This homemade Peppermint Syrup is the perfect Christmas syrup for coffee, hot chocolate, or any festive cocktail you want to add peppermint flavor to! It's made with just 3 ingredients, and it can be ready in 10 minutes! You can prep it ahead, and it's freezer-friendly!
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Why You'll Love This Peppermint Simple Syrup
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 - Homemade 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 simple 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's mocha, latte, or hot chocolate in the comfort of your own home in a few easy steps! It tastes just like the syrup they use at your local Starbucks, at a fraction of the price and without any of the preservatives or artificial flavorings!
Ingredients
- Cane sugar - Pure cane sugar will give you the best flavor because it's very neutral-tasting. I like that it's not as refined as white sugar, but either works. White sugar will yield a lighter syrup in color.
- Water - The syrup is made with equal parts of sugar and water. You'll need 1 cup of water. Use filtered water whenever possible. Tap water tends to alter the flavor.
- Peppermint extract - You're looking for pure peppermint extract. It can be found at most grocery stores near spices or online. I like ones made with just alcohol and peppermint oil. If you want to avoid alcohol, you can use peppermint flavor, which is 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
- Different sugar - You can make this syrup with white sugar or liquid sugars like light maple syrup, agave, or honey. Keep in mind the flavor of the sugar will change the flavor of the syrup.
- Sugar-free - You can use a sugar-free substitute instead of cane sugar if you prefer. Keep in mind that sugar acts as a preservative here, and the syrup won't last as long without it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cane sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves.
- Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes.
- Take it 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 for 2 weeks.
- Wait for it to cool down before closing it with a tight-fitting lid.
Tips & Tricks!
- Mix it with chocolate - If you want the ultimate Christmas syrup for the holidays, mix it with my extra creamy Chocolate Syrup to make hot chocolate or an iced mocha!
- Freeze it - Sugar prevents the syrup from freezing solid, so defrosting only takes minutes! It's usually soft enough that you can scoop it straight from the freezer and it's the best way to keep it fresh for months!
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee - This syrup is perfect for both hot and iced coffee drinks! Try it in this Iced Peppermint Mocha. You can also make a hot version if you prefer, like this Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha.
- Hot cocoa - Use the syrup in this Peppermint Hot Chocolate, you can make it both hot or iced!
- Cocktails - You can add a little bit to this Creamy Espresso Martini or try it in this festive Chocolate Peppermint Espresso Martini!
- Mocktails - Try adding it to this Espresso Martini Mocktail or any other cream, coffee, or chocolate-based mocktail!
- Food - You can mix it with Chocolate Simple Syrup and drizzle it over ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or desserts. You can also brush it on warm cake in between layers to add moisture and flavor. It would be amazing with chocolate frosting for Christmas!
Storing
Fridge: Store the syrup in a glass jar or an airtight container in the fridge for 2 weeks. Always use a clean spoon and discard the syrup if it smells, tastes, or looks off.
Freezer: You can store the syrup in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for 3-4 months or longer when stored well. I like freezing it pre-portioned in small containers, so that I always know how much I need to defrost. The sugar in the syrup prevents it from freezing solid, so it should be scoopable straight from the freezer. You can also defrost it in the fridge for an hour or so to make it liquid.
FAQs
I don't recommend it because fresh mint leaves won't give you the same candy cane flavor that peppermint extract will. 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 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!
Other Christmas Syrups
If you like this syrup and want to try other festive syrups for the holidays, definitely check out the four below! To see all the latest ones, head over to Flavored Syrups.
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Did you try this Peppermint Syrup? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 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.
- Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes.
- Take it 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 for 2 weeks. Wait for it to cool down before closing it with a lid.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store the syrup in a glass jar or an airtight jar in the fridge for 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze the syrup in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for 3-4 months or longer when stored properly. I don't recommend freezing it in an ice cube tray because it never freezes solid. It should be scoopable straight from the freezer, but you can defrost it in the fridge for an hour to make it liquid again.
- The syrup makes about 1 ⅓ cups, which is about 10 servings when you use 2 tablespoon per serving.
Natalie says
This syrup goes really well with the chocolate syrup to make chocolate mochas, we love it!