This peppermint simple syrup is a delicious way to flavor drinks and cocktails, moisten cake layers or jazz up your morning coffee! It also makes a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer.

One important note – this recipe makes peppermint simple syrup, not mint simple syrup!

It’s perfect for making peppermint mochas, peppermint hot chocolate, or even a peppermint white Russian!

It is not meant to be used to make things like a mint julep or a mojito. I suppose it could be, but a peppermint mojito probably isn’t the flavor you’re after!!

What is Peppermint Simple Syrup?

Simple syrup is usually made with equal parts water and sugar. The mixture is heated to help the sugar dissolve, which yields a sweet syrup that can be used to sweeten and flavor just about anything!

This recipe makes a peppermint syrup by adding in a splash of peppermint extract and I swear it tastes just the like peppermint syrup from Starbucks!!

Peppermint Simple Syrup Ingredients & Substitutions

Like I mentioned above, this recipe is pretty straight forward! However, there are some substitutions and swaps you can make if needed.

• Water – Room temperature tap water works great in this recipe. I live in Seattle so our tap water is amazing, but if you live somewhere where the tap water isn’t quite as tasty you may want to use filtered or bottled water.
• Granulated Sugar – I like using granulated sugar because it’s what I usually have on hand, but you can also use extra fine sugar or caster sugar.
• Peppermint Exact – Any peppermint extract will work, but I recommend using good quality extract because it has a huge impact of the flavor of this syrup. Make sure you don’t use peppermint oil or peppermint “flavor.”

How Do You Make Peppermint Simple Syrup?

I love this recipe because it seriously takes less than 3 minutes to make!

Pour 1 cup of water into a small saucepan. Heat over a medium-high heat until the water begins to boil.

Add in 1 cup of granulated sugar at this point and stir continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved.

This should only take about 15 seconds! The mixture should look clear.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp of peppermint extract. Waiting to add the extract until you’ve removed that pan from heat will prevent it from evaporating and losing some of its flavor.

Pour into a separate container and cool to room temperature.

I like to keep my simple syrup in glass containers or mason jars for easy storage.

If you’re making this in advance, it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.

How Can You Use This Peppermint Simple Syrup?

This peppermint simple syrup tastes amazing in cocktails, mocktails, coffee, or even with cake. The sky is really the limit!

I’m sure it’s no surprise, but my favorite way to use peppermint simple syrup is to brush it on cake layers!! It adds both moisture and flavor, and truly makes any cake irresistible.

I highly recommend leveling each cake layer before adding the syrup, so they can easily absorb the syrup.

You can use a silicone pastry brush or a plastic squirt bottle to generously soak each cake layer with syrup. The entire top of the cake layer should look moist once you’ve added it.

I usually brush my cake layers with simple syrup right before I assemble a cake. If you want to make / freeze cake layer in advance, I recommend thawing them and then adding the simple syrup just before you frost the cake.

I use this technique in my peppermint mocha cake recipe and it really takes the cake to the next level.

How Much Peppermint Syrup Should I Use in a Drink?

Now that we’ve talked about how to use this peppermint simple syrup, it’s time to talk about how much of it should be added to a drink!

The amount you add will vary based on your palette and depends on how sweet and minty you like your drinks.

I like to use 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons of peppermint syrup when I’m making a cocktail.

When it comes to coffee or espresso drinks, it varies based on the size of the drink. For an 8 ounce mug I like to add 1 tablespoons. For a larger 12 ounce mug, I like to 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons.

I usually add the same amount to both iced and hot drinks, but some people prefer a tiny bit more in iced drinks.

If it’s your first time adding this peppermint simple syrup to a drink, always start small. If you want a stronger flavor, you can always add more. But if you add too much, you can’t take it back!

How Much Peppermint Simple Syrup Does this Recipe Make?

This recipe makes about 10 oz. or 1 1/4 cups of peppermint simple syrup. This recipe can be halved, quartered, or doubled if need.

How Do You Store Peppermint Simple Syrup?

This recipe can be made in advance, or leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can also be frozen for up to a month.

I usually keep mine in a mason jar, but any container with a good lid should work just fine.

Let Me Know What You Think

If you try this peppermint simple syrup recipe, please let me know what you think by sharing a rating and comment below!