Copycat Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Recipe

If you’re craving a sweet peppermint concoction with just a hint of coffee flavor, you’ve come to the right place!

Although the Starbucks iced peppermint white chocolate mocha is generally only seasonal, this simple recipe can be used year-round.

I love this drink because it’s crisp, refreshing, and reminds me of Christmas time, regardless of whether it’s July or December!

This recipe provides all the information you need to make this drink, whether using your own syrup or store-bought. 

You can also choose to make the peppermint syrup with melted candy canes or peppermint extract.

How’s that for customizable!?

Let’s get to it!

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What is an Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha?

The iced peppermint white chocolate mocha is a featured holiday favorite on the Starbucks menu item during the holiday season.

It’s an icy and refreshing combination of sweet white chocolate swirled with peppermint flavor syrup and bold espresso.

The drink is often finished with a dollop of whipped cream and dark chocolate curls.

It differs from the iced peppermint mocha in that it contains white, rather than milk, chocolate.

The drink is essentially an iced latte.

What’s in an Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha?

This drink comes together with a few simple ingredients.

Espresso

I love espresso!

And even if you don’t have a fancy espresso machine at home, there are simple ways to swap it out.

You can buy instant espresso powder and simply reconstitute it per package instructions before adding it to the drink.

Another option is substituting more strongly brewed coffee for the espresso.

I recently ordered an Aeropress and absolutely adore it!

This little device is perfect for making a shot or two of espresso with minimal effort and effortless clean-up. 

You can also use it to make an outstanding cup of coffee.

Another option is to use a French press. Simply combine 4 tablespoons of finely ground espresso with 3.5 cups of water. Allow to brew for 8 minutes, and pour out your “espresso” into a pitcher. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Milk

My default milk for any coffee recipe is always barista-style oat milk.

But feel free to use whatever type of milk you have in your fridge.

White Chocolate 

The white chocolate sweetness for my recipe comes from melted white chocolate chips.

I usually use a tablespoon of chips and melt them in the microwave.

Thirty seconds generally melts them, especially with a bit of stirring.

If you leave them in the microwave too long, they can harden and not mix as well with the drink.

You can also opt for premade white chocolate syrup.

If you’re working on reducing sugar in your diet, opt for the sugar-free version.

Peppermint Flavor Syrup

The other star of this drink is peppermint flavor syrup, and there are several options for adding this distinct flavor to your drink.

My favorite is simply melting candy canes.

This is a great option because the candy canes are already sweet, and you don’t have to add any extra sugar beyond what’s already in them.

You can also add peppermint extract to the drink and let the white chocolate carry the drink’s sweetness.

This is a great option if you’re reducing your daily added sugar values.

The third option is to add a hint of premade peppermint flavor syrup.

If choosing the flavor syrup, add 1 teaspoon to avoid a sickeningly sweet drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy the ingredients for an iced peppermint white chocolate mocha?

Your local grocery store should have great options for ingredients to recreate this drink at home.

Amazon also carries anything you could ever want or need! More specifically, here’s a list of ingredients from Amazon (aside from the milk, whipped cream, and ice):

• Espresso
• White chocolate chips OR
• White chocolate syrup
• Peppermint flavor extract OR
• Peppermint candy canes OR
• Peppermint flavor syrup
• Chocolate curls

Is there any special equipment I need to make an iced peppermint white chocolate mocha?

Nope. You can find ways to make this recipe without anything extra.

You can even use instant espresso or coffee brewed a bit more strongly than you generally would brew for the espresso portion.

But if you want to get fancy, here are a few suggestions:

• Aeropress 
• Manual coffee grinder
• Milk frother
• Professional whipped cream dispenser

How much sugar is in an iced peppermint white chocolate mocha?

The nutrition facts on the Starbucks website list 61 grams of sugar for a grande size. 

For comparison, the amount of sugar in one of those Starbucks drinks is 2-3 times the daily nutrition guideline recommendations.

However, by making your own version at home, you can significantly reduce the amount of added sugar without sacrificing the drink’s flavor.

For example, this drink has around 21 grams of sugar when following the above ingredient list.

And you can even shave 8 grams of sugar off that total by opting for the peppermint extract instead of the candy canes or peppermint syrup.

How awesome is that!?

Can you make a non-dairy iced peppermint white chocolate mocha?

Absolutely! You can buy vegan white chocolate chips, and I recommend plant-based milk such as soy milk.

My favorite plant-based milk is creamy oat milk because the flavor and consistency work well in copycat recipes from all different coffee shops.

Almond milk is another option for non-dairy coffee drinks.

Steer clear of the dairy-based whipped cream and opt for a plant-based whipped cream instead.

Also, watch for the chocolate curls, as chocolate generally contains milk. 

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! An easily customizable creamy and refreshing drink you can make any time of the year!

Making this drink yourself at home gives you complete control over the ingredients.

No drive-thru required!

If you love this recipe, here are a few others you might enjoy!

• What is a Skinny Vanilla Latte from Starbucks?
• The Best Non-Dairy Homemade Vanilla Oat Nog Latte Recipe
• Copycat Cranberry Dark Chocolate Espresso Shaker Recipe
• How to Make the Perfect Copycat Pumpkin Espresso Shaker
• Copycat Elphaba’s Cold Brew: A Deliciously Wicked Recipe!
• How to Make a Refreshing Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
• Best Copycat Recipe for an Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte