If you’ve seen the viral ghost latte, you’ll love my holiday twist on it, switching out spooky ghosts for frosty snowmen! Marshmallow fluff snowmen peek out of the glass through a minty chocolate iced coffee, perfect for the festive season.
Ingredients & Substitutions
See the recipe card for exact amounts.
- coffee: use whatever coffee you prefer. Espresso is traditionally used in lattes (think Starbucks), but instead of two shots of espresso, you can make iced coffee using instant coffee or strong brewed coffee.
- cacao: cacao powder is my fave. Cocoa powder should be fine too.
- milk: any milk you prefer should be fine. I like oat and cashew milk. A splash of whipping cream adds a bit of richness.
- sweetener: I use simple syrup, you can probably use maple syrup also, or even brown sugar.
- marshmallow fluff: this is what you’ll use to make the cute snowmen.
- peppermint extract: make sure you use peppermint extract and not mint extract – or else it will taste like toothpaste!
- toppings: whipped cream, chocolate fudge syrup, and a candy cane all make cute festive toppings.
Making This for Kids?
Or Just Want to Skip the Coffee?
Use hot chocolate as a cold mix, or mix the cacao with milk and leave the coffee out. You can still enjoy a super cute snowman iced cacao!
Instructions
Prep Tips
- Start by making the coffee. I use espresso, strong instant coffee, or strong French press coffee. Espresso is traditional, but don’t let that stop you! Have fun in your kitchen. Add the cacao, simple syrup, and peppermint extract. Mix well. I use a little coffee frother.
- To make the snowmen, you’ll need a spoon and marshmallow fluff (as well as a see-through glass). As a helpful guide, you can watch the video tutorial in the recipe card below. Basically, you’ll press the back of a spoon into the marshmallow fluff and then press that against the inside of the glass, three times, making a large, medium, and small circle, just like a snowman. I use a marker to draw the buttons on, but you can skip this if you want to and leave it minimal.
- Next, add ice, the coffee mix and the milk. I add a splash of cream for richness.
- Serve as is or top with whipped cream, drizzles of chocolate sauce, and a candy cane.
Tips for Making Snowmen Lattes
- Skip the coffee! Make with just the cacao and milk for kids as a fun holiday treat.
- Add garnishes to make the drink more fun and festive!
- Don’t stress, use whatever coffee is your favorite!
More Coffee Recipes
Storage
You can make the whipped cream and coffee ahead of time and store them separately. I recommend making the drinks as needed.
FAQs
Yes. If you want a caffeine-free version, just skip the coffee and add more milk. The marshmallow fluff snowmen still work, and the drink stays festive and creamy.
For the best snowmen, use chilled coffee and lots of ice. This helps the fluff stay in place and keeps the shape.
Yes. Use a dairy-free milk like almond, oat, or coconut milk (in a carton), and check that your chocolate syrup is dairy-free.
No. If you don’t like peppermint flavor you can skip it or swap in vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrup. Any flavored latte syrup works.
If you’ve made this Iced Peppermint Mocha Snowman Latte recipe or another recipe on Pipercooks, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment with a recipe rating. I want to know how you enjoyed it, and ratings help other people know that the recipe is worth trying.
Iced Peppermint Mocha Snowman Latte Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Drink
- 2 shots espresso or 1/4 cup strong coffee
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup or maple syrup, sugar, brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract not mint
- ½ cup milk your preference
- splash heavy cream optional
- ice cubes
For Topping, optional
- whipped cream
- chocolate sauce or shavings
- candy canes
Instructions
- Use your favorite coffee. Either 2 shots of espresso, or 1/4 cup of strong coffee (brewed, instant, cold brew).
- Whip cream if you’re using it for topping. Unwrap candy canes if using.
- Add the coffee, cacao, peppermint, and simple syrup to a glass. Mix with a an electric frother or use a small blender. Cacao powder can take longer to mix well and you don’t want lumps.
- To make the snowmen on the glass, dip the back of a spoon into the marshmallow fluff. Press it into the glass near the bottom to make a large circle. Repeat again for the medium and smaller circles. This is cute just like this, but you can also use a marker to make a face and buttons if you want to. Just check to make sure your marker will wash off easily.
- Add an ice cube, the coffee mix, milk, and a splash of cream. Serve or top with the whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a candy cane.
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
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