Meet the perfect holiday drink: a homemade mocha peppermint latte. It’s super easy to make with brewed coffee, peppermint extract, and your favorite milk. And dare I say? It’s even better than Starbucks and much healthier. Let’s make this classic holiday drink together.
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I thought this would be my year for planning ahead and being fully prepared for the holiday season. So far, we’ve made lovely homemade teacher gifts, but that’s about it. And to complicate my to-do list, we’re leaving in just four days for a three week road and cruise trip. I’ve spent the last week making lists and checking them twice. There are so many details that go into planning for the holidays, and then leaving over the holidays (with two kids!).
So, today, I’m sitting down with you to just breathe. Of course, taking a deep breath is calming and relaxing, but when that deep breath is paired with a coffee-house style drink…pure bliss!
By now it’s probably evident that I have a “thing” for fancy coffee-house style drinks. I love making iced chai lattes, hot chai lattes, pumpkin spice lattes, and matcha drinks at home. SO easy and so much cheaper.
The irony in that statement is that I never order fancy coffee drinks when we’re out. When we visit a coffee shop, I always go for a black coffee. Yep, no cream, sugar, or milk; just black coffee. Pretty boring.
It’s not that I don’t want to order one of those over-the-top-loaded-with-flavor-drinks, it’s just that most of the ingredients used to make those drinks give me a crippling headache. I’m incredibly sensitive to the processed flavorings and other imitation ingredients used in popular beverages. And that’s why I’m so keen on recreating these drinks at home. There’s a growing inventory of homemade coffee-house style drinks here on Live Simply: pumpkin spice latte, matcha latte, chai latte, frappuccino-style drink, and a turmeric latte.
The month of December is the perfect time to add another drink to this ever-growing list.
Let me introduce you to my Homemade Mocha Peppermint Latte.
Do you remember the peppermint extract we used to make the no-bake cookie bites last week? Well, with that same peppermint extract, and a bit of cocoa powder, freshly-brewed coffee, maple syrup, and milk, a minty latte may be recreated at home. Simple, right?!
Honestly, I think this is my favorite homemade latte so far. There’s just something so refreshing about mint and chocolate mixed with caffeine.
Sip.
Breathe.
Pure bliss.
Homemade Mocha Peppermint Latte
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup freshly-brewed coffee
- 3/4 cup whole milk dairy-free milk will also work: coconut, almond, or cashew milk
- 2 TB pure maple syrup honey or coconut sugar will also work*
- 1 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp pure peppermint extract
- dollop homemade whipped cream (optional)
- organic natural-dye peppermint candy canes crushed (optional)
Instructions
- Brew the coffee. You may desire more coffee, so make a little extra if desired. Set the coffee aside.
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, warm the milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract. Whisk the ingredients until the milk begins to bubble on the sides. Turn off the heat.
- Use an immersion blender (like this) to create the milk froth. Place the immersion blender in the warm milk mixture, and pulse until the milk is frothy. This is the secret to creating a homemade latte without an expensive machine. This little gadget is also perfect for pureeing homemade soups in the winter. If you don’t have a immersion blender, vigorously whisk the milk in the saucepan as the bubbles begin to form (while heating the milk).
- Pour the frothy milk into a large coffee mug. Carefully pour the coffee over the frothy milk.
- Top the latte with homemade whipped cream and crushed peppermint candies, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Favorite Homemade Coffee Shop Drinks
- How to Make Chai Concentrate With Tea Bags
- Ultimate Homemade Chai Tea Latte Recipe
- Iced Chai Tea Latte (Homemade Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
- Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate (Dairy or Dairy Free)
- Homemade Mocha Peppermint Latte
- How to Make a Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk)
- How to Make Homemade Coffee Creamer
- Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte Two Ways
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It is an amazing recipy! It also works with an espresso maker ,I used two shots of espresso and it tasted marvelous!
Yay, Davi! So glad you enjoyed the latte!
Hi! What is your go to coffee brand? Thanks!
Hey Vanessa, I love Coava brand.
I love this recipe!! I’ve been addicted to it this winter…and probably made it a few too many times. 🙂 Do you have a recipe for a caramel latte? And any suggestions on the best way to make them into an iced latte come summertime?
Hey Kristin, I have a frappucino recipe on the site: https://livesimply.me/2015/04/17/diy-frappuccino-like-real-food-drink/, but haven’t made an actual caramel latte, yet. I’ll add that to my list to try creating. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the latte :).
Hi Kristin this sounds delicious! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now, and have seen you use the immersion blender for a few recipes I wanted to try so I got one last year. I’ve had some accidents with it though. I use the cup it comes with but it doesn’t hold much and if I fill it to full it spills also if I don’t push the blender all the way down it spills. Can you use the blender directly in the pan or do you have to use it in the cup it comes with? i can’t wait to try this recipe but I’m a little intimidated by the blender part and tips would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Laura
Hi Laura, Kristin is travelling outside the country right now. I’ll give you my opinion and also alert her of your comment so she can come back and give you an official answer when she returns.
From reading the recipe, it seems that Kristin was using her immersion blender in her pan, but I would tell you to make that decision based on the type of pan you have. I personally wouldn’t use an immersion blender in a non-stick coated pan to avoid the risk of the blender damaging the non-stick coating. Hope that helps a bit.
I really wanted to make this, but didn’t have peppermint extract. I used peppermint essential oil instead – 1-2 drops is all it takes. Very yummy!
Yum, Sarah! I’m so glad you enjoyed the latte!