When the temperature drops, cozy up with this homemade Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. It tastes just like the one at your local coffee shop—maybe even better!
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For more homemade Starbucks drinks, try my Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, Caramel Brulee Latte, or Lotus Biscoff Latte.
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
Made with a handful of simple ingredients, this copycat recipe is so close to the original that I can't tell the difference. It has the perfect balance of peppermint and chocolate flavor.
It costs a fraction of the price you would pay at your local Starbucks, and you can control the ingredients that go in it. That's a win-win in my books!
Ingredients to make Peppermint Mocha
- Sweet mocha sauce made with cocoa, white sugar, and hot water. You can also use chocolate syrup.
- Espresso made with Starbucks Espresso coffee beans in my espresso machine. You can also use strong coffee, regular coffee, or instant coffee.
- Peppermint simple syrup is made with a 2:1 ratio of water and sugar, along with mint extract.
- Milk. I used 2% milk, but you can use 1% milk, nonfat milk, whole milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream. You can also use non-dairy milk like oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. The less fat the milk has, the foamier it gets.
- Optional toppings of whipped cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate shavings, chocolate curls, mini chocolate chips, or decorate with a crushed candy cane.
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
How To Make Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
This recipe makes one serving of 354 mL (Tall size). If making Venti size, double all of the ingredients.
Make Peppermint Simple Syrup
Combine 1 cup of water and ½ cup of white sugar in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium-low heat until the sugar is dissolved, just barely bring it to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon of peppermint extract.
Assemble The Peppermint Mocha
- Make the mocha sauce by combining cocoa, sugar, and hot water in a mug.
- Add 2 tablespoons of peppermint syrup and 1 shot of espresso over the mocha syrup. Use a whisk or frother and stir until combined.
- Pour ½ cup of frothed hot milk over the coffee mixture.
- Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired. Enjoy!
Three Ways To Make Frothed Milk At Home
- If you have a milk frother that also heats, froth the milk until hot.
- Add the milk to a small saucepan and whisk constantly over medium-high heat until frothy and steaming.
- Heat milk in a microwave until hot, stirring occasionally. Whisk until frothy.
Variations
- Iced peppermint mocha: Serve cold espresso over ice with mocha sauce, cooled peppermint syrup, and frothed milk or cold foam.
- Minty: Add a sprinkle of mint chocolate chips on top.
- White chocolate peppermint: Use white chocolate syrup instead of regular chocolate syrup.
- Nutella: Add a spoonful of Nutella to your mocha.
- Skinny peppermint mocha: Use a sugar-free sweetener like Stevia and skim milk, and omit the whipped cream topping.
Serving Suggestions
This peppermint mocha is delicious any time of the day. Have it in the morning with an Oven-Baked Omelet Casserole or Buttermilk Belgian Waffles.
Or in the afternoon with Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, or Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars.
Recipe Tips
- Add extra peppermint simple syrup to increase the sweetness and peppermint flavor.
- For more than one serving, go to the servings section of the recipe card below and slide the indicator to how many servings you want - the recipe card will automatically adjust.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, this peppermint mocha is gluten-free.
Yes, peppermint mocha is a coffee drink that contains espresso, milk, chocolate, and peppermint syrup.
If you don't have an espresso maker, you can still make coffee using a coffee maker. Brew coffee a bit stronger than you normally would.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
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Recipe
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
Ingredients
Peppermint Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
Peppermint Mocha
- 1 tablespoon cocoa unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot/boiling water
- 1 ounce espresso
- 2 tablespoon peppermint simple syrup
- ½ cup milk heated and frothed
- Optional Toppings: Whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, or chocolate shavings.
Instructions
Make Peppermint Simple Syrup
- Heat 1 cup of water and ½ cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in one tablespoon of peppermint extract. (Store syrup in a jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks).
Assemble the Peppermint Mocha
- Whisk 1 tablespoon of cocoa, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of hot/boiling water in the bottom of a mug.
- Whisk in 2 tablespoons of peppermint syrup and one ounce of espresso.
- Pour frothed milk over the coffee mixture and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- Add extra peppermint simple syrup to increase the sweetness and peppermint flavor.
- For more than one serving, go to the servings section of the recipe card below and slide the indicator to how many servings you want - the recipe card will automatically adjust.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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