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If you love Starbucks Peppermint Mochas, but hate the price, check out this delicious copycat recipe!
We're super excited about an amazing KitchenAid giveaway! Actually, it's beyond amazing, their spectacular KitchenAid® Pro Line® Series Espresso Maker in Candy Apple Red - and it could be yours. The giveaway guidelines are explained below, but we'd love to give you a little peek into how this beautiful machine operates. Scott, with our son Nick, put together a short video, featuring the espresso maker and my favorite seasonal coffee drink, peppermint mocha.
The only place I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying a peppermint mocha is at Starbucks, but at more than $4 a pop (cha-ching!), I have to restrain myself, as our budget just doesn't allow frequent coffee indulgences. Until now, that is.
Earlier this season, while still anticipating the first beloved chocolate and peppermint coffee drink, I got an idea. Why not figure out how to make these delicious drinks at home? Although I have an espresso maker that makes a wonderful peppermint mocha, my challenge was to develop a recipe that didn't require fancy, expensive equipment.
I started out with Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha description:
A holiday classic made with our signature espresso, steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup. It's all topped off with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.
That was a great start! They use two different sauces; a sweet mocha sauce and a peppermint flavored syrup. I did a bit of googling, tried a few different recipes and came up with my own versions. You'll find the recipes below. The mocha sauce is wonderful drizzled on ice cream and makes wonderful hot chocolate when combined with milk and heated. Add a splash of the peppermint syrup and you've got a delicious Peppermint hot cocoa, yum!
Is steamed milk simply hot milk?
Now for the steamed milk. Is steamed milk simply hot milk? No, not really. Steaming milk with an espresso machine does make it hot, but it also creates foam (microfoam) or tiny bubbles. Can this be done without an espresso machine? Yup! There are actually a few ways to steam milk without fancy equipment. One of the easiest ways is to purchase an inexpensive handheld "frother". It's battery operated and all you do is place in warm milk and give it whirrrr.
There are also fairly inexpensive frothers that both heat and froth the milk. This Kuissential Deluxe frother is rated really well on Amazon. But guess what? You can create steamed milk in a clean empty glass jar! Yup, that's all you need. Just fill the jar halfway full and shake, shake, shake until the foam has double in volume (30-60 seconds). Then remove the lid and warm the milk for 30 seconds in the microwave. The heat will actually stabilize the foam! Cool, huh?
Espresso without a fancy machine
Espresso is hard to duplicate. It's a fairly precise science, although there are some amazingly simple espresso machines that do all the work for you. We love the beautiful KitchenAid Proline Espresso Maker you see in the pictures, but on busy days (that would be most days) we use our KitchenAid Nespresso Maker. Just slip in the pod, push the button and delicious espresso appears right before your eyes! It comes with its own Aeroccino milk frother so it's super easy to make all the fancy coffee drinks at home. If you have a coffee lover on your Christmas list, this would make a lovely gift!
Don't want to invest that much? How about authentic, delicious espresso at home every day for less than $25? This stove top espresso maker works great and produces velvety espresso in less than 5 minutes.
No espresso maker and you don't want to invest in one? You're okay on this front too. You can still enjoy peppermint mochas. It won't be exactly the same, but it will still be delicious. Just brew coffee in a regular pot using fine grounds and twice as much coffee as normal. Brew the coffee and make your peppermint mochas immediately after brewing according to the directions below.
So there you have it! The syrups are super simple to make and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. You'll find lots of other ways to use them, so they probably won't last that long. They'd make a fun gift for the coffee lover on your list. Just find some fun, pretty bottles and fill them up!
The Giveaway has been completed
P.S. By the way, Nick who's our coffee aficionado (aka coffee snob) says this Peppermint Mocha is better than Starbucks!
- 2 tablespoons Mocha Sauce see recipe
- 1 tablespoon Peppermint Syrup see recipe
- 3 ounces espresso or strong coffee see blog post for different ways to make espresso
- 8 ounces steamed milk see blog post for ways to create steamed milk
- whipped cream
- crushed peppermint chocolate curls mini chocolate chips or a dusting of cocoa powder
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Combine Mocha Sauce and Peppermint Syrup in a 12-ounce cup or mug
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Add espresso
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Steam milk and add to cup.
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Garnish with whipped cream
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Sprinkle with crushed peppermint, chocolate curls, mini chocolate chips or a dusting of cocoa powder
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Serve and enjoy!
