Stunning Peppermint hot chocolate dip in 6 easy steps

Doesn’t anything just scream cozy holidays like a steaming mug of hot chocolate? I know I’m already dreaming about it! But sometimes, you need that rich, chocolatey, minty nostalgia in a format that’s way better for sharing—especially if you’ve got a movie night planned or guests coming over. Trust me when I say this Peppermint hot chocolate dip is what you didn’t know you needed. It’s fluffy, it’s decadent, and yes, it is absolutely photo-worthy! As someone who tries to bring that simple, soulful food back to my busy table every day, I promise this recipe delivers massive flavor without needing to turn on the oven. It’s just heavenly scoops of chocolatey fun. If you love hot cocoa flavors, you absolutely have to check out my recipe for hot chocolate bombs, too!

Why This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip Is Your New Favorite Dessert

I honestly think this peppermint chocolate dip is going to be the star of your holiday spread. It’s the perfect flavor combination—all the creamy comfort of melted marshmallows and rich chocolate, punched up with that perfect cool mint finish. It checks all the boxes for me! It’s easy, it’s fun, and it feels super elevated.

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• It’s incredibly fast to put together—seriously, minimal fuss!
• The flavor is exactly what a cozy night demands: rich, sweet, and minty.
• It’s designed for sharing, making it ideal for kids’ parties or movie marathons.

Quick Assembly for the Perfect Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

You won’t believe how fast this comes together. Since this is a no-bake recipe, the longest part is waiting for it to chill! I swear, it captures that exact, comforting taste of sitting by a fire with a huge mug of hot cocoa, but now you can dip pretzels right into it. That’s my kind of genius idea.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

Alright, let’s talk about what you need. Getting the texture right in a dip is all about starting with the right building blocks. This list is straightforward, but trust me, do not try to improvise too much here! We want that signature fluffy texture for our peppermint chocolate dip.

• 8 oz cream cheese, make sure it’s softened completely!
• 1 cup marshmallow creme (the fluffy stuff, not mini marshmallows).
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract.
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• 1/4 cup heavy cream.
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for melting.
• 1 tablespoon butter.
• 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies, for decoration on top!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Peppermint Chocolate Dip

A quick word about two things: extract and chocolate. You only need one teaspoon of peppermint extract, and I mean *only* one! Too much, and you’ll end up with something that tastes like toothpaste. For the cocoa, if you have dark cocoa powder on hand, go ahead and use it instead of standard unsweetened. It gives the final hot cocoa dessert dip a much deeper, richer chocolate punch that just tastes more grown-up.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Hot Cocoa Dessert Dip

Okay, let’s get this party started! Mixing up this dip is so straightforward, you’ll be shocked. I always tell people that if you can use a hand mixer, you can conquer this recipe. I’ve broken it down into two main parts: getting that incredible creamy base ready, and then topping it with the chocolate so it looks amazing. It’s so easy, it nearly feels like cheating, but it’s perfect for when you need a quick, impressive treat, especially if you check out my recipe for easy fudge recipe while you’re planning desserts!

Creating the Creamy Base of the Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

First things first, grab your biggest bowl and beat that softened cream cheese until it looks perfectly smooth—no lumps allowed! Next, we introduce the sweetness and flavor. Toss in the marshmallow creme, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, peppermint, and vanilla extract. Beat it all together until it’s just combined. Now for the texture magic: slowly drizzle in that heavy cream while mixing on low. You want it airy and fluffy, kind of like light whipped cream. Stop mixing the second it comes together! Overmixing at this stage makes it stiff, and we want soft, scoopable goodness.

Finishing Touches: Chocolate Layer and Topping for Your Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

Once your base is smooth, transfer it to your pretty serving bowl. Now, for the drizzle! Put the chocolate chips and butter into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave it in short bursts—30 seconds at a time—stirring well between each blast until it’s glossy. Don’t scorch it! Pour or drizzle that melted chocolate right over the top of the dip. You can swirl it gently with a knife for a nice look, or just let it sit on top like a layer of hard shell chocolate. Finally, sprinkle your crushed peppermint candies everywhere. It looks stunning!

