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This Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino recipe is the ultimate holiday drink you can enjoy without leaving your house. It’s rich, creamy, chocolatey, and perfectly balanced with cool peppermint for that festive flavor we all crave this time of year. The peppermint mocha is back on the Starbucks holiday menu as of November 5, and this copycat gives you the frozen version at home without the long lines or premium price tag.
This post is sponsored by Monin. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Lifestyle of a Foodie possible.
Quick Look: Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino
- ☕ What it is: A blended frozen coffee drink made with espresso, milk, chocolate sauce, peppermint, and ice, topped with whipped cream.
- ⭐ Why it works: A pinch of xanthan gum stands in for the Starbucks base, so the ice and milk blend smooth and creamy instead of separating.
- 💛 Why you’ll love it: It tastes like the Starbucks version, costs a whole lot less, and you control the sweetness and peppermint.
- ⚠️ What to watch for: Start with 5 drops of peppermint extract, taste, and add more. A little goes a long way.
- ❄️ Make ahead: Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays, then reblend with a splash of milk.
Why This Recipe Works
There’s just something about peppermint and chocolate that makes it feel like the holidays instantly. The Starbucks peppermint mocha frappuccino is a blended coffee drink made with chocolate sauce, peppermint, milk, and ice, and it’s one of those drinks I crave every winter: frosty, creamy, and perfectly minty. Prefer it hot? Make my hot or iced Starbucks peppermint mocha. Building a whole holiday coffee bar? Add my iced almond sugar cookie latte, an easy eggnog latte, and homemade gingerbread syrup.
- It’s a simple Starbucks peppermint mocha copycat that costs a whole lot less
- It’s great to make in larger batches for Christmas morning or before Black Friday shopping
- You control exactly what goes into your drink, from the sweetness to the toppings
- It gives you a little taste of Christmas anytime you’re craving it during the year
Table of Contents
Key ingredients
- Espresso: This is where the coffee flavor and caffeine come from. No espresso machine? Use 1/4 cup warm water with 2 to 3 teaspoons of instant coffee instead.
- Xanthan Gum: This is used instead of the Starbucks base. It helps emulsify the ice and all of the ingredients together to create a creamy frappuccino.
- 2% Milk: Starbucks uses 2% milk, so we do the same to keep this recipe as authentic as possible. Whole milk or a dairy-free milk works too.
- Peppermint Extract: An easy way to add peppermint flavor without needing peppermint syrup.
- Monin Chocolate Sauce: The Monin chocolate sauce pairs so well with the peppermint, giving it that cheerful holiday flavor. Want to make your own? Try my homemade Starbucks mocha sauce.
Full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Toppings
- White chocolate peppermint mocha frappuccino: Use white chocolate sauce instead of dark chocolate sauce for a new and delicious drink you can enjoy all Christmas season.
- Skinny peppermint mocha frappuccino: Use nonfat milk, Monin sugar-free dark chocolate sauce, and monk fruit instead of sugar, and skip the whipped cream. This also makes the best keto peppermint mocha frappuccino.
- Toppings: Whipped cream and dark chocolate curls keep it closest to the Starbucks version. I also love a dusting of cocoa powder, a drizzle of chocolate mocha sauce, mini chocolate chips, or crushed candy canes.
How Do I Make This Copycat Starbucks Peppermint Mocha?
This peppermint mocha frappuccino recipe takes just a few minutes in the blender. Full measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Add the liquids. Add the cooled espresso, milk, and Monin chocolate sauce to a blender.
- Add the rest. Add the peppermint extract, sugar, xanthan gum, and ice.
- Blend and taste. Blend until smooth and creamy, then taste and add more sweetness or peppermint if you’d like.
- Pour and top. Pour into a tall glass, top with whipped cream, and finish with chocolate shavings or crushed candy canes.
Expert Tips
- Cool the espresso first. Hot espresso melts the ice and makes the frappuccino watery.
- Go easy on the peppermint. Start with 5 drops of extract, taste, and add more. A little goes a long way.
- Don’t skip the xanthan gum. Just 1/4 teaspoon keeps it smooth and creamy like the Starbucks version.
- Taste before you pour. Adjust the sugar and peppermint after blending so it’s just how you like it.
- Drink it right away. It’s best fresh from the blender, before the ice starts to melt.
Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino FAQs
Yes! No espresso machine, no problem. Use about 1/4 cup of warm water and 2 to 3 teaspoons of instant coffee, let it cool, and use it in place of the espresso in this peppermint mocha frappuccino.
Because it contains ice, a peppermint mocha frappuccino is best enjoyed right away. If you have leftovers, pour them into ice cube trays and freeze. When you’re ready, blend the cubes with a splash of milk until you get the consistency you like.
Use nonfat milk, Monin sugar-free dark chocolate sauce, and monk fruit instead of sugar, then skip the whipped cream. It’s still a delicious peppermint mocha frappuccino with a lot fewer calories.
Xanthan gum takes the place of the Starbucks frappuccino base. Just 1/4 teaspoon helps the ice, milk, and chocolate blend together so your peppermint mocha frappuccino stays smooth and creamy instead of icy.
Yes! Swap the 2% milk for your favorite dairy-free milk and skip the whipped cream or use a dairy-free one. The rest of the peppermint mocha frappuccino recipe stays the same.
More Peppermint Mocha Recipes
Easy Christmas Recipes
The Best Homemade Peppermint Mocha Creamer Recipe
Simple Syrups
Starbucks Mocha Sauce Copycat (3 Ingredients!)
Hot Drinks
The Best Peppermint Latte Recipe
If you made this Starbucks peppermint mocha frappuccino, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a ⭐ star rating and a comment below, and tell me which toppings you went with. Cheers!!
Starbucks peppermint mocha frappuccino recipe
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso cooled
- 1/2 cup milk whole milk, 2%, or a dairy-free alternative
- 3 tablespoons Monin chocolate sauce
- 5 drops peppermint extract adjust to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar adjust to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 cup ice
- Whipped cream Optional for topping
- Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies Optional for topping
- Chocolate shavings or chocolate sauce Optional for topping
Instructions
- In a blender, add the cooled espresso, milk, chocolate sauce, peppermint extract, xanthan gum, sugar, and ice. You can adjust the sweetness and peppermint flavor to your liking after blending., just start with the recommended amounts and add more after you give your drink a taste.2 shots espresso, 1/2 cup milk, 3 tablespoons Monin chocolate sauce, 5 drops peppermint extract, 1-2 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum, 1 cup ice
- Blend everything until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Taste the Frappuccino and adjust the sweetness and peppermint flavor if you would like.
- Pour the drink into a tall cup, add whipped cream on top, chocolate sauce, candy canes, or whatever you decide to top your drink with, and enjoy!Whipped cream, Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies, Chocolate shavings or chocolate sauce
Notes
- Go easy on the peppermint: Start with 5 drops of peppermint extract, blend, taste, and add more a drop at a time. A little goes a long way.
- No espresso machine? Mix 1/4 cup warm water with 2 to 3 teaspoons of instant coffee and let it cool completely before blending, so it doesn’t melt the ice.
- Leftovers: Pour any extra into ice cube trays and freeze. Reblend the cubes with a splash of milk whenever you want another one.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
