Skinny Peppermint Mocha

This Skinny Peppermint Mocha is the perfect, healthier recreation of your favorite Starbucks holiday drink, that not only tastes just as good, but is much more affordable too. You don't need any fancy equipment or unique ingredients to make this on! And it’s vegan, low calorie, gluten-free and paleo friendly too!

Finding healthier swaps and low calorie versions of high fat and high calorie foods is my obsession. Lately, I’ve been focusing more on tweaking and modifying my favorite holiday recipes so we can all enjoy our favorites during the season.

These healthy holiday cookies are always huge hits, and these peppermint hot chocolate cookies are the star of the show every time I make them. I love trying out healthy low calorie holiday recipes that pack in all the flavor, but are still better for you, and this healthy peppermint mocha is the newest addition! 

Why You’ll Love This Skinny Peppermint Mocha Recipe

• Healthier: If you’re like me and like the Starbucks peppermint mocha, you’ll fall in love with this skinny version, which is just around 40 calories for a serving.
• Easy to make: It’s super easy to make! You’ll need just 10 minutes in the kitchen to whip it up. It’s perfect for those cold, lazy days. 
• Great for holidays: You get that bittersweet chocolate flavor and a hint of peppermint along with your caffeine in this delicious cup. It’s just the perfect drink to make and enjoy during the holidays.
• Customizable: It’s super customizable too. Based on your personal preferences, you can experiment with different milk bases, natural sweeteners, and toppings to jazz it up. 

Ingredients

• Espresso: You’ll need a 2 ounce shot of espresso. If you don't have an espresso machine you can make it using instant espresso. Just follow the package directions to make it. Another option is to replace it with a half cup of coffee.
• Milk: Use any kind of plant-based milk of your choice here. Almond milk is my all-time favorite, but you can use coconut milk, oat milk, or even dairy milk if you want.
• Cocoa powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder here. Choose the best quality you can get your hands on for the best flavor. 
• Stevia: I used stevia to sweeten the drink. You could totally use any other natural sweetener of your choice. Maple syrup and agave work well too. 
• Peppermint extract: Just a dash, for that beautiful minty flavor that’s reminiscent of the holidays. If you don’t have peppermint extract, use mint extract instead. Just don't add too much as the flavor is quite intense.
• Toppings: Choose from the toppings of your choice like crushed peppermint candy, Reddi Whip or mini chocolate chips.  

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

• Decaf: To make a decaf version of this peppermint coffee, swap the espresso shot for half a cup of decaf brew coffee instead. 
• Iced peppermint mocha: You can also make skinny iced peppermint mocha by chilling the milk and espresso mixture in the refrigerator and then serve it over ice.
• Add some protein: To bump up the protein content of the drink, you can reduce the amount of cocoa powder you’re using, and add some chocolate flavored protein powder into the mix. Note it will most likely change the flavor and possibly texture a bit.

How to Make a Skinny Peppermint Mocha

To make the skinny peppermint coffee drink, start by getting all your ingredients ready. 

Step 1: Prepare cocoa mixture. Combine the milk, cocoa powder, peppermint extract and stevia in a saucepan.

Step 2: Cook until uniform. Stir and cook over medium heat for a few minutes until the cocoa powder has completely dissolved, and the liquid becomes bubbly.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy your peppermint mocha as-is whenever you need that caffeine kick or just want to treat yourself to a little something that has those beautiful holiday flavors. 

I love teaming it up with some other fall and winter inspired sweet treats like gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip zucchini muffins, or a slice of low calorie cheesecake. 

I also love having it with my healthy apple cinnamon pancakes for breakfast, or with a savory breakfast like a healthy egg bake, or my favorite red pepper and zucchini frittata. 

Expert Tips

• Quicker method: To save time, use some skinny peppermint mocha coffee creamer along with your coffee shot. Similar flavor but less work since you can make it ahead of time.
• Low and slow: Use a whisk to get the cocoa mixture to a smooth and uniform consistency. Remember to keep the heat medium-low as high heat can cause the mixture to burn.
• Make a double batch: You can easily increase the ingredients to make peppermint mochas for more than one. Or even make a batch to save for later!
• Storing: If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat the leftovers in a saucepan over medium heat until it has warmed through, or in the microwave.

Recipe FAQs

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