The Best Peppermint Hot Chocolate
A delicious, creamy 5 ingredient peppermint hot chocolate that is actually healthy for you. Creamy thanks to almond butter and sweetened with dates, this is a must try!
Whenever I think of hot chocolate, I just think of this really creamy cup of hot chocolate I got once when I was in New York during the Christmas season. We had gone to see the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree and it just didn’t feel like a good trip unless we were getting ourselves a cozy cup of hot chocolate. So while my dad got coffee, I made sure to get a hot chocolate. And even though I don’t remember the deli, I do remember how velvety smooth it was and how rich the sweet chocolate was.
Why you need this peppermint Hot Chocolate
- This is better than any pack mix! Super creamy, chocolatey and sweet!
- It’s everything you love about hot chocolate, but sweetened with dates and made creamy with almond butter.
- Just 5 ingredients, super easy to make and customize based on your preferences.
Key Ingredients
- Unsweetened Almond Milk: Feel free to sub in some soy milk or coconut beverage in here for creamier consistency
- Medjool Dates: Add an almost caramel flavor to your hot chocolate along with the natural sweetness
- Cocoa Powder: Make sure it’s unsweetened
- Peppermint Extract: A festive addition, but feel free to sub in vanilla extract if you aren’t a fan of peppermint
- Almond Butter: Make sure it’s a runny
Make it extra cozy with some of the following toppings
- Vegan Marshmallows
- Shaved Chocolate
- Vegan Whipped Cream
Tips for making this peppermint hot chocolate
- All you need to do is blend up all the ingredients. Just make sure you blend it enough to make sure all the dates have been blended well. If you are using a weaker blender, I do recommend straining it through a mesh strainer to catch any chunks that might have been missed.
- Not a fan of peppermint? Totally okay. Just swap for some vanilla extract.
- You can use other plant based milks, but stick to ones that you know tend to be more creamy. If it is a milk that isn’t creamy, consider adding another scoop of almond butter to help make it a little creamier.
- Nut allergy? No problem. Opt for a seed butter like sunflower seed butter.
- To bring out a little more of the sweet and bitter cocoa flavors, I do recommend adding a touch of salt to your hot chocolate mix. Just trust me on this! You don’t need a lot, just a pinch to bring out these notes.
More Chocolate Goodness
- Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Cowboy Cookies
- Easy Vegan Mug Brownie
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: American
Description
A delicious, creamy peppermint hot chocolate that is healthy for you. Made with almond butter and sweetened with dates, this is a must try!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 3 soft medjool dates
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1–2 heaping tbsp of almond butter
- 2–3 drops peppermint extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat up your almond milk in the microwave for about 2 minutes or heat on the stove top until heated through making sure to stir so your milk doesn’t burn.
- Add hot milk, medjool dates, cocoa powder, almond butter, peppermint extract and salt to a high speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth.
- Pour into your favorite mugs and enjoy as is or add extras to your hearts content.
Notes
If you are using a weaker blender, I do recommend straining it through a mesh strainer to catch any chunks that might have been missed.
If your medjool dates are not soft, heat them up in the almond milk to soften.
Did You Try This Recipe?
Then let me know what you thought! Share your creations by tagging me on Instagram with the hashtag #plantbasedrdeats
★ Catherine
