Peppermint Patty Cocktail

Looking for a delicious warm drink to serve this winter? The Peppermint Patty Cocktail is it! Calling for just three ingredients, this simple hot cocoa cocktail is minty, sweet and perfect for all occasions, like hot chocolate met a peppermint pattie.

 

There is something so comforting about a mug of cocoa, and it’s because it takes me back to the chilly days of my childhood, sipping cocoa and keeping warm after being outside in the snow.

This Peppermint Patty drink has the same sense memory… but is a little different because it involves adult beverages… and also peppermint.

Peppermint Patty Cocktail

The name of this drink is a reference to the famous chocolate-covered after-dinner mints that we all know and love. Why? It tastes like one—and it’s delightful!

Chocolate and peppermint go together so well, and this winter cocktail celebrates just that. 

It’s sweet—but not too sweet—and the perfect sipper to serve after dinner.

So whether you’re hosting family or guests for a holiday gathering or just want a nice post-dinner seasonal cocktail, this is an excellent choice.

Ingredients

This Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate recipe is perfect for wintertime occasions.

I will note that it requires some specialty ingredients that you will need to find at your local liquor store, but once you have them, you can mix one of these whenever the mood strikes. (You can also make a larger batch, if you’re serving lots of folks. More on that below.)

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Hot cocoa or hot chocolate—you need this to serve as the base of your peppermint patty cocktail. Feel free to make homemade hot cocoa or use your favorite store-bought mix to make this recipe easy as pie.
• Peppermint schnapps—this is what is giving the peppermint flavor to the drink! A little goes a long way. Schnapps is a distilled spirit that can be flavored, which is why you’ll find various renditions of it. Peppermint schnapps obviously has peppermint flavoring added.
• White chocolate liqueur—this adds extra chocolate flavor to our drink. While it does not have a high alcohol content, it provides subtle white chocolate flavor and vanilla, which infuses with the hot chocolate. 

Garnishes

Here are a few ideas of what you can use to garnish your peppermint patty cocktails:

• Chocolate shavings
• Chocolate chips
• Sweetened whipped cream
• A whole candy cane
• Crushed candy canes 
• Chocolate syrup
• Peppermint whipped cream
• Chocolate whipped cream

How to Make a Peppermint Patty Cocktail

Make the hot cocoa. In a microwave-safe glass, combine the ingredients to make a single 6 oz. serving of hot cocoa. Heat until warm.

It is important to note that you will heat the cocoa by itself. If you stir all the ingredients together and then heat them, some of the alcohol will cook off.

Pour in the peppermint schnapps and white chocolate liqueur. Stir to combine.

Top with whipped cream, crushed candy canes, chocolate shavings, etc.

Enjoy immediately!

Making for a Crowd

If you don’t want to mix individual Peppermint Patty Cocktail drinks, make this for a crowd by mixing and keeping your hot cocoa warm in the slow cooker.

To make 8 drinks, pour 6 cups of milk into the slow cooker with the appropriate amount of hot cocoa mix. Let it warm.

Set out the peppermint schnapps and white chocolate liqueur. Print out how to make this cocktail below.

Let guests serve themselves individual portions in mugs, as well as garnish their own drinks.

Peppermint Patty Cocktail Variations

• Use peppermint schnapps in other ways. Peppermint is an excellent addition to a cocktail. It’s delicious in a Peppermint White Russian, too.
• Use creme de menthe. Peppermint schnapps has a stronger mint flavor than creme de menthe. Also, creme de menthe is sweeter and thicker than peppermint schnapps, but it would still taste great in this cocktail.
• Chocolate liqueur instead. If you have that on hand, you can switch it up and use regular chocolate liqueur instead of the white chocolate.

More Winter Cocktails

• White Chocolate Martini
• Holiday Whiskey Fizz
• Spiked Caramel Apple Cider
• Easy Gin Cocktails