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    Home » Recipes » Simple Syrups

    How to Make Fresh Mint Simple Syrup

    Modified: Mar 21, 2025 · Published: Mar 28, 2023 by Katy McAvoy

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    Skip to Recipe

    This homemade mint simple syrup recipe takes minutes to make and is a delicious way to add sweetness to cocktails, mocktail, ice tea, and hot chocolate. 

    A bottle of mint simple syrup.
    Jump to:
    • What's in Mint Simple Syrup
    • How to Make Homemade Mint Syrup (Step by Step)
    • How do I use Mint Simple Syrup? 
    • Recipe Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Try These Easy Simple Syrup Recipes
    • More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • Mint Simple Syrup Recipe

    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. 

    What's in Mint Simple Syrup

    Mint syrup 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. 

    Sugar being poured into a small pot.

    Add fresh mint to the mixture and let it steep until the syrup reaches room temperature. 

    Mint leaves in a pot of hot syrup.

    Remove the mint leaves using a fine mesh strainer. 

    A strainer full of mint leaves over a small pot.

    Pour mixture into a glass, airtight container - like a mason jar - and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. 

    Mint simple syrup being poured from a pot into a small jar.

    How do I use Mint Simple Syrup? 

    • Use it in place of regular 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.
    • Enjoy it in hot drinks and cold drinks alike! Use mint syrup as a liquid sweetener for iced tea, in cold brew coffee, in your favorite hot cocoa, or use in place of peppermint syrup to make peppermint mochas at home. 
    • Drizzle over fruit salads or fresh berries for a hint of mint and a little sweetness.
    Mojito Mocktail

    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. 
    A jar filled with mint simple syrup.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What kind of mint should I use? 

    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. 

    What kind of sugar should I use in this 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. 

    How long does mint syrup last? 

    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. 

    Try These Easy Simple Syrup Recipes

    • A jar of mixed berry syrup sitting on a small plate with strawberries and blueberries.
      Mixed Berry Syrup Recipe for Drinks 
    • A bottle of rhubarb syrup in the middle of 2 glasses of rhubarb drinks.
      How to Make Rhubarb Syrup
    • A bottle of pineapple syrup.
      Fresh Pineapple Syrup Recipe
    • A bottle of honey simple syrup.
      How to Make Honey Simple Syrup 

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 

    • Classic Mojito Rum Cocktails are Quick and Refreshing
    • Blackberry Mint Julep Cocktail
    • How to Make Lime and Mint Rum - DIY Liquor Infusions
    • Refreshing and Delicious Blueberry Mojitos
    • Non-Alcoholic Mojito Mocktail is the Perfect Summer Drink

    Print the Recipe Card

    A jar of mint simple syrup.

    Mint Simple Syrup Recipe

    Katy McAvoy
    Fresh mint simple syrup is an easy and delicious way to add mint flavor to your favorite iced tea, hot chocolate, coffee, mocktail, or cocktail.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Servings 12 oz

    Equipment

    • Small Saucepan
    • Glass Bottles
    • Fine Mesh Strainer

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounceCalories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.01gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.001gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.002gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 2mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.03mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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