe Card
Homemade Peppermint Mocha
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups boiling water
- 1 tbsp. dried peppermint leaves
- ¼ cup coffee grounds (or espresso)
- 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- milk to taste (regular or unsweetened, non-dairy milk)
- sweetener (like honey or maple syrup or Sucanat to taste)
Instructions
French Press
- Steep the peppermint leaves, coffee and cocoa powder in the boiling water for about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Strain the coffee and pour into cup.
- Add sweetener and milk to taste and serve.
Coffee Maker
- Add the coffee and herbs to your coffee pot filter (the paper ones). Do not use in coffee makers that don't use paper filters.
- Brew as usual.
- Add milk and sweetener to taste and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Who me?
I'm Tiffany, a cookbook author, food lover, mom, and writer for MSN and the AP Newswire.
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I am going to try this tonight but I wanted to say that mint is such an easy thing to grow yourself. It takes very little anything and it comes back bigger and bigger every year. You can dry own leaves very easily . My mint plant made me tons of drinks over the summer and dried it goes wonderful in salad dressings and teas and now apparently my coffee pot. I use it for homemade honey jelly too. love mint recipes 🙂
Awesome! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Could you throw a bag of peppermint tea in the coffee maker I wonder?
Lauren – I wouldn’t. I would think the acid from the coffee might eat through the bag. But you could certainly open the bag and put the herbs into the filter with the coffee.
Tiffany , Do you have a recipe for White Chocolate Mocha….similar to Starbucks.
Dorothy – Sadly, no. I haven’t found any clean white chocolate. I’m still looking though!!!
Thank you from the bottom of my aching heart I didn’t think I was going to get my peppermint mocha this year…its been in the past my go to drink for December..I still can have it clean super excited..
Leanne – Yay!! I’m so happy I could help! 😀