This Peppermint Syrup is the perfect Christmas syrup for coffee, peppermint hot chocolate, or any Christmas cocktail you want to add peppermint flavor and a little sweetness to. It's made with just 3 ingredients and it can be ready in 10 minutes!
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Why This Recipe Works
Simple and easy - This syrup only requires three simple ingredients and takes 10 minutes to make! All you need is sugar, water, and peppermint extract. It couldn't be easier!
Perfect for Christmas - Peppermint syrup is the ultimate simple syrup to use in your drinks during the holiday season. My favorite way to use it is to make peppermint hot chocolate or peppermint mocha. You can add it to coffee or chocolate cocktails! It's great for both hot and cold peppermint drinks.
Peppermint flavor without candy canes - Making your own peppermint syrup with just peppermint extract gives you all the candy cane flavor without all the added sugar and artificial flavors.
Just like Starbucks - You can make your favorite coffee shop mocha, coffee, or hot chocolate in the comfort of your own home in a few easy steps! It tastes just like the syrup they use at local Starbucks at a fraction of the price!
Ingredients
- Cane sugar - Pure cane sugar is the best option here because it's very neutral-tasting and not as refined as white sugar.
- Water - The syrup is made with equal parts of sugar and water. You'll need 1 cup of water. Use filtered water if possible.
- Peppermint extract - Any peppermint extract you have works great. I like ones made with just alcohol and peppermint oil. If you want to avoid alcohol, you can use peppermint flavor that's usually made with sunflower oil and peppermint oil. An extract mixes into the syrup better but both work. Peppermint extract is usually stronger than peppermint flavor.
Variations and Substitutions
Sugar-free - You can use a sugar-free substitute instead of cane sugar if you prefer. You can also use maple syrup or agave if that's what you have. Keep in mind that the flavor of the syrup might change based on what type of sugar you use.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cane sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer the syrup for 10 minutes.
- Take off the heat and stir in the peppermint extract. Start with ¼ tsp, taste it, and add more to taste. Every brand of peppermint extract might have a different strength.
- Pour the syrup into a glass bottle or a jar and store it in the fridge.
- Wait for it to cool down before closing with a tight-fitting lid.
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee - This syrup is great in coffee or lattes. Try it in this Iced Peppermint Mocha. You can also make a hot version if you prefer like this Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha.
- Hot chocolate - Use the syrup in this Peppermint Hot Chocolate, you can make it both hot or cold!
- Cocktails - You can add a little bit to this Creamy Espresso Martini or add it to this Raspberry Chocolate Espresso Martini along with Chocolate Syrup instead of the one with raspberries. I highly recommend also trying it in some Peppermint Martinis!
- On food - You can mix it with Chocolate Simple Syrup and drizzle it over ice cream, pancakes, or desserts. You can also drizzle it on your cake in between layers. It would go perfectly with a chocolate cake for Christmas!
Storing
- Fridge: Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for two weeks.
- Freezer: You can store any leftover syrup in the freezer in an ice cube tray and defrost it as needed. I like this mini ice cube tray because I usually only want to use a little bit of the syrup at a time.
FAQs
I don't recommend it because fresh mint leaves won't give you the same candy cane flavor that an extract would. Using fresh mint makes mint simple syrup that's delicious in mojitos, iced tea, or minty cocktails.
No, peppermint syrup is made with peppermint extract and has a candy cane flavor. Mint syrup is made with fresh mint leaves and has a flavor similar to a mojito or a mint tea.
Peppermint extract is just alcohol and peppermint oil. It's very concentrated and you want to use only a very small amount in your recipes. Peppermint syrup is made with sugar, water, and peppermint extract. You can use more of it because it's much less concentrated. 1 cup of syrup has about ¼-1/2 teaspoon of extract.
Yes, they usually only have it during the winter months. If you make your own, you can enjoy it any time of the year!
Similar Recipes
If you want to try other simple syrup flavors you can make at home, give the four below a try! To see all the latest ones, head over to Flavored Syrups.
📖 Recipe
Peppermint Syrup
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 ⅓ cup 1x
- Category: Syrups
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Peppermint Syrup is the perfect Christmas syrup for coffee, hot chocolate, or any Christmas cocktail. Made with just 3 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- ¼-½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Instructions
- Add cane sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Simmer the syrup for 10 minutes.
- Take off the heat and stir in the peppermint extract. Start with ¼ tsp, taste it, and add more to taste. Every brand of peppermint extract might have a different strength.
- Pour the syrup into a glass jar and store it in the fridge. Wait for it to cool down before closing with a lid.
Notes
Store the syrup in an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 weeks.
You can freeze any leftovers in an ice cube tray and defrost and use as needed.
The syrup makes about 1 ⅓ cup which is about 10 servings when you use 2 tablespoon per serving.
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Natalie
This syrup goes really well with the chocolate syrup to make chocolate mochas, we love it!