This rich and creamy Peppermint Mocha Martini blends the flavors of real mint leaves and fresh coffee and cream for a perfect winter treat. Tastier and more balanced than similar holiday beverages, enjoy a glass by the fire, or serve it up at your next party.
If you're looking to enjoy a drink that's rich in mocha with only a lightly mint flavor, this peppermint mocha cocktail is for you. Unlike other recipes that focus on mashing up candy canes and a strong peppermint schnapps flavor reminescient of toothpaste, this one emphasizes the mocha while using homemade mint simple syrup to add just a subtle hint of minty sweetness in the background.
🥰 Why you'll love this cocktail
- Flavored with real mint, this cocktail has a smooth, pure taste rather than a harsh, overwhelming peppermint flavor.
- It leans more toward chocolate than mint, which is perfect for those who enjoy the coffee and chocolate elements more than the peppermint.
- Enjoy as both a cocktail and a dessert when you top it off with whipped cream and line your glass with some melted chocolate.
For more winter cocktail inspiration, check out my recipes for an Amaretto Latte, Cold Brew Martinis, Smoked Negoni, and one of my favorites - a Baileys Eggnog. For beverages sans alcohol, you might like this Cranberry Orange Mocktail or a Gingerbread Mocktail.
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🍫 Ingredients
Here's everything you need to make this peppermint mocha martini recipe.
- Fresh mint and sugar for the simple syrup
- Espresso or coffee (not pictured)
- Espresso liqueur
- Vodka
- Cream or half and half
- Cocoa powder
- Chocolate (for optional garnish)
- Whipped cream (for optional topping)
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
🍬 Substitutions & Variations
- Dairy free: Use almond or oat milk creamer in place of the cream.
- Try it with Irish cream: Substitute 1 ½ ounces of Irish cream in place of the vodka and cream. Why not try it with some dairy free Irish cream?
- Instead of regular chocolate for the garnish, use peppermint bark.
- Add a crushed candy cane rim. Coat the edge of the glass with the simple syrup and then roll it around on a plate of crushed candy cane.
🌿 Instructions
How to make this peppermint mocha cocktail.
- Step 1: Add mint to a small saucepan with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes and roungly bruise the leaves with a spoon. Turn off the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Remove mint from the syrup and let cool.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, melt some chocolate on low heat in the microwave with a splash of milk or cream until soft. Drizzle the metled chocolate around your glass. This is optional. Feel free to skip.
- Step 3: Add ice to your cocktail shaker.
- Step 4: Then add the coffee, coffee liqueur, vodka, cream, cocoat powder, and mint simple syrup.
- Step 5: Shake well for 10 seconds.
- Step 6: Strain the martini into your glass.
- Step 7: Top with whipped cream (optional).
- Step 8: Scrape a vegetable peeler across a piece of chocolate to create chocolate shavings and use them to garnish cocktail.
🍸 Helpful Tips
- Make sure to cool the simple syrup completely before using in the cocktail.
- Chill your martini glass in the freezer for 15 minutes for an extra cold drink.
- The melted chocolate, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings are all optional.
🔪 Equipment
Cocktail shaker: For mixing up the cocktail. You could also use a large mason jar and lid.
Peeler: For creating the chocolate shavings to garnish the cocktail. If a peeler isn't handy, finely chop your chocolate instead.
🫙 Storage
The mint simple syrup may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. The cocktail should be consumed while fresh.
🤔 FAQ
Peppermint mocha is a mix of coffee or espresso with milk, chocolate, and peppermint flavor. It's essentialy a mix of both hot chocolate and coffee.
Coffee liquor, Irish cream, vodka, brandy, and bourbon all go well with peppermint.
Try using coffee or cold brew instead of espresso, as in my recipe for cold brew espresso martinis.
🍪 Pairing
These treats would go great with this peppermint mocha martini:
📖 Recipe
Peppermint Mocha Martini
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 martini 1x
Description
Enjoy the rich and chocolatey flavors of a Peppermint Mocha Martini with real mint, coffee, and cream for a tastier take on the winter drink.
Ingredients
For the peppermint simple syrup:
- 1 small bunch of mint
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of water
For the cocktail:
- 2 pieces of chocolate
- 1 ounce espresso or strong coffee
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce peppermint simple syrup
- 1 ounce cream or half and half
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup. Combine the mint leaves, water, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the mint to steep for 15 minutes. Remove the mint and let the syrup cool completely.
- Line your glass with chocolate (optional). Melt 1 piece of chocolate with a splash of cream or half and half. Stir together until smooth and thinned. Drizzle this around the inside of your martini glass, rotating the glass as you go, to create a circular pattern.
- Make the cocktail. Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in the espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka, simple syrup, cream, and cocoa powder. Put the top on the shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain the martini into your glass.
- Garnish and serve. If you like, top the drink off with some whipped cream. Then, grate the remaining chocolate over it all and serve immediately.
Notes
Save time and prep the simple syrup in advance. It'll keep for up to a month in the fridge.
Chill your martini glass for 10 minutes in the freezer for an extra cold cocktail.
Adjust the ingredients to your preferences, such as using half as much simple syrup if you prefer a less sweet cocktail.
The melted chocolate in your glass, the whipped cream, and the chocolate shavings are all optional.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
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