Now that the season of pumpkin spice and leftover Halloween candy is over, it’s time to look toward the most iconic Christmas flavor: peppermint. From candy canes, to mints, to limited-time coffee flavors, peppermint shows up just about everywhere you turn, and for good reason. Anything with even the tiniest bit of peppermint is bound to be delicious, so why not put it in everything? So, if you’re ready to get in the holiday spirit, grab some peppermint extract and candy canes during your next grocery trip, and get ready to drown yourself in homemade peppermint treats!
peppermint hot chocolate
Of course, what are the holidays without hot chocolate? If you’re not a coffee drinker, hot chocolate becomes a morning and evening staple during winter. If you are a coffee drinker, it’s still a delicious treat while hanging up Christmas decorations with the family. There is no wrong way to make or enjoy hot chocolate. The simplest way to incorporate peppermint into it would be to add peppermint extract to a mug of hot chocolate mix and milk and stir it all together. Hot chocolate connoisseurs might start from scratch with melted chocolate, heavy cream, sugar, and milk, adding the extract to the rest of the ingredients. Either way, the amount of peppermint extract is up for personal preference. Make sure to grab a candy cane as a stir stick – this is non-negotiable!
Candy Cane Cookies
As expected, these cookies are not your ordinary run-of-the-mill cookies. With the look and the taste of a candy cane, they are on the list of the most Christmas-y peppermint treats. Unlike regular round cookies, candy cane cookies are made by twisting two strands of cookie dough together and shaping them in the signature cane shape. If you go the extra mile, adding some red food coloring in one of the twisted strands helps perfectly recreate the iconic candy cane colors.
Peppermint Mocha
With the average Starbucks drink being $7 (joking…but also not really), trying out the limited-edition peppermint drinks is not always feasible. Luckily, mochas are easy to make at home. You only need a shot of expresso, milk, cocoa powder, and sugar. To make a peppermint mocha, add ¼ tsp. of peppermint extract, and you’re good to go! If you’re feeling fancy, whipped cream and crushed candy canes will make it worthy of starring on your Instagram story.
PEPPERMINT BARK
On the surface, this might seem intimidating. Peppermint bark is probably the fanciest-looking Christmas treat there is. It’s elegant, sweet, and easy to eat. However, it is deceptively easy to make. All it takes is regular chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes for that extra kick. After melting the milk chocolate in the microwave, smooth it out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and stick it in the fridge for a few minutes. Then, melt the white chocolate, mix in the peppermint extract, layer it on top of the milk chocolate, and repeat the fridge process. It is that simple!