How to Make Peppermint Simple Syrup

Grab some fresh peppermint, and make this peppermint simple syrup. It’s an easy way to add natural mint flavor to drinks and desserts.

Just harvest some peppermint leaves from your garden, or pick up a bunch from the store. Then, spend five minutes in the kitchen. That’s all the hands-on time it takes to make a batch of this mint-infused simple syrup.

Use it to flavor lemonade and iced tea. Add it coffee or cocoa. Mix it into cocktails. Drizzle it over cakes, or combine it with heavy cream to make peppermint whipped cream.

But don’t stop there. Because this mint simple syrup also has definite gift potential. Make it your go-to hostess gift, or pair it with a bag of coffee or a jar of homemade cocoa mix for a thoughtful any-time gift.

Peppermint Simple Syrup Recipe Using Fresh Peppermint Leaves

This recipe makes approximately 1-3/4 cup of peppermint-flavored simple syrup. If you need more, just double or triple the recipe.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup fresh peppermint leaves
• 1 cup water

How to Measure Peppermint Leaves

This recipe calls for one loosely-packed cup of fresh peppermint leaves. To measure your mint properly, just layer the leaves in a measuring cup, until they reach the top. There’s no need to squish them down and pack them tight. If you’re buying your peppermint, it’ll take approximately one bunch to fill your cup. If you’re picking your own mint, six four-inch-long sprigs should do the trick.

What You Do:

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil, over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for another two minutes, or until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Remove the pan from the stove. Then, crush the peppermint leaves in your hand, (to release their oils), and add them to the syrup. Let them steep for an hour, or longer, for the best mint flavor.

Then, use a fine-mesh sieve to strain the leaves out of your simple syrup.

This is the strainer that I have. It’s made by KitchenAid. I’ve owned it for at least 15 years, and it’s still going strong, despite endless use and abuse.

Transfer your finished peppermint simple syrup to an air-tight container, and store it in the refrigerator. Sugar is an excellent preservative, so it’ll keep for several weeks.

If you want to make a bunch of peppermint simple syrup while peppermint is in season, just freeze your extras. Liquids expand when they’re frozen, so be sure to leave an inch of headspace at the top of each jar.

How to Make Sugar-Free Peppermint Simple Syrup

Limiting your sugar intake out of choice or necessity? To create a sugar-free version of this simple syrup, just replace the sugar called for with your favorite 1:1 sugar substitute. This will maintain the proper thickness and sweetness, so your simple sugar will work the way it should in whatever recipe you use it in.

How to Make Peppermint Rich Syrup

If you want to make a thicker syrup – something with the consistency of pancake syrup – opt for a rich syrup. It’s made just like simple syrup, but has twice as much sugar, so the finished product is much thicker. To make a batch, combine two cups sugar, one cup water and one cup fresh peppermint. Increase the simmer time from two minutes to five minutes, so the syrup cooks down a bit more. This will yield approximately two cups of rich syrup.

How to Use Peppermint Simple Syrup

Stir a Tablespoon of peppermint simple syrup into your favorite drinks to instantly transform them into something new and exciting.

More Uses for Fresh Peppermint

How to Make Peppermint Extract

Peppermint Ice Cream With Fresh Mint

Peppermint Bark With Fresh Mint

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