This simple peppermint mocha recipe is made with real food, naturally sweetened, and budget-friendly!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
I received a milk frother from Zulay Kitchen to try and review. All opinions are my own.
“If your money-saving advice starts with not getting a $5 coffee every day, you already think I have more money than I have.“
Meme I saw somewhere, probably Instagram.
So this not one of those posts. I’m not going to tell you that this recipe will save you tons of money because you won’t *have* to hit the drive-thru coffee window for your peppermint mocha. The reality is that if you are searching DIY recipes for peppermint mochas, you probably aren’t buying coffee at a coffee shop every day.
Besides, the person who *has* to buy a peppermint mocha from the drive-thru every day probably won’t make time to whip one up themself!
DIY Peppermint Mocha
Here’s a real food, budget-friendly, seasonal latte (ish) you can make at home! The ingredients are simple (you probably already have them), and the method is easy and fun.
Before this, I only bought a peppermint mocha once a year. It is my favorite seasonal latte, but between the $5 price tag and the sugar-loaded ingredient list, I rarely indulged.
Now I can make this seasonal coffee far more often, and it doesn’t compromise my budget or my real food principles.
Peppermint Mocha Video (& 2 Bonus Lattes!)
In this video, I demonstrated how to use and wash the milk frother and how we make 3 of the most popular lattes this season.
Healthy Peppermint Mocha
Because I like to save money and eat healthy, this drink uses simple ingredients to make it flavorful and delicious. There are many ways to make peppermint mochas with more depth of flavor, more sweetness, and more of a Starbucks copycat.
Undoubtedly, the best way to control the flavor and make sure you have a proper sweet-to-mint ratio is to make your own peppermint simple syrup.
But most of those recipes use sugar, and I prefer to sweeten mine with maple syrup or honey.
So this recipes uses simple ingredients that take only a minute to whip together. It’s something I can fit into my normal busy frugal real food life.
Make a Latte at Home with a Milk Frother
The secret to making a great peppermint mocha at home without an expensive espresso machine is to use a milk frother. They are budget-friendly, easy to use, clean, and work for all kinds of drinks!
I use them for morning matcha, coffee “lattes,” chai tea lattes, and a way to make caffeine-free tea feel more special.
Zulay Kitchen: Budget-Friendly Quality Kitchen Tools
You can get a milk frother many places online, but ours is from Zulay Kitchen.
I’ve always struggled with buying kitchen appliances and gadgets online. What if it doesn’t work? Can I trust this budget-friendly brand? Returns are a pain.
Zulay Kitchen is a small company that is highly-rated on Amazon for their great products, budget-friendly prices, and fantastic customer service.
They sent me a milk frother to try, and I fell in love! I’ve since tried other kinds of milk frothers, but I love this one. Check them out here!
More Posts Where I Used Zulay Kitchen Products:
Check out our video on how to make 3 different fun homemade, real food lattes (peppermint mocha, pumpkin spice latte, and chai tea latte). Tell us in the comments what your favorite latte is!
Easy Peppermint Mocha Tip:
If you don’t want to froth the milk separately or don’t care about the foam, half the ingredients and pour everything into a single mug, only filling it about halfway. Use the frother to whip up the entire thing. It won’t make much foam, but it will be delicious!
This Recipe Is:
- Simple
- Real Food
- Budget-Friendly
- Frothy
- Creamy
- Yummy
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo #cheapskatecook and @cheapskatecookon Instagram.
DIY Real Food Peppermint Mocha
A simple, real food peppermint mocha using ingredients you probably already have at home!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder, (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8-1/4 tsp peppermint extract, (start with 1/8 and taste; add more if necessary)
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 cup milk of choice, (cow and dairy-free all work great)
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients except milk into a mug. Stir or whisk together.
- Pour milk into a glass mason jar and place frother tip into the milk. Turn on the frother and froth the milk for 30 seconds to 1 minute, raising the frother up and down, frothing at 45 to 90-degree angles until it reaches your desired froth.
- Pour milk and foam into the mug and stir well. There will be extra milk. Save it for another mocha!
Notes
EASY TIP - If you don't want to froth the milk separately or don't care about the foam, half the ingredients and pour everything into a single mug, only filling it about halfway. Use the frother to whip up the entire thing. It won't make much foam, but it will be delicious!
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1 cuAmount Per Serving Calories 190Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 10mgSodium 69mgCarbohydrates 36gFiber 1gSugar 26gProtein 5g
Please note: The actual calories and nutrition of this dish will change depending on what ingredients you use. Nutrition information is not always accurate.
How this Recipe Helps Us Save Money & Eat Healthy:
While I don’t think you’re spending $5 on coffee every day, I hope this recipe (and the 2 bonus recipes in the video!) help you enjoy this season a little more. Maybe you’re trying to pay off debt. Or maybe you’re avoiding certain ingredients. This real food homemade peppermint (and a fun, inexpensive milk frother!) will make this season tastier and more sustainable.
What You Can Do Now:
What is your favorite latte?
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Wish almond milk tasted like dairy. It’s not even creamy tasting—no fat.
Agreed! That’s why the frother makes it better 😀
I put this frother on my holiday wish list, at your recommendation, and my husband bought it for me. It is such a GREAT way to make lattes at home! On Christmas morning, I even frothed Baileys Almande Liqueur (their non-dairy version of Irish Cream) for my coffee. It’s not cheap, but was a delicious way to start the holiday! Other than that splurge, this is an excellent tool to make “expensive” coffees at home.
Yay! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it, Kelley, and thank you for dropping by to tell me. That’s so encouraging.