Sorry, this picture won’t orient itself properly
like a good picture should. Just look at it sideways, lol. 

Christmas season has begun! It’s official because I saw it on Facebook, and of course, we know that everything on Facebook is true. Well, at any rate, it IS true that Starbucks has begun serving their Christmas drinks (you know… gingerbread latte, eggnog latte, and the overwhelming favorite, peppermint mocha), and it IS true that they posted it on Facebook, and it IS true that Christmas season is here. Why else would I be listening to Christmas music, I ask you? 

So to help you kick off the Christmas season, I bring you: Peppermint Mocha. No reason to spend half your Christmas shopping budget on the sweet treat at Starbucks when you can make it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

    Print This!    

Cheap Peppermint Mocha
2 individual peppermint hot chocolate pods
3/4 cup brewed coffee
3/4 cup milk
2 peppermint candies, divided
whipped cream, optional

In a small saucepan over medium high heat, melt the hot chocolate pods in the coffee and milk. Crush the peppermint candies and melt half in the mocha mixture. When chocolate is completely melted and mocha is hot, pour into a cup and top with whipping cream and the remainder of the crushed peppermint.

That was super QUICK: at least as quick as getting it from Starbucks!

Super EASY, too, what with the hot chocolate pods and the peppermint flavoring already in them.

Waaaaaaay CHEAPer than Starbucks, that is for sure. It’s even cheaper than McDonald’s mocha!

It’s HEALTHY-er than buying it at Starbucks or another coffee shop, since they usually use syrups with artificial flavoring and fake whipped cream. Nothing fake here, although you definitely have to consider the calorie count - it’s definitely a treat you need to consider in your daily calorie consumption.

This post is part of Life as Mom‘s Frugal Friday carnival.

I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter, to be honest, but I do like it mixed with other things… especially chocolate! Now that is a great combination, despite the fact that Reese’s peanut butter cups are not my favorite candy. I don’t know why that is, but I do know that, generally speaking, the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is delicious and can’t-go-wrong!

I had so much fun making my pumpkin spice latte that I wanted to try some other at-home gourmet coffee shop drinks. I LOVE coffee shop drinks, but they’re so expensive to buy at a coffee shop, and they usually have artificial flavorings, and hydrogenated fats in the whipping cream. So I’m trying to be a good girl and make my own coffee shop drinks at home.

So what does that have to do with peanut butter and chocolate? Move over PB&J… make room for PB&M: Peanut Butter Mocha! I think I should sell it to Starbucks and retire in prosperity, it’s that good. If you like peanut butter and chocolate and coffee, you’ll love this drink.

PB&M
1 TBSP creamy peanut butter
2 TBSP chocolate chips
2-3 tsp honey
1/2-3/4 cup milk
1/2-3/4 cup strong coffee

To start with, melt the peanut butter (make sure it’s a smooth, creamy kind; not grainy) and chocolate chips in a small pot on low heat:

Keep stirring as the mixture melts so that it doesn’t burn, until everything is melted and smooth:

Still on low heat, slowly add in the milk while continuing to stir. At first the mixture will be grainy like this:

But if you keep stirring it as it heats, eventually it will all melt together to make a luscious creamy liquid like this:

Add the coffee and pour into a large coffee mug to enjoy. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cocoa powder if desired.

Just as QUICK as a trip to Starbucks.

Maybe not as EASY as a trip to Starbucks, but they don’t make peanut butter mocha there, so it’s definitely worth it!

It’s pretty CHEAP, too, although as far as I know, none of the major coffee chains offer this on their menu, so it’s hard to compare. I can tell you it costs a little more than coffee and cream… but a lot less than a regular mocha at the coffee shop!

Peanut butter can be HEALTHY. You have to make sure there are no hydrogenated oils and beware of the salt content. As for chocolate chips, I like to buy ones that are at least 60% dark chocolate because the darker the chocolate, the more antioxidants and other good things. I buy chocolate chips without any preservatives, flavorings or additives; the ingredients are just chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter and sometimes milk (depending on the brand). Trader Joe’s and Safeway’s O Organics are some of my favorites. Of course, the sugar means this drink is not 100% healthy, but let’s call it a healthy indulgence. Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of calories in this drink, so don’t overdo it!