Recently a Starbucks moved in to the parking lot of the Meijer where I get my groceries. Then my sister tells me you can get almost any drink decaf. Needless to say, I've had a few run-ins with temptation. And my new favorite thing in the world is a Peppermint Mocha.
After paying $5 for a tall (aka small) a few times, I decided it was time to try it on my own. And I was surprised how good the result was! Not to mention I made it without sugar or dairy, since I am sensitive to both. The flavor didn't suffer a bit, but you could make it with regular milk and sugar and I'm sure it would be just as good. So without further adieu, here is my recipe for a quick and easy peppermint mocha at home, sugar and dairy optional:
Ingredients you'll need:
6-8 oz regular or decaf coffee, brewed to your taste
2 tsp powdered cocoa
pinch of sea salt
dash of cinnamon
splash of vanilla (forgot vanilla in the picture)
5-6 tsp maple syrup (insert equivalent of any other sweetener)
1/8 to 1/4 cup unsweetened Silk cashew milk (or milk of your preference)
1/2 to 1 drop peppermint essential oil
All you need is your teaspoon to measure, and a large coffee mug. If you're especially daring, you can eyeball it. But I just use the teaspoon to measure and stir it. Put the cocoa in the coffee cup. Add the salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Throw in the maple syrup and give everything a good stir until you have the smooth consistency of chocolate syrup.
This is the part you have to be careful with. You don't want more than 1 single drop of peppermint oil. If you don't want your peppermint taste to be anything more than a hint, you want a half drop, which you can get by putting a single drop in your teaspoon and using a paper towel to soak up some of it. Trust me, I've gotten a couple extra drops in there, and it was not as enjoyable. It was eye-opening, but not enjoyable so much.
Next add your milk to taste. Stir it up and then fill the rest of your cup with coffee. Give it one more stir.
It's as simple as that! If you're feeling naughty, add a touch of whipped cream and some shaved chocolate, and enjoy your much, much cheaper but delightful peppermint mocha!
Let me know what you think in the comments!
