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Home » Recipes » Christmas Recipes

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Published: Nov 20, 2021 · Modified: Aug 19, 2024 by Emma Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Too busy to drive to Starbucks this Christmas season, or do you just want a coffee that's free from unhealthy ingredients?  The answer: make your own Starbucks peppermint mocha at home with real food ingredients, and enjoy the Christmas flavors that you're craving.

If you love Starbucks' Christmas coffees, check out my copycat recipes for Starbucks eggnog latte and Starbucks gingerbread latte. Don't miss our collection of 9 copycat Starbucks recipes, too!

person holding a peppermint mocha
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Starbucks Copycat Drinks You'll Love
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for peppermint mocha

Fortunately, it doesn't take any fancy ingredients to make your own peppermint syrup and chocolate milk for this copycat Starbucks peppermint mocha! Let's discuss each key ingredient.

  • Peppermint Syrup: This is a simple syrup made from water and granulated sugar with real peppermint extract added for flavor.
  • Chocolate Milk: I used a combination of chocolate chips and cocoa powder for lots of chocolatey goodness, and a mixture of milk and cream for creaminess.
  • Espresso: Use freshly brewed espresso. If you don't have an espresso machine, use moka pot coffee (affiliate) instead.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Eating healthy?  Use coconut milk instead of dairy, substitute the sugar, or skip the whipped cream decoration.
  • Iced version? Make the recipe as written, but make sure the ingredients are chilled. Froth cold milk to pour on top for cold foam.
  • Frappuccino? Pour the drink into a blender and add 1 cup of crushed ice and ⅛ teaspoon of xanthan gum to emulsify. Blend until smooth.

How to Make Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Gather the ingredients for the Starbucks peppermint mocha.

making the peppermint syrup and the chocolate sauce.
  1. Make the peppermint syrup.  Whisk the sugar and water over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Remove from the heat, let it cool for 1 minute, and whisk in the extract. (image 1)
  2. Make the chocolate syrup. Heat the cream until it's barely simmering, then remove from the heat, add the chocolate chips, and whisk until it's smooth and melted. (image 2)
assembling the mocha and decorating it.
  1. Make the mocha. Pour 3 tablespoons of peppermint syrup, ¼ cup of chocolate syrup, ⅔ cup of coffee, and ⅔ cup of steamed milk into a glass and stir well. (image 3)
  2. Garnish with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a peppermint stick.  Enjoy while it's still hot! (image 4)

Recipe FAQs

Is Starbucks peppermint mocha seasonal?

Yes, it is a seasonal drink at Starbucks. It’s usually released in November, a few weeks before the start of the Christmas season. Fortunately, you can make your own at home anytime of year!

What is in a Starbucks peppermint mocha?

At Starbucks, it's a mixture of espresso, steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce, and peppermint syrup.  The baristas typically garnish it with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.  My recipe consists of coffee, homemade chocolate milk, and peppermint syrup.

How do I order a peppermint mocha from Starbucks?

Did you know that Starbucks keeps their peppermint syrup on hand year round? That means you can order a peppermint mocha anytime. Simply order a regular mocha with a pump or two of the peppermint syrup, and ask for chocolate chips on top.

Is there a peppermint mocha frappuccino at Starbucks?

Yes, there is! Simply ask your barista for the peppermint mocha frappuccino when you place your order.

Serve

If you love recreating your favorite coffee shop drinks at home, you'll need to try our copycat recipes for other Starbucks drinks! Try our fall favorite recipes for Starbucks apple crisp oatmilk macchiato, Starbucks salted caramel mocha, Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, and Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew.

If you're a fan of now-discontinued drinks, try this recipe for Starbucks smoked butterscotch latte. Get our recipe for the most popular drink at this coffee chain: Starbucks flat white. Try the flavors of this drink in pie form with this frozen peppermint pie.

doing a toast with two Starbucks peppermint mochas.

Expert Tips

  • Make it ahead.  You can make the syrup and chocolate milk ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 5-7 days.
  • Use full-fat milk for the best taste.
  • Blend the chocolate milk for 60 seconds to ensure that it's frothy and evenly mixed.
  • Make sure that the coffee is freshly brewed.  Coffee that's over 20 minutes old isn't fresh anymore.

