Peppermint Patty Please

When I was a little girl, I remember playing outside in the snow all day long, sledding, building snowmen, carving snow angels and when I got older, shoveling with my dad. The best part of those days for me was walking back inside, rosy-cheeked,  stripping off my many layers down to my long johns and greeting the steaming cup of hot chocolate that awaited me on the kitchen table (with marshmallows, of course).  Now that I’m a little older—and wiser—I’ve learned to cozy up with the adult version of my favorite childhood beverage—Peppermint Patties!

No stranger to hot, spiked beverages, I discovered the Peppermint Patty on a recent trip to South Lake Tahoe with friends. After a long day navigating snowshoe trails, The Editor and I stumbled across The Beacon Bar & Grill, a local watering hole on Baldwin Beach. One of the happy hour specials included a "Peppermint Patty", a deep, dark hot chocolate mixed with peppermint and coffee liqueurs and finished with a dollop of whipped cream. Within minutes, I was transported back to the euphoria of a 9 year-old coming in from the snow, except this time I was 29 and the euphoria lasted a little longer. When I reached the bottom of the glass, I realized the only things missing (besides my shovel) were my friends! The only credible thing to do was recreate the warming winter cocktail back at the house. And so we did.

The key ingredients

Peppermint Patty Recipe (Serves 1)

1 packet hot cocoa (your favorite)

3/4 shot Peppermint Schnapps

3/4 shot Kahlua (coffee liqueur can be subsituted)

Marshmallows or whipped cream (optional)

Directions

Boil a kettle full of water on the stove until it begins to whistle. In the meantime, measure out the liqueurs in a shot glass and pour into each mug. Once water is boiled, remove kettle from burner and fill each mug, leaving ~ 1/2 inch from the top. Stir ingredients until you no longer see cocoa powder. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows or garnish with a peppermint stick.

Sure, we all grow up, but that doesn't mean we have to outgrow the things we loved as a child. Drink up!

Peppermint Patties for the hot tub!