Peppermint Syrup
Tis the season for all thing peppermint - candy canes and other minty treats are appearing on store shelves, and peppermint flavored drinks on the coffee house menus. I love peppermint lattes and mochas, but would much rather have the convenience of making them at home than venturing out in the cold to get one, much less braving the crowds this time of year.
You can make peppermint syrup to make drinks several ways; I chose the easy route and used peppermint extract to flavor simple syrup. Here’s how:
Make simple syrup by combining 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly until sugar has dissolved. Add 1 teaspoon extract and simmer for about a half hour. Refrigerate, or start mixing drinks - about 2 tablespoons syrup for each latte.
The syrup is also delicious in freshly brewed coffee to give it a minty twist - or even to make minty martinis, hot chocolate or chocolate milk.
Peppermint Flavored Coffee
Also try: Pumpkin Spice Latte
on Dec 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I love your photos and how the red in the peppermint stick is mirrored in the red of the gingham tablecloth. It makes the drink seem so homey (which I’m sure it is!) Well done!
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Juliet!
Even the title sounds so refreshing!
I see you are using the same PrimePress blog layout as me. I LOVE IT!!
cheers!
Gabi.
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
This is a great idea. I’ve always just placed a Candy Cane in my drink of choice and let it slowly melt into the drink. At first the peppermint flavor is subtle, but by mid-cup it is full of flavor and aroma. My good friends young daughter actually introduced this concept to me a few years ago when she made me a “melted snowman” drink. She made a steaming hot cup of chocolate…. put in large marshmallows (sections of the snowman) and hung a candy cane over the inside of the rim (his cane) and slowly everything melted together to create the essence of the drink. It was adorable in many ways, especially coming from this lovely young lady.
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
That sounds like it’d even be great in a batch of brownies or chocolate cookies! Mmmmm!
on Dec 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
OMG.. Seriously.. I can’t believe it’s this easy.. as I’m freaking that I no longer have a starbucks next door to my job thus no way to get peppermint syrup and on my last drops of peppermint mocha coffee mate (and in need to make some of my recipe for it) you’ve just made my day!
on Dec 4th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Thank you for sharing your recipe, it sounds so much nicer than processed bottled flavorings. I may have to try a peppermint martini this weekend!
on Dec 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Oh my gosh, that sounds excellent! And thanks so much for posting the “easy” method for the culinary-challenged like me! I’m going to go write “peppermint extract” on my grocery list right now!
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
[...] Peppermint Syrup for Flavored Coffees and Lattes [...]
on Dec 5th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Thanks everyone for your great comments! Let me know what you think if you try the recipe!