Other Starbucks Copycat Drinks You'll Love

  • person holding a copycat Starbucks flat white
    Flat White Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
  • two salted caramel mocha lattes with spoons
    Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha
  • two slices of Starbucks pumpkin pepita loaf on a white plate
    Starbucks Pumpkin & Pepita Loaf
  • two glasses of pumpkin spice latte
    Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

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Recipe

two Starbucks peppermint mochas

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

This copycat Starbucks peppermint mocha is an easy Christmas coffee drink that’s the perfect peppermint treat to enjoy during the holiday season.  Make it hot or iced, and enjoy a taste of festive cheer!
5 from 3 votes
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Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 mocha
Calories: 472kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

For the Peppermint Syrup (Makes about ¾ Cup)

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup filtered water
  • ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

For the Chocolate Syrup (Makes about ⅔ Cup)

  • 2 ounces dark chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream

For the Mocha (14 fl oz or 416 ml)

  • 3 tablespoons mint syrup
  • ¼ cup chocolate syrup
  • ⅔ cup strong coffee, or ⅓ cup espresso
  • ⅔ cup whole milk, steamed

For Decorating One Mocha

  • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, optional
  • ½ teaspoon grated chocolate, optional
Keep your screen on while you work!

Instructions

Peppermint Syrup

  • Pour the sugar and water into a small saucepan over medium heat.  Stir until the sugar has fully dissolved.
  • Remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool for about 1 minute, then stir in the peppermint extract.  Set aside.

Chocolate Syrup

  • Heat the cream in a saucepan until it's barely simmering, then remove from the heat, add the chocolate chips, and whisk until the sauce is smooth and well combined.

Making the Mocha

  • Brew the coffee or espresso.
  • Pour 3 tablespoons of the mint syrup and ¼ cup of the chocolate milk into a mug.  Add ⅔ cup of coffee and ⅔ cup of steamed whole milk.  Stir well to combine.
  • Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.  Snip the corner off of a sandwich bag and slip a star piping nozzle into the corner to create a piping bag.  Spoon the whipped cream into the bag and pipe the cream in a mound on top of the mocha.
  • Use a fine cheese grater to grate some dark chocolate on top of the mocha.  Garnish with a candy cane and enjoy immediately.

Video

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use full-fat milk and freshly brewed coffee.
  • Blend the chocolate mixture for 60 seconds to ensure that it's evenly mixed.
  • Skinny Version: use coconut milk, substitute the sugar, and/or skip the whipped cream.
  • Iced Version: use cold brew coffee and serve over ice.
  • Frappuccino: Pour the drink into a blender and add 1 cup of crushed ice and ⅛ teaspoon of xanthan gum to emulsify. Blend until smooth.
  • Make Ahead: mix up the peppermint syrup and chocolate milk and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink (without whipping cream)Calories: 472kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 101g (34%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 6g (9%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mg (7%)Sodium: 154mg (7%)Potassium: 528mg (15%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 90g (100%)Vitamin A: 264IU (5%)Vitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 222mg (22%)Iron: 4mg (22%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

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« Copycat Starbucks Eggnog Latte
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Connie Sue Gault

    September 07, 2019 at 1:09 am

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this iced. You make it all sound so easy and your pictures with instructions and tips . Keep up the great blog, well done

    Reply
    • Emma

      September 07, 2019 at 8:12 am

      Thanks, Connie! I'm glad that you find it easy to make. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Alex

    September 01, 2019 at 3:16 pm

    5 stars
    I adore the bursting flavor of the chocolate and the peppermint in this hot drink!

    Reply
    • Emma

      September 01, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      Thank you, Alex! Chocolate and peppermint is always a fantastic flavor combination. 😊

      Reply
  3. Beth

    August 31, 2019 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    This drink is overflowing with the pure taste of Christmas. The peppermint and chocolate 🍫 go together nicely. The little chocolate shavings add tiny bursts of chocolate. Absolutely amazing 😉!

    Reply
    • Emma

      August 31, 2019 at 1:56 pm

      Thank you, Beth! I love the flavor combination of chocolate and peppermint. 🍬🍫

      Reply

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