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup coffee or water
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
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In a medium size sauce pan, whisk together the sugar and the cocoa powder.
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Slowly add the coffee (or water), whisking continually until all liquid has been added and mixture is smooth.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Watch pot very carefully, as you will have a huge mess if you walk away and mixture boils over. (Don’t ask me how I know this!) Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
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Cool completely then transfer to an airtight jar or bottle. Store in refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using in coffee drinks.
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Combine water and sugar in a medium size pot and stir well. Bring mixture to a rolling boil over medium high heat. Stir to make sure all sugar is dissolved.
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Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Allow to cool, then store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before using in coffee drinks.
Anne Murphy says
family family family!!!!
Lee Ann Newman says
My favorite thing about the holidays is the company of my family & friends, the wonderful food and the cheerfulness of holiday decorations and lights.
Lois Klarenbach says
I just love Christmas and all the holiday Celebrations. Especially singing Carols and baking cookies and squares and Christmas Cake! During Advent awaiting the arrival of Our Christ on Christmas Eve is the most beloved of all things! Merry Christmas to All of you!
Jen says
I love spending time with family!
Kelly says
Watching my seven-year-old Grandson Andrew gazing at the decorated Christmas tree is my favorite thing during this holiday season. There is such wonderment and anticipation in his beautiful brown eyes.
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
Love this beautiful drink! I don't ever buy them out - but would love to drink one from time to time. Great recipe!
Julie Humpton says
I love having my 3 sons all home for Christmas, 2 being in college. I love that they get an itch to bake that is done when their sweet tooth strikes say at midnight, making the house smell so glorious!
dorothy says
My favorite thing about this time of year is the family getting together and just enjoying the season. It doesn't have to be about the gifts just being together. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Susan says
Oh, Chris. I love this on so many different levels! First of all, your posts always make me smile. You write with such enthusiasm and I love that your whole family gets involved too. Second, which is what I enjoy most about this time of year., family gatherings! There is no other time of year when excitement is higher and smiles are bigger. I adore cappuccino, especially in the winter! I would love to be able to serve a festive cappuccino or peppermint mocha to my family. Third, my favorite color is red!
Jean says
Made your tortilla soup yesterday...about 2 feet of snow has fallen in the past couple of days, the soup really hit the spot!
Allison McLean says
What do I love most about this year? As a musician, I would have to say that the music of the season stirs my heart and makes me reflective about the meaning of the season! I love playing in a a candlelit space, watching the guests in their finery, seeing the sparkling lights. It is truly magical. On a more personal side, I love the time with my family and remembering the many wonderful memories we have made through the years.
Susan says
Having the kids come home.
Wanda says
The Christmas season is my favorite time of the year because my busy young adult kids are home and we share meals.....relax and play together while catching up on all that's happening in life!
Dana says
This is my favorite Starbucks treat! Thanks for sharing the recipe -- love your new site too!
Syd says
My favorite part about the holiday season is having extra time to spend with family.
Judi Dose says
Love December, decorations all over , ice candles
Christine says
Yummy delicious Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha - time of the year to drink that. Christmas is a season to enjoy with families and to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Cheryl S says
Cookies, trees and family are so very important this time of year.
Laura says
YUM! Some of my favoite flavors together - chocolate and pepermint! Love, Love, Love. I love Christmas baking. Makes me think of my Mom - and the coffeecakes, cookies, noodles... she used to make. The recipes I have in her handwriting are so precious to me. 🙂
Julie Gilbert says
Baking and giving old fashioned Christmas cookies in vintage tins!
Brenda says
My favorite thing about this season is family and the warm wonderful feeling you get when we are together. The prep is a benefit that can't be beat. This Peppermint Mocha may need to be added this year. Yum!
Julie Gilbert says
One of my favorite things about Christmas is baking and giving old fashioned Christmas cookies in vintage tims.
Marygrace says
Seeing how excited my kids get about holiday traditions is my favorite thing about the holidays...
Queenie Hamilton says
Celebrating Christmas brings the gifts of warm memories of family and friends long gone.
Noel says
Candy Apple Red is my favorite color!
Espresso is one of my favorite drinks!
Free prizes are my favorite gift!
LOL This is an awesome treat - both the espresso machine and the copycat recipe. I'll be making up a batch of peppermint mochas this afternoon when my daughter visits.