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Remember, this needs at least 30 minutes chilling time before anyone digs in.

Tips for the Most Perfect Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

You’ve got this! But since I’ve made this dozens of times—sometimes successfully on the first try, sometimes not—let me share a couple of things I learned the hard way. The biggest issue people have is texture. If your dip ends up way too stiff after chilling, don’t panic! Just whip in another tablespoon of heavy cream until it loosens up a bit. A stiff dip is still edible, but nobody wants to wrestle their cookies!

SAVE IT

Remember that peppermint extract warning? It’s important! Peppermint is potent, and using too much makes this taste like a candy cane exploded in your mouth, which, while festive, isn’t quite the same as cozy hot cocoa. I always suggest maybe using half a teaspoon first, tasting the base, and then adding a tiny bit more if you absolutely need it. For a great afternoon treat, try serving this alongside my chocolate crinkle cookies; the soft cookie contrasts perfectly with the slight crunch of the chocolate topping!

Serving Suggestions for Your Easy Christmas Dip

Now for the best part! What are you going to use to scoop up this gorgeous, chocolatey goodness? Since this is such a rich chocolate marshmallow spread, you need things that can stand up to it, but also things that contrast the texture nicely. I always try to offer a mix of sweet and salty options because the sweet dip pairs so beautifully with something crispy or salty.

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When serving this easy Christmas dip, having a big platter ready is key—you want to make it look inviting! I always go for variety. Of course, graham crackers are a natural fit because they’re just like dipping into the bottom of a s’mores cup, but don’t stop there!

• Salty Crunch: Thick pretzel rods or even those little mini pretzel twists. The salt cuts through the sweetness perfectly.
• The Classic Sweet: Vanilla wafers or plain shortbread cookies. If you make my easy shortbread recipe, cut them into fun little holiday shapes!
• Fruit Contrast: Believe it or not, crisp apple slices or firm strawberries are fantastic. They offer a little brightness against all that cocoa.
• Something Chewy: Soft gingersnaps scattered around the bowl make for an amazing pairing, especially around the holidays.

Whatever your dippers are, just make sure you have way more than you think you’ll need. This stuff disappears fast!

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions for Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

I know you’re going to want to make this ahead of your party—I always do! The great thing about this creamy dip is that it actually tastes better the next day once all those yummy peppermint and chocolate flavors really get cozy together. You need to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It stays perfectly good for about three to four days. Honestly, I’ve never had it last that long, but that’s what my freezer experiments suggest!

If you are prepping way in advance, you can definitely make the base a day ahead. Just leave off the melted chocolate topping until right before serving, okay? That chocolate layer gets hard and cracked if you store it overnight. For other great make-ahead ideas that save you time later, you might want to check out my tips on freezer meal prep!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

When I share a recipe, I always get a flood of questions afterward—and that’s great! It means you’re excited to make it! Here are a few things I hear most often about making the perfect peppermint chocolate dip, so you can be prepared before you even start mixing.

Can I make this hot cocoa dessert dip ahead of time?

Absolutely, you can! This is fabulous for party planning. You can whip up the entire creamy base—steps one through four—and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I highly recommend chilling it for at least an hour so it sets nicely. The only thing you should definitely wait to do until right before serving is melting and pouring that chocolate layer on top, and adding the crushed candies. If you chill the chocolate layer too long, it can sometimes crack when you start dipping, and we absolutely do not want that!

What dippers pair best with this chocolate marshmallow spread?

Oh, you want texture contrast, that’s the secret sauce here! While graham crackers are lovely for that classic flavor, I like pairing this rich chocolate marshmallow spread with dippers that offer a definite *snap*. Have you tried vanilla wafers? They are fantastic because they don’t fall apart easily in that dense dip. And honestly? You MUST have salted butter crackers or pretzel rods nearby. That little bit of salt against the sweet chocolate and the cool mint in the chocolate marshmallow spread is just divine. It tastes like luxury!

