Cozy Peppermint Hot Chocolate
There’s something about a steaming mug of hot chocolate that makes the Christmas season feel complete.
Add a swirl of whipped cream, a sprinkle of crushed peppermint, and a cozy place to curl up with a book, and you have my idea of a nearly perfect winter afternoon.
This Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe is especially meaningful to me because it was inspired by Christmas on White Mountain—the very first story I wrote as May North.
A Little Trip Back to White Mountain
Christmas on White Mountain holds a special place in my heart.
The story follows Sally as she heads to her family's mountain cabin for Christmas during a season that looks very different from the holiday she imagined. Instead of the picture-perfect Christmas she had hoped for, Sally finds herself facing heartbreak, unexpected family secrets, and the difficult realization that life doesn't always follow the plans we make.
But tucked among the snowy mountains, warm fires, and charm of the little town of Pearl, Sally also begins to discover something else: the possibility of a new beginning.
That's one of the things I've always loved about Christmas stories.
They can be filled with twinkling lights, snow-covered streets, cozy cabins, and mugs of something warm—but beneath all of that coziness, they're often stories about hope.
And sometimes hope arrives when we least expect it.
A Cozy Drink for a Snowy Mountain Christmas
Whenever I imagine Sally at the cabin on White Mountain, I can picture her wrapping both hands around a warm mug while snow falls outside the windows.
That's exactly the feeling I wanted this recipe to capture.
Rich chocolate makes it wonderfully indulgent, while peppermint gives it that unmistakable Christmas flavor. Top it with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and suddenly an ordinary cup of hot chocolate feels like something you'd order from a tiny café in a snow-covered mountain town.
Best of all, it's incredibly simple to make.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Makes: 2 cozy mugs
Prep & Cook Time: About 10 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups whole milk (or your preferred milk alternative)
½ of heavy cream
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or to taste)
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Whipped cream or Marshmallow (for topping - optional)
Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies (for topping - optional)
Directions
Heat the Milk and Cream: In a small saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream over medium heat. Stir occasionally until it’s hot but not boiling.
Add the Chocolate: Lower the heat and whisk in the chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and sugar. Stir continuously until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
Add Peppermint extract: Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract. Be careful not to add too much, as peppermint extract is very strong.
Serve: Pour the hot chocolate into 2 mugs and top with whipped cream, if desired. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top for a festive touch.
*Feel free to adjust the sweetness or peppermint intensity to your liking!
Make It a White Mountain Reading Night
If you want to turn this recipe into an entire cozy experience, make yourself a mug, grab your softest blanket, and settle into your favorite reading chair with Christmas on White Mountain.
For a little extra White Mountain atmosphere, turn down the lights, switch on the Christmas tree, light a pine or vanilla-scented candle, and put on some soft Christmas music.
And if you're lucky enough to have snow falling outside?
Even better.
A Sweet Reminder of Where It All Began
Every book has its own memories attached to it, but there's something especially meaningful about the first one.
For me, Christmas on White Mountain represents the beginning of May North and the cozy, heartwarming stories I've continued writing ever since—stories about small towns, family, friendship, second chances, unexpected romance, and women discovering that a new chapter can begin at any age.
That's why this Peppermint Hot Chocolate feels like the perfect recipe to celebrate it.
It's simple. It's nostalgic. It's wonderfully Christmasy.
And it makes me want to escape to a little cabin on a snowy mountain, curl up beside a roaring fire, and stay there until spring.
So this Christmas season, pour yourself a mug, grab a cozy book, and enjoy a little taste of White Mountain.
Happy reading—and Merry Christmas!