Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats

Rich hot chocolate and cool, creamy peppermint ice cream combine forces for a dreamy hot chocolate float!

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats | Neighborfoodblog.com

Are you a seasonal ice cream eater or do you eat ice cream any time of year?

I, for one, fall firmly into the I-could-eat-ice-cream-every-single-day-of-the-year camp.

The other day it was probably about 20 degrees outside and you know what I wanted? A Wendy’s frosty.

I am nothing if not classy, folks.

Luckily, this recipe should satisfy both camps. Warm, cozy hot chocolate paired with a scoop of peppermint ice cream is the best of all the worlds.

I absolutely love the play of hot and frozen in this recipe. The peppermint ice cream begins to melt as soon as it hits the hot chocolate and creates a fluffy, foamy, creamy blanket. One sip of this drink will cool you down and warm you up in the best of ways.

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats | Neighborfoodblog.com

Today for Sunday Supper, we’re celebrating Christmas with recipes inspired by holiday songs and movies. It took me forever to finally decide on a recipe, but I finally went with the song, “Holly Jolly Christmas.” You know the one. Go ahead and sing it with me:

     Have a hoooolly joooolly Christmas.

     It’s the best time of the year.

     I don’t knooow, if there’ll be snoooow, but have a cup of cheer.

I don’t think Ohio’s getting any snow for Christmas, but I can guarantee you I’m going to have a big giant cup of hot chocolate cheer.

Seriously guys, can you think of anything more full of cheer than hot chocolate…with a splash of rum..AND a scoop of peppermint ice cream?? This is practically the definition of Christmas cheer.

A couple of notes on this recipe: This is real hot chocolate, meaning it’s made with chunks of dark chocolate not with cocoa powder. It’s an adaptation of Nigella Lawson’s recipe which I saw on her Christmas special and immediately HAD to have. Guys, it is so good. Rich and chocolatey with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla and a healthy pour of rum. This is what hot chocolate is meant to taste like.

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats | Neighborfoodblog.com

The second note? Leave room in your mug for the ice cream. I thought it’d be super cool to fill my cup up to the brim then set the ice cream on top and have it melt in lovely little streams down the side of the glass.

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats | Neighborfoodblog.com

Guess what? It’s not cool. What ends up happening is the ice cream plops completely ungracefully into the glass spraying flaming hot chocolate everywhere. Napkins, plates, hands–nothing is safe from the scalding hot liquid. So do yourself a favor and just leave some room in the glass.

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats | Neighborfoodblog.com

Other than the ice cream tsunami, this might be the easiest recipe you make all season. Just think: Right now you are only 15 minutes away from the ultimate cup of cheer. It’s time to go get your holly jolly on.

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats

Spiked Hot Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Floats

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 3 1/2 ounces semi sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 Tablespoons rum
  • 2 scoops peppermint ice cream

Instructions

  • Combine milk, chocolate, brown sugar, and cinnamon stick in a medium sauce pan. Gently heat the mixture over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until hot. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and rum. Add additional rum if desired to taste.
  • Pour hot chocolate into two mugs and top each one with a scoop of peppermint ice cream. Serve immediately.
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    Recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson 

    56 Comments

    1. I have very fond memories of walking to Baskin Robbins as a kid and ordering hot chocolate with a scoop of Thunder and Lightning ice cream. They don’t have it anymore, but I still check every time just to make sure. I need to make this! The peppermint sounds amazing!

            1. I think it started because in the city I used to live in, my favorite sushi place and Wendy’s shared a parking lot. You basically had to drive THROUGH the Wendy’s drive-through to get out to the road after eating sushi. And now, sushi = Wendy’s frosty, no matter how far apart the two establishments are. hahahaha.

    2. Ice cream AND a decadent hot chocolate?! Absolutely wonderful! I love hot and cold contrasts and I can only imagine how good this would be. Thanks for sharing!

    3. So fun and So Delish! Happy Holidays to you and your family! I am so glad you are part of the #SundaySupper Family!

    4. There we go, a hot chocolate recipe for us Florida people who still have 80 degree weather and can eat ice cream without freezing!

    5. Hiding this post from my children! They wouldn’t eat anything else and would beg me to go to the store for peppermint ice cream if they knew! Sounds so yummy!

    6. Courtney, what an amazing twist on hot chocolate! I adore peppermint stick ice cream..and it reminds me of the holidays ๐Ÿ™‚ Merry Christmas, my friend!

    7. Oh man! I LOVE this recipe! I just love peppermint this time of year and I have not had a peppermint float yet!!

    8. If I am in a very warm house then I don’t mind a little ice cream but I am normally one of those ‘I only eat it in the summer’ kind of girl. But throwing a scoop in some hot chocolate, now that I can do.

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