How to Make Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
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This homemade mint simple syrup recipe takes minutes to make and is a delicious way to add sweetness to cocktails, mocktails, ice tea, and hot chocolate.
There are no artificial flavors being used here! We’re skipping the extracts and using only real mint. Plain simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar. This mint simple syrup recipe is a quick and easy variation on standard simple syrup. It’s the perfect way to add mint flavor to all kinds of drinks. It’s delicious in cocktail recipes and is a mocktail staple.
Homemade mint syrup is one of my favorite ways to use the abundance of fresh mint that grows in my herb garden every summer. Making my own simple syrup also means I know exactly what’s in it, and lets me avoid any additives from store-bought syrups.
Ingredients
- Water – Use filtered water for the best flavor.
- White Sugar – Cane sugar or beet sugar both work well here. (See the FAQs below for more on sugar substitutes for this recipe.)
- Fresh Mint Leaves – All the flavor comes from the fresh mint leaves. Skip dried mint in this recipe.
How to Make Homemade Mint Syrup (Step by Step)
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat.
Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
Add fresh mint to the mixture and let it steep until the syrup reaches room temperature.
Remove the mint leaves using a fine mesh strainer.
Pour mixture into a glass, airtight container – like a mason jar – and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
How do I use Mint Simple Syrup?
- Use it in place of traditional simple syrup alongside fresh lime juice, white rum, and club soda for a classic mojito cocktail. (Or skip the rum and create a mojito mocktail.)
- Enjoy mint simple syrup in place of the simple syrup in mint juleps.
- Drizzle over fruit salads or fresh berries for a hint of mint and a little sweetness.
- Enjoy it in hot drinks and cold drinks alike! Use mint syrup as a liquid sweetener for iced tea, in cold brew coffee, or in your favorite hot cocoa.
Note: If you’re looking for a sharp, coffeehouse style peppermint syrup to make peppermint mochas at home, try this peppermint syrup for your holiday drinks.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to make mint simple syrup ahead of time so it can cool completely in the refrigerator before you use it.
- Use a glass container for storing your syrup. It may seem unnecessary, but plastic containers can absorb the flavors of whatever was previously in them and then impart that flavor on the next thing you store in them. This doesn’t happen with glass, so choose a glass container to keep your syrup tasting its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like the traditional mint sold in grocery stores, sometimes labeled mojito mint, in this recipe. It gives it the best fresh mint flavor. You can experiment with lots of different varieties of mint, especially if you grow your own mint. Spearmint leaves or chocolate mint are delicious and fun to experiment with in your homemade syrup.
The type of sugar you use matters in this recipe. Cane sugar or beet sugar is best as it will create a sweet syrup without imparting flavor into the syrup. Sweeteners like turbinado sugar, raw sugar, and coconut sugar will give the syrup additional subtle flavors. Stay away from brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup as they will completely change the flavor of the syrup and the emphasis won’t be on that classic mint flavor.
When stored in the refrigerator, homemade mint simple syrup will last for up to 3 weeks. Toss it if it changes color in any way or starts to look even a little cloudy.
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Mint Simple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4-5 sprigs fresh mint
Instructions
- Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat.
- Add 1 cup of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add fresh mint to the mixture and let it steep until the syrup cools to room temperature.
- Remove the mint leaves using a fine mesh sieve.
- Store your mint syrup in a glass, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
