There’s a reason why we love to see the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha come around time and time again during the holidays. And it’s not because we have extra cash burning a hole in our pockets to spend on coffee.
Starbucks’ Peppermint Mocha a classic combination of chocolate, peppermint, and coffee all served in their iconic red cups. Which are all too small to play beer pong with. We’re guessing that was on purpose.
If the wintry drink is your go-to during the holiday season, here’s a bit of its history plus a look at each of its regular menu variations and some store-bought options. We’ve also included some secret menu ideas. Those should get you through the long, hard hours of copying and pasting “let’s touch base in the new year” into your emails all December long.
What Is the Peppermint Mocha?
Starbucks officially describes the Peppermint Mocha as their “signature Espresso Roast combine[d] with steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and dark-chocolate curls.”
We just call it “holiday in a cup.” But that has a lot of people asking how to fit a year’s worth of family tension and it getting dark at 4PM into a cup. So the Starbucks description will do.
As with most Starbucks drinks, there are the standard variations of hot, iced, and Frappuccino. Each contains coffee, mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, milk, whipped cream, and chocolate curls. Basically, our breakfast in a cup.
Starbucks Official Peppermint Mocha Drinks
1. Peppermint Mocha
This is what we’ve all ordered after stumbling into a Starbucks in disarray after an intense snowball fight, looking to warm our chilly bones and repair our damaged psyche after Brittney betrayed you with that square shot to the chest.
Did you help her practice softball only for her to use it against you? Doesn’t matter, you have a delicious drink now. Who needs friends?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CknyI_6ONJ-/
2. Iced Peppermint Mocha
The Peppermint Mocha is the opposite of the Titanic – it’s better with ice. It also doesn’t have Leonardo DiCaprio in it (as far as we know). This iced version won’t do much to warm you up, but the cold plays nicely with the cooling peppermint flavor. Jack agrees.
3. Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
Maybe you’ve had so many Iced Peppermint Mochas you’re impervious to cold. A beverage with ice simply doesn’t cut it, your beverage has to be ice. Enter: the Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino.
This immunity to the cold is a superpower and with great power comes great responsibility – give all of your jackets to charity, shovel snow for neighbors in perfect comfort, have yourself a nice drink.
4. Ready-to-Drink Iced Peppermint Mocha
Don’t want to leave home but still need that mint coffee fix? Same. And with this Peppermint Mocha Iced Espresso, now you don’t have to. Ever.
You theoretically still have to open the bottle on your own. We know it’s hard work, but we believe in you.
Available through Instacart
5. Peppermint Mocha VIA Instant Latte
These babies will transform powder into a luxurious Peppermint Mocha. All you need is some hot water and a little bit of patience. Honestly…not even that much patience. It works pretty fast.
In these instant coffee packets, Starbucks has paired peppermint and coffee with creamy dairy and a bit of sugar. It’s as close as you can get to the real thing without actually going into a Starbucks. If you’re missing the full experience, just burn a five dollar bill while you’re waiting for the water to boil.
6. Peppermint Mocha Ground Coffee
Want to put that coffee maker to use? Grab a bag of this ground coffee! Note that this is just an interpretation of the beverage, so it doesn’t have the sugar and milk that the beloved original does.
It’s still good, just be prepared to add a little somethin’ somethin’ if you want things a little sweeter. (Sugar. You have to add sugar.)
Available at Target
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Customization Ideas
As with all Starbucks drinks, you can customize your order to your liking, including:
- Changing the standard espresso to blonde or ristretto
- Adding or taking away an espresso shot
- Using a milk substitute
- Substituting or removing syrups to adjust sweetness
Of course, a number of enthusiasts have taken it upon them to push the boundaries of the offerings at Starbucks. They’ve learned the rules like a pro, and have broken them like an artist. Enter, the secret menu recipes.
Starbucks Secret Menu Peppermint Mocha Variations
1. Peppermint Bark Frappuccino
- Order a Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
- Replace half of the regular mocha with white chocolate
2. Peppermint Pow Frappuccino
- Order a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
- Add peppermint syrup
- Add matcha
3. Peppermint White Mocha Frappuccino
- Order a White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
- Add peppermint syrup
4. Iced Peppermint White Mocha
- Order a Cold Brew
- Add peppermint syrup
- Add white mocha syrup
- Add a splash of half and half
5. Cold Brew With Peppermint Mocha Cold Foam
- Order a Cold Brew with Cold Foam
- Add two pumps of peppermint to the cold foam
6. Shamrock Frappuccino
- Order a Matcha Crème Frappuccino without the classic syrup
- Add white mocha
- Add peppermint
7. Peppermint Patty Frappuccino
- Order a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino
- Add java chips
- Add peppermint syrup (1.5 pumps for tall, 2.5 for grande, 3.5 for venti)
8. Christmas Tree Frappuccino
This one has actually been on the menu! It remains to be seen if it will be a recurring character, so here’s how to order it:
- Order a Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
- Ask for matcha whipped cream
- Add caramel drizzle
- Add a freeze-dried strawberry tree topper
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdZJdZ5AZb-/
9. Grasshopper Frappuccino
- Order a Matcha Crème Frappuccino
- Add java chips
- Add peppermint syrup
10. Peppermint Toasted Iced White Mocha
- Order a Peppermint Mocha
- Add toasted white mocha syrup
11. Peppermint Mocha Cold Brew
- Order a Cold Brew with Cold Foam
- Add mocha syrup
- Add peppermint syrup
- Add chocolate curls
12. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cold Brew
- Order a Cold Brew
- Add mocha syrup
- Add white mocha syrup
- Add sweet cream cold foam with peppermint
13. Candy Cane Cold Brew
- Order Sweet Cream Cold Foam Cold Brew
- Replace the vanilla syrup in the cold foam with white mocha syrup and peppermint syrup
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