December 3rd is National Peppermint Latte Day

December 3 is a holiday for all the coffeeholics out there because the National Peppermint Latte Day is here!  Go out and celebrate by treating yourself to a cup of peppermint-flavored latte goodness.

For the uninformed, lattes are a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. Known to European coffee lovers for decades, this trend (thanks in large part to the Northwest grunge movement that also brought us Pearl Jam, plaid fleece button up shirts, fisherman caps and Starbucks) in the United States in the early 1990s. This coffee beverage is usually prepared in an 8 oz cup or glass with one single or double shot of espresso (30 ml or 60 ml) and filled with steamed milk. It is also topped with about 1/2 inch thick layer of foamed milk.

Lattes can be flavored with different syrups, including peppermint. Since the Holiday season ushers in thoughts of peppermint and chocolate, it makes sense that Peppermint Lattes and Mochas became a must for your neighborhood barista to serve up at this time of year.

But did you know you can easily make peppermint mocha latte at home?  It’s true!  Make a shot of espresso or brew 1/2 cup strong coffee and pour it into a mug. Combine 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup chopped chocolate chips and some mint syrup in a saucepan. Stir and cook in microwave until all the chocolate is melted. Whisk until foamy and pour over the coffee.  Here’s a recipe for your very own DIY Peppermint Mocha, courtesy starbucks.com.

DIY Peppermint Mocha

Ingredients

• 1 fluid ounce coffee or 1 shot espresso, such as Starbucks Christmas Blend or Starbucks Espresso Roast Coffee
• 1/2 cup milk (or dairy alternative)
• 2 tablespoons peppermint-flavored syrup
• 3 tablespoons mocha sauce
• Whipped Cream
• Dark chocolate or shaving

Directions

1. On a stovetop, heat milk on medium setting. Whisk the milk to make foam about 30 seconds. Set aside. (Or, use an electric milk frother at home if you have one.)
2. Pour two tablespoons chocolate sauce and two tablespoons peppermint syrup into bottom of 12-ounce or larger coffee mug.
3. Add one shot of brewed espresso. (Don’t have an espresso machine? Make concentrated coffee by using less water in an alternative brewing method.)
4. Fill mug with steamed milk.
5. Top with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings.

Preparation time: 10 minutes.  Makes one tall (12-ounce) beverage.

Of course, if you don’t feel like making coffee, you can always drive over to a local Starbucks to celebrate.

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Photo Credit:  Ekaterina_Molchanova / Shutterstock.com