Growing up, we always loved the taste of peppermint candy canes.
Now that we’re adults, that same love for the deliciously sweet and spicy candy has prevailed.
However, it’s no longer in candy form.
Peppermint has always been one of our favorite holiday flavors, and peppermint-flavored coffees is a mainstay.
Whether it’s a latte, a mocha, or a Frappuccino, peppermint is a great flavor to pair with coffee.
And no one does it better than Starbucks.
Now, you can go and line up at your local Starbucks, or you can be a bit smarter and make some copycat Starbucks peppermint syrup at home!
To make peppermint syrup at home, all you need is a saucepan, water, sugar, and peppermint extract.
You can use fresh mint or peppermint leaves, if you want to increase the mint flavor.
The longer you reduce the syrup, the stronger the mint flavor will be, but it will also be a lot sweeter.
How long does peppermint syrup last?
Peppermint syrup lasts for 2 weeks in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to a year.
Take note that, due to the high sugar content, the syrup might not freeze completely.
How to store peppermint syrup?
To store peppermint syrup, use a sterile, airtight container. We love using glass Mason jars because it is non-reactive and the smell and taste of the peppermint syrup will not leach into the glass.
Our CookingChew Cooking Tips
- You can make peppermint syrup by cooking down the mint leaves in a simple water and sugar solution. This will significantly increase the taste of mint in your syrup, but it will also increase the amount of sugar.
- Don’t leave the leaves in for too long as they will turn bitter if overboiled.
- Chop the leaves with a sharp knife. If you use a dull knife, the leaves will just bruise, and the oils will turn bitter.
- f you are going to store peppermint syrup in the fridge, make sure to sterilize the jars before using them.
Starbucks Peppermint Syrup (Copycat)
The best part of this recipe? It’s super easy to make! You can easily make your favorite peppermint syrup at home to infuse into your coffee, tea, dessert, or even cocktails, such as this delicious recipe for peppermint martinis. Plus, you can even control the sugar amount in the recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 c. white sugar
- 2 c. water
- 2 t. peppermint extract
- ½ c. fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Chop fresh mint leaves roughly. Set aside.
- Place saucepan on stove. Add water and sugar into saucepan.
- Bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Reduce heat to medium, allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove saucepan from heat and add peppermint extract and mint leaves.
- Allow syrup to cool to room temperature. Strain leaves.
- Pour into Mason jars and use as desired.
Notes
Equipment:
- Small saucepan
- Strainer
- Mason Jars (for storage)
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 796Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 203gFiber: 1gSugar: 201gProtein: 0g
Switch out the Sugar
If you want to give your syrup a bit more depth of flavor, you can use raw brown sugar instead of white sugar. However, the brown sugar will give your syrup a brownish tint.
Add Candy Cane Pieces
Want to add a bit more flavor and crunch? Crush up some peppermint candy and add the candy pieces to your syrup after it has cooled down. However, it will also add more sugar to your syrup!
If you love a stronger peppermint flavor, you can add a little bit more peppermint extract to the syrup as it cools. Just make sure to taste it as you go because too much peppermint extract can make your syrup taste too strong!