Rich hot chocolate and cool, creamy peppermint ice cream combine forces for a dreamy hot chocolate float!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson
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!
This looks so good! And my boyfriend doesn’t like mint, so that means even more for me!
That’s the best!
Yep, Wendy’s frostys are an all-year-round treat for me. But seriously? This float looks wayyyyyy better than any frosty I’ve ever had. Insane! I need to make these this week!
Do you dip your fries in frostys? I go through phases where I think that’s the best thing ever, but then the next week it sounds totally gross to me.
Occasionally….but I rarely get a frosty as part of a Wendy’s meal. It’s usually a separate stop just for dessert. Usually after sushi. So weird.
Haha…I actually love that. Makes me feel better about my own weird eating habits. 🙂
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.
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!
I, like you Courtney, enjoy ice cream year round! My daughter who is 15 would love this! Happy Holidays!
If you guys make it you’ll have to come back and let me know how you liked it! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Do you hear the hooting and hollering? The Ninja Baker is cheering you on your pursuit of ice cream every day. And your addition of the lovely stuff in hot chocolate is beyond!
Yes! I can always use an ice cream cheerleader. Really, next time you’re in Ohio we’re goig to hit up Jeni’s, whether it’s 20 degrees or 70 degrees!
So fun and So Delish! Happy Holidays to you and your family! I am so glad you are part of the #SundaySupper Family!
Thanks so much Isabel. I feel lucky to be around this table with so many great folks!
Yes please I’d like to get my holly jolly on ASAP!
Haha! Awesome!!
There we go, a hot chocolate recipe for us Florida people who still have 80 degree weather and can eat ice cream without freezing!
Exactly! It’s the best of both worlds!
Umm yes please!
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!
Haha! This might have to be an adults only treat. 🙂
I eat ice cream all year, Courtney now is the time for peppermint perfect!
I’m with you!
Courtney, what an amazing twist on hot chocolate! I adore peppermint stick ice cream..and it reminds me of the holidays 🙂 Merry Christmas, my friend!
I’m an ice cream year round person! Also I could really go for a cup or two of this!
We eat peppermint ice cream all year long but I would never have thought to add a scoop to hot chocolate. This is brilliant, Courtney!
Oh me, oh my. I so want this in front of me right now. Pinned.
Thanks Jennie! It’s so easy to make, you can have it in front of you in 15 minutes! 🙂
Oh man! I LOVE this recipe! I just love peppermint this time of year and I have not had a peppermint float yet!!
Thanks Jen!
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.
It’s one of my favorite songs! Toasting my cup if cheer to yours! Merry Christmas!
Indeed! Merry Christmas to you too!
Oh my, that is a big cup of cheer! I hope you have the merriest Christmas. Cheers!
Thanks so much Renee! Merry Christmas to you too!