Hot Peppermint Patty

Hot Peppermint Patty Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios 

Prep: 6 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 6 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Hot chocolate is fabulous and spiked hot chocolate is divine. When you're looking for a great recipe, the hot peppermint patty is one of the best you will find and it's a warm, comforting mint-chocolate delight.

The secret to a great hot peppermint patty is the duo of mint liqueurs and an extra dose of boozy chocolate. This recipe is more than pouring a little peppermint schnapps into your cocoa (that's an adult hot chocolate) because you'll add crème de menthe as well. To enhance the chocolate, crème de cacao is required, too.

When the drink comes together, just sit back and enjoy. This is the ideal hot cocktail for cozy nights by the fire, chilly days in the ski lodge, or anytime you simply want delicious comfort in a mug.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce peppermint schnapps

  • 1/2 ounce dark crème de cacao liqueur

  • 1/4 ounce crème de menthe liqueur

  • 6 ounces hot chocolate, or to taste

  • Whipped cream, for optional garnish

  • Chocolate shavings or sprinkles, for optional garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the liqueurs into a warmed mug or Irish coffee glass.

  3. Fill with hot chocolate.

  4. If you like, top with whipped cream and garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Choose your favorite version of hot chocolate for this recipe. It can be a homemade powdered cocoa mix, a fancy drinking chocolate recipe, or store-bought cocoa. You want one that's rich and flavorful and steaming hot.
  • To keep the drink warmer longer, preheat your mug. Do so by pouring hot water into it while you prepare your cocoa and dump it before building the drink. Also, do not use chilled liqueurs as they will instantly cool down your drink.
  • Crème de menthe comes in two colors (white and green), as does crème de cacao (white and dark). While that plays a role in other drinks, it doesn't really matter which you pour because the hot chocolate dominates this drink. You may notice slight variations in the drink's color, but the taste will be the same.

Archer's Peppermint Patty

The hot peppermint patty made it onto the small screen in a January 2015 episode of the hit cartoon "Archer" ("The Archer Station"—Season 6, Episode 3). As is seen on so many occasions (remember the flaming Moe/Homer from "The Simpsons"?), fans just had to get the drink after it aired.

In the episode, Archer pours from a thermos and declares, "I call it a Peppermint Patty." He proceeds to say exactly what's in his "Wow" drink and it's the exact recipe you see above.

Just to be clear, this is the drink that Archer freaked out over and it is worthy of the cartoon's exclamation. However, Archer (nor the show's writers) did not create this drink, so it's technically not "Archer's peppermint patty" as some on the internet will have you believe.

In fact, this is an old recipe—it was first published here in 2006, and the recipe's been around a lot longer than that. It's very likely that the show's creators have the same fascination with the hot peppermint patty that many of us do. The show just gave it a well-deserved spotlight.

So, yes, this is the peppermint patty that Archer so enthusiastically enjoyed, but it is nothing new. Now go mix one up and have your own "Oh my God" moment!

Recipe Variations

  • Over the years, many drink recipes have taken the peppermint patty name. If you'd like a cold mint-chocolate drink, try one of the peppermint patty cocktail recipes. One of the tastiest versions uses chocolate vodka, peppermint schnapps, and RumChata cream liqueur.
  • There is also the peppermint patty shooter. It is one of the tastiest party shots you can make. Again, there are a few ways to approach it, including one that has you mix chocolate syrup and schnapps right in your mouth!
  • If you have a coffee liqueur such as Kahlua in your bar, try a chocolate kiss instead. It's an equally tempting hot chocolate recipe, but the coffee flavor is an interesting twist to the schnapps and cocoa.

How Strong Is a Hot Peppermint Patty?

You can intensify both the mint flavor and the drink's strength by your choice in peppermint schnapps. While the other two liqueurs average 25 percent ABV (50 proof), peppermint schnapps can range from 15 percent to 50 percent ABV (30 to 100 proof).


When it comes to estimating the drink's alcohol content, you can expect the hot peppermint patty made with 30-proof schnapps to weigh in around 5 percent ABV (10 proof). If you choose a 100-proof schnapps, it will be about 11 percent ABV (22 proof). In the grand scheme of cocktails, even the high-proof schnapps mix is mild.


However, it's important to remember that how drunk you get is not the only factor. You'll want to consider the flavor as well. The general rule is that the higher the proof of liquor, the stronger the flavor will be.


If you want a bang of peppermint, try a high-proof brand like Rumple Minze. For a drink that's a bit more balanced, choose a lower-proof schnapps. Keep in mind that the recipe already doubles up on the mint, so it can become too minty for some tastes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
280 Calories
1g Fat
40g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 280
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 151mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 35g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 205mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)