Santa’s Cocoa may not be for the little elves, but it sure is a jolly mug of cocoa! Milk and semi-sweet chocolate are simmered together until smooth and creamy. Then, creamy cocoa liqueur and peppermint Schnapps are whisked in. Dip the rims of your favorite mugs into melted chocolate and crushed candy canes, then pour the creamy cocoa into the mugs. Top with plenty of whipped cream and more crushed candy canes. You’ll want to snuggle up with this mug of cocoa!

Festive cocktails are so fun this time of year, and Santa’s Cocoa is no exception! Perfect night cap after a holiday meal, or something to snuggle up with on the weekend. Grab some cookies because you’re going to need them.

Let’s break it down:
First, you bring some milk to a low simmer in a sauce pan and then whisk in semi-sweet chocolate until smooth.
Then, you turn the heat off and whisk in the cocoa liqueur and peppermint Schnapps. You don’t want to cook the alcohol out, so make sure you don’t simmer it after you add it in!

Finally, you dip the rims of the mugs into melted chocolate and crushed candy canes. Pour the the cocoa in, top with all the whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
This Christmas cocktail is a fun, festive drink to serve for two (or just yourself 🙂 ) or serve for a crowd. If you are serving for a crowd, you could always pour everything into a slow cooker to keep everything warm! Guests could then ladle and top their own mugs of cocoa however they desire.
Merry Christmas!

Santa’s Cocoa
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
Santa’s Cocoa may not be for the little elves, but it sure is a jolly mug of cocoa! Milk and semi-sweet chocolate are simmered together until smooth and creamy. Then, creamy cocoa liqueur and peppermint Schnapps are whisked in. Dip the rims of your favorite mugs into melted chocolate and crushed candy canes, then pour the creamy cocoa into the mugs. Top with plenty of whipped cream and more crushed candy canes. You’ll want to snuggle up with this mug of cocoa!
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or baking bar chopped
- 3/4 cup cocoa cream liqueur
- 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup peppermint Schnapp’s depending on strength desired
Toppings:
- Chocolate-rimmed mugs
- Crushed candy canes
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, bring the milk to a low simmer over low heat. Whisk in the chocolate chips until smooth. Whisk in the cocoa liqueur and peppermint Schnapp’s and remove from the heat.
- Pour the cocoa into your desired mugs, top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes. Enjoy!
Notes
- To make the chocolate-rimmed mugs: melt 1/2 cup of chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Flip the mugs upside down and the rims into melted chocolate. Follow by dipping the chocolate rims quickly into some crushed candy canes.
- Make a kid-friendly version by omitting the alcoholic components and adding in a few drops of peppermint extract instead.
- To serve a crowd, double the recipe to fit how many people you need to serve, make as directed above in a large stock pot, then pour into a slow cooker to keep warm, or keep it warm on the stove.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes

Share the love!
If you make this recipe and love it as much as I do, I’d love to hear from you! Comment below, rate the recipe, or share a picture tagging @kjandcompany or using #kjandcompany so that I can see your fun pictures 🙂
Thanks for following and cooking along with me!