Recipes

Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Name: Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 cups hot water; 1/3 cup cashews; 2-3 Medjool dates, (pitted); 2 1/2 tablespoon cocoa, (or more to taste); 1/8-1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, (to taste); Small pinch of salt

A cozy vegan peppermint hot cocoa made in the blender. This easy hot cocoa is sweetened with dates and made creamy with cashews. It’s the perfect nutritious drink to enjoy around the holidays.

I’ve been making this drink for years, inspired by my peppermint mocha (minus the coffee) and I thought it was time to give it its own post. This recipe is incredibly simple. All you need is 5 ingredients, 5 minutes and a blender.

If you prefer a latte over a hot cocoa, you can find my peppermint mocha recipe here. It’s just as delicious!

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Ingredient Notes:

Cashews: These are blended in the water to make this hot cocoa creamy without the need to warm up milk.
Dates: Use Medjool dates for the best results. These are softer and sweeter than regular dates. You can also use a liquid or granulated sugar to taste if preferred.
Cocoa Powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder. You can add more for a darker chocolate flavor.
Peppermint Oil: You can adjust the amount for a lighter or stronger peppermint flavor.
Salt: Just a small pinch to balance the sweetness.

How to Make a Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa in the Blender:

Here are the simple steps to make a peppermint hot cocoa at home.

Heat the Water
I use a kettle to boil the water. You could use a saucepan but be careful when pouring the hot liquid in the blender.
Blend
Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, including the hot water. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. There shouldn’t be any noticeable pieces of dates or cashews.

Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa FAQ:

Why is This Hot Cocoa Made With Water Instead of Milk?

You don’t need to use any milk in this recipe as the cashews get blended in the water to create a homemade cashew milk. Don’t worry, this hot cocoa is still very creamy! That being said, I sometimes like to add a splash of full-fat coconut milk if I have any leftovers. It makes it extra creamy. You can try the recipe with warm plant-based milk instead of water if you want.

What is the Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate?

Many use the terms interchangeably, but hot cocoa is actually a drink made from cocoa powder, sugar and milk. On the other hand, hot chocolate is made of finely chopped or shaved chocolate melted in hot water, milk or cream. Hot chocolate is thicker and doesn’t usually have added sugar as the chocolate is sweet already.

Will This Recipe Work With a Weaker Blender?

Unfortunately not. You do need a good blender to get the creamy finish. If your blender is on the weaker side, you might have some small date and cashew pieces floating in your drink. You don’t want that! Your options: You can try soaking your cashews overnight and letting your dates soak in boiling water for 5 minutes. You can also replace the dates with a liquid or granulated sweetener and the cashews for cashew butter (about 1-2 tablespoons). The results won’t be the same though. For a tested recipe that doesn’t require a strong blender, I recommend this salted maple hot cocoa.

More Vegan Hot Cocoa Recipes:

Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa Video:

Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa

A cozy vegan peppermint hot cocoa made in the blender. This easy hot cocoa is sweetened with dates and made creamy with cashews. It's the perfect nutritious drink to enjoy around the holidays.

Course Drinks

Cuisine vegan

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings 2

Ingredients

3 cups hot water
1/3 cup cashews
2-3 Medjool dates, pitted
2 1/2 tablespoon cocoa, or more to taste
1/8-1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, to taste
Small pinch of salt

Instructions

Boil your water using a kettle.
Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, including the hot water. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. There shouldn't be any noticeable pieces of dates or cashews.
Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

I used a Vitamix to make this recipe. This blender is strong enough to blend cashews without soaking them in advance. If your blender is on the weaker side, you may want to soak your cashews overnight or use cashew butter instead (about 1-2 tablespoons). You can also replace the dates with a liquid sweetener or granulated sugar to taste. This shouldn’t be an issue if you have a strong blender.

This recipe can easily be adjusted to your taste. Add more peppermint extract, cocoa powder and dates (or other sweetener) for a stronger and sweeter drink. I love using 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, but you can start with 1/8 if you want a lighter peppermint flavor.

If you make this peppermint hot cocoa, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!