Last Updated on December 14, 2023 by Christin Gillespie

This Peppermint Mocha Smoothie recipe is rich in cacao and coffee flavor, with a hint of refreshing peppermint. It tastes just like a peppermint mocha frappuccino from Starbucks, but transformed into a healthy peppermint mocha protein smoothie. Enjoy this Christmas smoothie as a post workout drink or as a festive treat this holiday season.

Peppermint mocha smoothie recipe in a glass with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board with 2 candy canes on it.

I’m slightly obsessed with the chocolate and peppermint combination in my Chocolate Peppermint Protein Smoothie recipe, so much so, I had to create a mocha version of it. I’m telling you, when I added cold brew to the mix, oh my. My tastebuds were in love.

Sure, it looks like a simple chocolate smoothie in a glass, with a couple of candy canes in the background, but don’t let that fool you, as this peppermint mocha protein smoothie is full Christmas flavor.

It tastes like a Starbucks peppermint mocha frappuccino, but in a nutritious smoothie form. This healthy Peppermint Mocha Smoothie has all the flavor, without the nonsense. Blended with organic ingredients – cold brew, cacao plant protein, seeds, peppermint extract, medjool date, and frozen banana. See…all made with clean ingredients while tasting like a holiday treat. With this frappuccino, I elected to hold the homemade coconut whip, but you can certainly top it off with some if you’re wanting more of a treat vibe.

One last thing, there is absolutely no expiration date to create this peppermint mocha frappuccino…as you can enjoy it during the holiday seasons or in the middle of summer, you will love it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Caffeinated with Cold Brew: To give you that boost of energy to get through any holiday day!
Perfect Protein Smoothie: This peppermint mocha protein smoothie features over 20 grams of plant based protein and is a great festive post workout treat.
Coffee Shop Worthy: The flavor & texture in this Christmas smoothie is that found at an overpriced coffee shop, but at a fraction of the cost.
Fully Customizable: Add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your Peppermint Mocha Smoothie. I’ve listed some delicious ways further down in the post.

Peppermint Health Benefits

The star of this Christmas smoothie is the peppermint extract. It provides our peppermint mocha protein smoothie with that extra festive flavor. Not only is peppermint super tasty, but it provides many benefits. In fact, peppermint can be used as a remedy for just about anything…

Aids Digestion: Peppermint can be considered the tummy whisper. It’s been shown to relieve several digestive issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and IBS.
Pain Reliever: From muscle soreness to headaches, peppermint has mild pain relieving effects.
Full of Antioxidants: Loaded with antioxidants to reduce the activity of free radicals in the body.
Anti-Bacterial: The compounds found in peppermint help fight bad breath, cavities, and several infectious germs.
Boost Energy: Needing a wake-up call? Peppermint can help keep you awake during the day and think more clearly.

Chocolate smoothie in a glass with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board with 2 candy canes on it.

Ingredients

Organic Coffee or Organic Cold Brew: To get that signature coffee flavor, you’ll want to use freshly brewed and COOLED coffee. For the smoothie sake, please cool your coffee in this smoothie, as it will cause the ingredients to melt! YICKS! I used Chameleon Cold Brew Black Coffee Concentrate for this particular cold brew smoothie. However, you can use leftover cold coffee or cold brew.
Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk: For this Christmas smoothie recipe any non-dairy milk works, but I love almond milk! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Cacao Plant Protein & Organic Cacao Powder: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s super delicious & is made with real unrefined cacao with no grains, gums or fillers. In addition to the cacao plant protein, we’ll be adding a little cacao powder. To be clear, cacao powder is different from regular dutch cocoa powder. Cacao powder is pure, raw cacao versus processed.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals to this smoothie.
Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this smoothie.
Organic Peppermint Extract: The most essential ingredient to achieve that peppermint flavor. A little goes a long way!
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor.
Organic Medjool Date: Adding just one date to this Christmas smoothie adds the perfect amount of sweetness. I recommend buying organic pitted dates, that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates is Joolie’s!
Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture.

How To Make

Blend the Liquids & Powders: First, add the cold brew, non-dairy milk, plant protein, cacao powder, seeds, peppermint extract, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Date: Add the soft medjool date to the blender and blend until smooth.
Blend the Frozen Ingredients: Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
Serve: Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this Peppermint Mocha Smoothie recipe:

Organic Hemp Seeds: Add a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds to boost the levels of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals to this smoothie.
Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. When adding yogurt, you may have to reduce the cold brew milk to a ½ cup in this Peppermint Mocha Smoothie recipe.
Organic Cacao Nibs: Wanting a little crunch to your Christmas smoothie? Add anywhere between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of organic cacao nibs. Simply add organic cacao nibs at the last minute to your smoothie, then blend once more.
Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this peppermint mocha frappuccino. I bet Starbucks doesn’t offer that! They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect Peppermint Mocha Smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
Soak Medjool Date: If your dates aren’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted dates in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help them soften up, so that they can blend nicely.
Organic Coffee or Organic Cold Brew: To get that signature coffee flavor, you’ll want to use freshly brewed and COOLED coffee. Please cool your coffee in this smoothie, as it will cause the ingredients to melt! YICKS! I used Chameleon Cold Brew Black Coffee Concentrate for this particular smoothie. However, you can use leftover cold coffee or cold brew.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders, then the medjool date, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a healthy peppermint mocha milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip.

Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the smoothie a thick & creamy texture, one found in the peppermint mocha frappuccino. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods for a post workout breakfast is great, because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option.

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular Peppermint Mocha Smoothie recipe, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein. It’s made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. If you don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein on hand, you can use your favorite cacao protein powder. When selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients.

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have cacao protein powder on hand, you can substitute with a total of 2 tablespoons of organic cacao powder. To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

What is the best cold brew to use for this smoothie?

I used Chameleon Cold Brew Black Coffee Concentrate for this particular peppermint mocha frappuccino. It’s made with 2 ingredients – filtered water and organic Coffee and tastes incredible in this smoothie. However, you can use leftover cold coffee or cold brew.

Can I make this protein smoothie into a peppermint mocha smoothie bowl?

Absolutely! Simply decrease the organic cold brew to ¼ – ⅓ cup and remove the non-dairy milk. When transforming this smoothie to a smoothie bowl, you’ll definitely need a high-speed blender, along with a plunger to get things blended.

Can I make this protein smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this peppermint mocha frappuccino as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

Peppermint mocha smoothie in a glass with a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board with 2 candy canes on it.

More Christmas Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.