This Skinny Peppermint Mocha Latte Recipe is deliciously festive with just 149kcals per serving!
Chilly afternoons in December call for festive homemade lattes the way birthdays call for cake. And the way peas are good with carrots, and bread is great with butter.
They just go.
Speaking of the perfect pair, peppermint and chocolate is another great combo, especially when it comes to holiday flavors.
Gingerbread and eggnog are some of my personal festive favorites (here’s my recipe for Gingerbread Syrup for making homemade gingerbread lattes). However, the peppermint + chocolate flavor combination ranks pretty high for me too. Additionally, this is what my niece always asks me for, so this recipe is for her.
Amid all the seasonal indulgence, it’s good to have a lighter, but still decadent-tasting treat in your arsenal for those days when nothing less than something sweet will do.
Best Type of Milk for a Latte
If you’re wondering about the best type of milk for frothing or making latte art, you might be surprised at the answer!
I used skim milk to help put the skinny in my Skinny Peppermint Mocha Latte Recipe, but it serves a double purpose. Because of its higher protein content, skim milk also happens to be the best kind of milk for making milk foam. In this lightened-up latte recipe, milk foam replaces whipped cream on top.
Pro Tip: The higher protein content of skim milk (instead of whole milk) makes skim milk better for making milk foam.
How to Froth Milk or Make Milk Foam
If you’ve never made milk foam at home before, let me tell you just how easy it is to do. I didn’t even know it could be done until a couple years ago when my mom made me the best chocolate cappuccino ever at home. And it was topped with a gorgeous layer of milk foam!
There are tons of online tutorials, but in my recipe below I use The Kitchn’s method for making milk foam because it’s super easy and doesn’t require any specialized equipment. So get foaming!
The easiest way to froth milk at home:
- Add ½ cup milk (preferably skim milk) to a pint-sized glass jar.
- Put the lid on and shake vigorously until doubled in volume, about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Uncover the jar and microwave until warm but not hot, about 30 seconds.
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
The peppermint mocha coffee based drink at Starbucks is always a seasonal favorite. According to Starbucks website, this drink has: Starbucks signature Espresso Roast, steamed milk, sweet mocha sauce, and peppermint-flavored syrup, topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.
Skinny Peppermint Mocha Starbucks
The “skinny” version of this popular drink uses sugar free peppermint flavored syrup. However, Starbucks discontinued this syrup, supposedly due to a lack of popularity (check out this tweet thread).
The good news is that it’s easy to make a Skinny Peppermint Mocha Latte right at home!
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Calories
According to Starbucks website, one of their “tall” (12 ounce) Peppermint Mocha has the following nutrition information:
- 350 calories
- 13g fat
- 48g total carbohydrates
- 3g fiber
- 10g protein
More Festive Chocolate + Peppermint Treats:
- White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse
- Chocolate Peppermint No Bake Keto Cheesecake Bites
- Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes
- Low Carb Chocolate Peppermint Candy
- Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith
Skinny Peppermint Mocha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 3 ½ cups nonfat skim milk divided
- 1 ½ tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pure peppermint extract more or less to taste
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 1 g packets stevia/erythritol blend more or less to taste; see Note
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave or double boiler.
- Heat 3 cups of milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming and starting to bubble around the outside.
- Whisk the melted chocolate, espresso powder, vanilla, peppermint, sea salt, and stevia/erythritol packets into the milk in the saucepan and heat until bubbling around the outside, whisking occasionally.
- Add the remaining ½ cup milk to a pint-sized glass jar; put the lid on and shake vigorously until doubled in volume, about 30 to 60 seconds. Uncover the jar and microwave until warm, but not hot, about 30 seconds.
- Pour the mocha into 4 mugs; top each with milk foam and serve.
Faith's Tips
- Stevia or Other Sweetener: Instead of stevia, you can use any sweetener you like in this recipe, such as maple syrup, honey, etc. Here is a guideline on how sweet 1 packet of stevia is: the amount of stevia in 1 packet measures ½ teaspoon, which is about as sweet as 2 to 3 teaspoons of regular sugar.
- I use Medaglia D’Oro espresso powder, and for the biggest savings I like to buy it in bulk on Amazon. It’s also available in a 2 oz jar if you just want to try it out. Just a little bit of it adds another delicious level of flavor and complexity to baked goods and quick drinks!
Nutrition
:: GIVEAWAY ::
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you probably realized that I love Chocoley chocolate (check out my recipes for Deluxe Cake Batter Fudge and Grain-Free Salted Dark Chocolate Cookies that both feature Chocoley). I’m excited to be able to share this chocolate with you!
Chocoley is giving away 3 (2 lb) bags of their Indulgence Ultra Couverture Dipping and Enrobing Chocolate (Semi-Sweet Dark) to 3 different winners! (Thank you, Chocoley!)
To participate in this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite way to eat chocolate.
For extra entries, you can do any of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):
- Tell me your favorite recipe to make with chocolate.
- Like An Edible Mosaic on Facebook.
- Like Chocoley on Facebook.
- Follow An Edible Mosaic on Pinterest.
- Follow Chocoley on Pinterest.
- Tweet the following: Enter @AnEdibleMosaic’s #giveaway for the chance to win #chocolate! @chocolatesupply https://www.anediblemosaic.com/?p=19128
You do not need to have a blog to enter this giveaway. For shipping purposes, this giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. This giveaway ends on December 17, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST. Once the giveaway ends, the winner will be randomly chosen and notified via email. The winner will have three business days to respond with his or her mailing information, otherwise a new winner will be randomly chosen. Good luck to all!
