Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Warm, Creamy Holiday Drink)
If you’ve been craving something warm, cozy, and sweet enough to make Santa do a double-take, buckle up — this Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate is about to become your new holiday obsession. It’s rich, minty, chocolatey, and requires approximately zero effort. Seriously, you toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away like the winter queen you are.
Why This Recipe is Awesome
This recipe is basically the holiday version of a warm hug. It’s creamy, dreamy, peppermint-kissed hot chocolate that cooks itself while you wrap gifts, decorate cookies, or contemplate how every December sneaks up on us.
Plus, it’s idiot-proof — even I didn’t mess it up, and that’s saying a LOT for a drink with melted chocolate involved.
Also: it makes your house smell like a chocolate shop mixed with a candy cane factory. You’re welcome.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Calories: ~320 per mug
Total Time: ~2 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 4 cups whole milk (go big or go home)
- 2 cups half-and-half or heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup sugar (adjust if you’re feeling angelic… or not)
- 1–2 tsp peppermint extract (start small — this stuff is powerful)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and crushed candy canes for topping
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add milk, half-and-half, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, and salt to your Crockpot. Yes, all at once. No need to impress anyone.
- Stir it well so nothing clumps up and pretends it doesn’t belong.
- Cook on LOW for about 2 hours, stirring every 30–40 minutes to help everything melt smoothly.
- Once the chocolate is fully melted and the drink is silky, stir in the peppermint extract. Taste it. Add more if you want stronger candy cane vibes.
- Switch the Crockpot to WARM and serve whenever you’re ready.
- Top each mug with marshmallows, whipped cream, crushed candy canes, or literally anything festive. Bonus points for chocolate drizzle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding too much peppermint extract. You want hot chocolate, not liquid toothpaste.
- Using skim milk. Please don’t. It will taste like sadness.
- Forgetting to stir during cooking. The chocolate will clump at the bottom and act like it pays rent there.
- Overheating the mixture. Low and slow is the vibe — don’t let it boil or it’ll get grainy.
Alternatives & Substitutions
- Swap semi-sweet chocolate with milk chocolate if you want it sweeter or darker chocolate for a richer flavor.
- Use oat or almond milk for a dairy-free version — just don’t blame me if it’s slightly less creamy.
- Add a splash of espresso for a peppermint mocha situation. Your morning coffee could never.
- Throw in crushed peppermint bark for extra holiday drama.
- Not a peppermint fan? Skip it entirely and enjoy classic Crockpot hot chocolate.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yep! Refrigerate and reheat slowly on LOW.
Can I keep it on warm all night?
Yes, as long as you stir occasionally. It’s hot chocolate, not a hostage.
Can I make it boozy?
Absolutely — peppermint schnapps or Baileys turns this into adult hot chocolate heaven.
Is peppermint extract the same as mint extract?
Nope. Peppermint is stronger and more candy-cane-ish. Mint tastes like toothpaste if you’re not careful.
Can I cut the sugar?
Sure, but then why are we here?
Why did mine turn grainy?
It probably overheated. Keep the Crockpot LOW and gentle.
Final Thoughts
This Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate is cozy, festive, and ridiculously easy — basically the holiday drink equivalent of wearing fuzzy socks while watching Christmas movies. It’s creamy, chocolatey, perfectly minty, and guaranteed to impress your guests… or just yourself.
So go ahead, pour a mug, top it generously, and enjoy the warm, pepperminty joy you just created. You earned this moment of holiday bliss.
