What will you be known for? Me? Most likely waffles with wheat flour. Baked Donuts with wheat flour. And homemade lattes that rival the $4+ variety. Now up on the bar, a Peppermint Mocha—the drink that first turned me on to coffee. It was high school. Senior year. I was walking through Target. Have I told this story before?
Probably so. I was walking through Target, one of those new ones with a Starbucks inside (I’m getting old). I saw a tray with rows of tiny cups filled with a rich brown icy mixture. Whipped cream peaked over the top with a liberal dose of red sprinkles and the smallest of straws. Was it green or red? I can’t remember. Either way, the sprinkles were what ultimately drew me in. It was a Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino. My world would never be the same.
I was doing Weight Watchers with my mom at the time. I’d eat nothing but iceberg lettuce (aka water) and vegetables during the day so I could use all my points on a Peppermint Mocha Frap with whipped cream and red sprinkles by night. You do stupid things for love.
And on and on it went until they ran out of peppermint syrup. It was a completely unhealthy obsession. I know this now. I’m older, wiser (we hope), and cheaper. When the craving strikes from Dec 1-31, I can now make it from home. And since moving from the south to the north, I prefer my craving hot, piping hot, with crushed peppermint on top.
What will I be known for? Hopefully more than just a really good peppermint mocha. But somedays, I’ll settle for that too as long as a couple of you come over and share a cup or two.
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Gifting this with some locally roasted coffee! Just to clarify, you used an unsweetened chocolate bar, as opposed to the cocoa powder in the Kitchen Treaty recipe??
Oh fun! I love this idea. I made the syrup verbatim from the Kitchen Treaty recipe, swapping vanilla extract for peppermint. Let me know if any other questions come up!
Ooooh, ok! I have some raw cacao powder in the freezer, do you think that would work? (Not quite sure about the difference between cocoa powder and cacao…)
First of all, I loved your Target/Weight Watchers story. More importantly, I’m obsessed with this peppermint mocha syrup!! So freakin’ festive (I love the holiday season–let N*Sync and Mariah play from every speaker).
All kinds of yum! I love peppermint mochas so much! The syrup is a great idea! I hope I’m known for more than my brownies, but if that’s I’ll be happy!
T-minus 15 days until Christmas and I will be actioning this peppermint mocha every single day until then (and who am I kidding, probably every day after, too).
i want to go home, make this and curl up for three days with books. love your story too 🙂 ps – is the espresso maker you mention below the recipe the one you have?
The homemade marshmellows on this looks to DIE for! I’ve been a total freak and have avoided all pepperminty things until this past year, when I had a peppermint hot chocolate, and now I can’t stop. Definitely trying this one out!
Your Target story is great, ha! Can you believe I JUST got into coffee? It used to make me really jittery and once after coffee I couldn’t go to sleep and started writing an autobiography, which my husband laughed about forever. I’m into really good mochas and lattes and this sounds SO GOOD.
Nothing can derail my laser-focused, holiday shopping spree trance like the sight (or smell) of a Starbucks pumping out peppermint mocha frappuccinos. But this? This just might be worth staying home for!
One of my favorite things about the blogs I follow is learning about people’s lives. Within a very short time I begin to feel a true friendship with my fellow bloggers. I loved your story about eating lettuce and drinking water so you could get your “fix on”. You told the story so well ! I can see how these could become addictive! And – is that your daughter wanting O.U.T. of Santa’s lap? She’s adorable!
Gifting this with some locally roasted coffee! Just to clarify, you used an unsweetened chocolate bar, as opposed to the cocoa powder in the Kitchen Treaty recipe??
Oh fun! I love this idea. I made the syrup verbatim from the Kitchen Treaty recipe, swapping vanilla extract for peppermint. Let me know if any other questions come up!
Ooooh, ok! I have some raw cacao powder in the freezer, do you think that would work? (Not quite sure about the difference between cocoa powder and cacao…)
All I have to say to this is…my credit card thanks you. BIG TIME.
First of all, I loved your Target/Weight Watchers story. More importantly, I’m obsessed with this peppermint mocha syrup!! So freakin’ festive (I love the holiday season–let N*Sync and Mariah play from every speaker).
I love everything about this post 🙂 the story, these gorgeous mochas, everything! Thank you for adding a little holiday spirit to my week, Melissa!
Melissa, it’s been far too long! Hope you’re well and cozy in MPLS. This mocha sounds so delicious!
Mmmm…I think I’m going to drink a big mug of this everyday from now until Christmas. Looks heavenly!
Bookmarking, bookmarking, bookmarking! Looks absolutely delicious! 🙂 Xo, Alison
http://www.simplyfairbyalisonjeanine.com
You’re a brilliant woman Melissa! I know what I’m making this weekend now.
All kinds of yum! I love peppermint mochas so much! The syrup is a great idea! I hope I’m known for more than my brownies, but if that’s I’ll be happy!
T-minus 15 days until Christmas and I will be actioning this peppermint mocha every single day until then (and who am I kidding, probably every day after, too).
i want to go home, make this and curl up for three days with books. love your story too 🙂 ps – is the espresso maker you mention below the recipe the one you have?
Yes! I LOVE the ROK and it looks pretty on the counter too. I seriously use it about 5x/week and it still works like new.
I love making things like this at home. Cheaper… YES.
The homemade marshmellows on this looks to DIE for! I’ve been a total freak and have avoided all pepperminty things until this past year, when I had a peppermint hot chocolate, and now I can’t stop. Definitely trying this one out!
So I have a big deadline today, but I WILL be stepping away from my desk because now I need one of these
you will always be my homemade latte guru 🙂
I always, always think of you when I make a latte.
!!!!!! I love that – I always think of you when I make one, too. haha
Your Target story is great, ha! Can you believe I JUST got into coffee? It used to make me really jittery and once after coffee I couldn’t go to sleep and started writing an autobiography, which my husband laughed about forever. I’m into really good mochas and lattes and this sounds SO GOOD.
Nothing can derail my laser-focused, holiday shopping spree trance like the sight (or smell) of a Starbucks pumping out peppermint mocha frappuccinos. But this? This just might be worth staying home for!
One of my favorite things about the blogs I follow is learning about people’s lives. Within a very short time I begin to feel a true friendship with my fellow bloggers. I loved your story about eating lettuce and drinking water so you could get your “fix on”. You told the story so well ! I can see how these could become addictive! And – is that your daughter wanting O.U.T. of Santa’s lap? She’s adorable!
This looks absolutely delicious!!!