Disclosure: Chocoley is providing the prize for this giveaway; as always, opinions stated are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!
Ally says
I love chocolate right out of the package!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
This is my kind of latte!! Brownies are one of my favorite chocolate recipes.
Happy Valley Chow says
I'm not a big peppermint mocha fan, but my wife LOVES them. I will have to give this a recipe a try for her :)
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming says
chocolate chip cookies and brownies!
Nikki S says
I've liked you on facebook
Nikki S says
My favorite recipe with chocolate are 'Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps"
http://www.marthastewart.com/342387/chocolate-espresso-snowcaps
Nikki S says
I love my chocolate dipped in the peanut butter or nut butter jar...yumm
itzia says
i follow chocoley on pinterest. hichicha
itzia says
i follow you on pinterest. hichicha
itzia says
tweeted https://twitter.com/itzia/status/545245058786533376
itzia says
my favorite recipe is these chocolate cupcakes with mexican hot chocolate frosting made w/ chili powder, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon.
itzia says
i like my chocolate in cupcakes.
Megan says
I love eating chocolate candy bars!
grace says
i like my chocolate in a cookie vehicle. :)
Dana says
with something a little salty (or salted chocolate).
Amy L says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/amylou61/status/545194873436246016
Amy L says
I follow Chocoley on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/amylou61/
Amy L says
I follow you on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/amylou61/
Amy L says
I follow you on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/amy.l.leach
Amy L says
I like to bake fudgey brownies with this recipe:
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/semi-sweet-chocolate-brownies-51792.aspx
Amy L says
I like to eat dark chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt
Sarah Tennyson says
I follow you on pinterest
Sarah Tennyson says
I am following chocoly chocolate on Pinterest!
Sarah Tennyson says
My favorite recipe to make using chocolate would be making brownies with a good quality cocoa and chocolate bits. Looks like I am baking tomorrow
Sarah Tennyson says
I like to eat chocolate with a glass of red wine. Or just on its own. I love chocolate
JoAn says
Chocolate Smoothee
Emily says
I am currently pregnant, so I will eat chocolate ANY way! :)
Teri O says
I'm following you on Pinterest
Teri O says
I tweeted
Teri O says
My favorite way to eat chocolate is brownies (actually anyway I can)
Nikki S says
I love a Big Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie with some kind of twist (add pumpkin and cinnamon chips or coffee ganules or peppermint extract or ....)
Dana says
Tweeted. https://twitter.com/afternoonsdana/status/544923454743404544
Dana says
Followed Chocoley on Pinterest
Dana says
Followed Edible Mosaic on Pinterest
Dana says
Liked Chocoley on facebook
Dana says
Liked Edible Mosaic on facebook.
Dana says
I love having chocolate for breakfast anyway I can get it. Currently it is in my granola.
Emily says
I like your Faceoo page!
Emily says
I love making classic chocolate chip cookies
Alison H. says
I tweeted https://twitter.com/sockmonkeydiva/status/544875598242676736
Alison H. says
My favorite recipe to make with chocolate is good old-fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Alison H. says
I follow Chocoley on Pinterest alisonharper44
Alison H. says
I follow Edible Mosaic on Pinterest alisonharper44
Alison H. says
I like Chocoley on FB alison wood harper
Alison H. says
I like Edible Mosaic on FB alison wood harper
Alison H. says
My favorite way to eat chocolate is with peanut butter!
manda says
I like brownies.
Marsha A says
I follow on pinterest
Marsha A says
I like Edible Mosaic on facebook
Marsha A says
My favorite recipe to make with chocolate is chocolate mousse
Marsha A says
Chocolate with peanut butter
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
This looks wonderful, three of my favorite flavors in one hot yummy beverage.
Christi says
I enjoy making chocolates. Nut clusters, chocolate bark, butter almond toffee. Also cookies, brownies and cake.
Gretchen says
I "Liked" you on Facebook.
Gretchen says
I follow you on Pinterest.
Gretchen says
Embarrassed to admit it, but my favorite is just eating top- quality chocolate chips from a small bowl while doing a crossword puzzle(dried sour cherries mixed in is nice, too!)
Kate B. says
Must admit, I can rarely resist chocolate with peanut butter!
Cate O'Malley says
This looks delicious! My favorite way to eat chocolate is melted!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
You might even get me to drink a coffee drink with this delicious looking concoction!
Amanda Paa says
I follow Edible Mosaic (Faith's Kitchen) on Facebook :)
Amanda Paa says
thanks for the tips on milk foam! our little hand one for it broke so now i know that i don't have to buy a new one. can't wait to try one of these mochas. My favorite way to eat chocolate is on it's own, a good dark and creamy truffle. happy holidays!
alexandra robertson says
My favorite chocolate recipe to make is my glazed dark chocolate flourless torte.
alexandra robertson says
I like to enjoy chocolate in smores ;)
Liz says
I love this guilt free way to start the day! Perfect with my breakfast during the holidays!!! I love baking cookie with chocolate chunks :)
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato) says
I follow you on Pinterest.
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato) says
I liked an Edible Mosaic on Facebook.
Allison (Spontaneous Tomato) says
My favorite way to eat chocolate is in brownies, especially Alice Medrich's brownie recipe.
Sara says
Melted with cream & sweetener!
Sara says
Melted with cream!
Wendy says
My current favorite way to eat chocolate is chocolate chia pudding! 1-3/4 c almond/coconut milk, 2T brown sugar, 2T unsweetened cocoa, 7T chia seeds. Mix, cover and refrigerate overnight. Makes 4 @ 1/2 cup servings.