Can I omit the peppermint?

Yes, you totally can! If you have someone at your party who isn’t a huge mint fan, just skip the extract entirely. What you end up with is an incredible, ultra-rich hot cocoa dessert dip. To make up for the missing pop of flavor, I sometimes add a tiny pinch of espresso powder to the mix instead. It deepens the chocolate flavor without adding any coffee taste. It’s my little secret for making chocolate taste *more* chocolatey!

Help! My dip seems too stiff after chilling. What went wrong?

Don’t worry, this is easily fixed! This usually happens if you accidentally overbeat the heavy cream, or if your cream cheese wasn’t quite soft enough to begin with. The fix is quick! Just scrape the dip back into your mixing bowl, and beat in one tablespoon of heavy cream at a time until that peppermint chocolate dip loosens up to a texture you can easily scoop with a cookie. It should never feel like concrete!

Nutritional Snapshot of Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip

I know some of you are tracking things, and while this is definitely a treat and not an everyday kitchen staple (unless you count daily joyful cooking!), I think it’s only fair to give you a ballpark idea of what’s in this delicious hot cocoa dessert dip. I quickly ran the numbers based on all the ingredients, but always remember these figures are just estimates based on standard measurements. You know how it is in a real kitchen—a slightly bigger dollop of marshmallow creme or a heavier sprinkle of candy can change things!

This recipe yields about 6 servings. If you’re planning your week and trying to fit in healthier options, maybe check out my guides on meal planning instead, but for a party, this dip is worth every single calorie!

• Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
• Calories: 350
• Fat: 18g (with 10g saturated fat)
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 5g
• Sugar: 40g
• Cholesterol: 45mg

If you’re watching your sugar intake, the marshmallow creme and powdered sugar are the main drivers here, so be mindful of how much you’re scooping! But honestly, for something this rich and festive—smelling like pure chocolate heaven—I think we can all agree it’s worth every bit when the holidays roll around.

Share Your Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dip Creations

I truly hope you’ve already got your cream cheese softening because you are going to love making this! I put my absolute heart into making sure this peppermint hot chocolate dip is foolproof, but I’m always so curious to see how it turns out in *your* kitchens. Since this is such a fun, easy Christmas dip, I want to see how you style it!

Don’t be shy! Jump down to the comments section right below this and let me know how it went. Seriously, did your family love it? Were the pretzels or the cookies the preferred dipper in your house? Give the recipe a star rating—it really helps me know which recipes I should keep pushing to the forefront for future holiday baking sessions.

And if you snapped a picture of your gorgeous, chocolate-swirled masterpiece, I would feel so honored if you tagged me on social media! Seeing your creations brings me so much joy. You can find me across all the platforms trying to keep up with everyone’s cooking adventures! I always try to share my favorites over on my main blog page, too. Happy dipping, everyone!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dessert Dip

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Make this creamy, chocolatey dip flavored like peppermint hot cocoa, perfect for sharing at parties or movie nights.

• Author: Carla Davis
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 1 min
• Total Time: 16 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: No Bake
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup marshmallow creme
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for melting
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies, for topping

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Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add the marshmallow creme, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat until fully combined and creamy.
3. Pour in the heavy cream and mix on low speed until the dip is light and fluffy. Do not overmix.
4. Place the dip in a serving bowl.
5. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the semi-sweet chocolate chips and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the chocolate is smooth.
6. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the top of the dip. You can swirl it in slightly or leave it as a layer.
7. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies over the chocolate topping.
8. Chill the dip for at least 30 minutes before serving with cookies or pretzels.

Notes

• If you are planning meals for the week, this dip is a simple addition to your dessert rotation.
• For a richer chocolate flavor, use dark cocoa powder.
• Serve this dip alongside graham crackers or vanilla wafers for dipping.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 40
• Sodium: 150
• Fat: 18
• Saturated Fat: 10
• Unsaturated Fat: 8
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 45
• Fiber: 2
• Protein: 5
• Cholesterol: 45