Mint Simple Syrup (& How To Use It!)

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How To Make Mint Simple Syrup – This homemade mint syrup recipe is a cocktail and mocktail staple. It’s perfect for drinks of all kinds. (Don’t miss all the yummy ways to use it!)

Front view of a jar of mint simple syrup with mint leaves

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s always a good idea to have a drink for everyone on hand. Keeping a few little cocktail and mocktail staples on hand makes it easy to whip up a yummy drink at a moment’s notice.

One of our all-time favorite and most versatile mocktail ingredients is mint simple syrup. A little mint syrup adds sweetness and gorgeous, nuanced flavor to all kinds of drinks. It also lasts up to 2 weeks, which makes it easy to keep on hand.

Best of all, it’s surprisingly easy to make, with just 3 ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on time. Plus, there are literally dozens of ways to mix it up and use it!

Here’s what you need to make this homemade mint simple syrup recipe…

Overhead view of ingredients for mint simple syrup: water, sugar, and fresh mint leaves

Gather Your Ingredients!

  • Sugar. Brown sugar is delightful, but it’s not great for this recipe. Use white sugar or cane sugar for simple syrup. It dissolves easily and easily creates that sugar-water solution we’re going for.
  • Water. Most simple syrup recipes use the same basic formula: equal parts water and sugar, plus whatever it is you’re using to infuse the syrup with flavor. In this case, that’s…
  • Fresh Mint. Last, but not least is plenty of fresh mint leaves. I like sweet mint or spearmint rather than peppermint. (In the U.S. most fresh mint sold at the grocery store tends to be sweet mint or spearmint.)

How To Make Mint Simple Syrup, Step By Step:

  1. Combine Sugar And Water. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar.
  2. Dissolve Over Medium Heat, whisking or stirring as needed to help the sugar dissolve. You don’t need the mixture to boil, just bring it to almost a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Add Fresh Mint. Then, add the fresh mint leaves to the hot simple syrup and gently crush it a bit with your spoon. (The heat will make it start to wilt almost immediately, so you just need to tuck any stray leaves into the syrup.)
  4. Steep A Least 30 Minutes. Let the mint steep in the simple syrup at least 30 minutes for the best flavor. Chill the syrup if you plan to steep it longer than 1 hour. (The longer it steeps, the stronger it will taste. Some folks leave theirs to steep in the fridge up to 1 day, but that can sometimes run bitter.)
  5. Strain The Syrup. Place a small sieve/mesh strainer over a mason jar or bowl and pour the mint simple syrup through the sieve to strain out the mint.
  6. Serve & Store. Cool the syrup and store in a glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Add to your favorite drink recipes and more!

Try One Of These Tasty Twists:

  • Ginger. I love the warmth this adds. We use this trick in our Citrus Orange Mocktails!
  • Peaches Or Nectarines. Peaches or nectarines are lovely! Add a diced peach or nectarine along with the mint to steep.
  • Berries. Add strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or even cranberries along with the mint to turn this into a berry-mint simple syrup.
  • Citrus. Add lemon, lime, or orange juice for part of the water in the syrup.
  • Hibiscus. Add 1/4-1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers to the syrup along with the mint for a vibrant red color!

7 Ways To Use Mint Syrup:

  • Make A Mocktail (Or Cocktail!). Mint simple syrup is a classic ingredient in cocktails like the Moscow Mule, Mint Juleps, and Mojitos, but we use it for all kinds of non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails, like our Orange Citrus Mocktail Moscow Mule Mocktails, and our upcoming Cranberry Lime Mocktail!
  • Mix Up A Batch Of Mint Limeade Or Lemonade. One of our favorites is this Fresh Mint Limeade. It’s like a virgin mojito and is packed with vibrant lime and mint flavor! (It’s great in lemonade, too!)
  • Macerate Berries. Pour a tablespoon or two of mint simple syrup over fresh berries and let them sit to make a quick berry topping. The berries will soften and go syrupy! Mash or puree for a smoother texture. It’s lovely on ice cream, waffles, or with pound cake, white cake, angel food cake, or yellow cake and whipped cream!
  • Use As A “Dressing” For Fruit Salad. Combine fresh fruit and stir with a little drizzle of this mint simple syrup to play up the sweetness of the fruit and add a little brightness.
  • In A Cozy Hot Drink Or Tea. Add a splash of mint simple syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to a mug of hot water. Or stir a drizzle into a cup of iced tea or hot herbal tea. It’s lovely with peach tea and ginger tea!
  • Brush Cake Layers. One bakery trick to moist cake layers is soaking or brushing cakes with simple syrup. Try this on a chocolate mint cake, a fresh strawberry vanilla cake, and more!
  • To Make Sorbet! A lot of sorbet recipes use fruit and simple syrup to create their flavor. Add mint syrup to give your sorbet even more fresh flavor!
Front view of a jar of mint simple syrup with mint leaves

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Mint Simple Syrup:

How Long Does Mint Simple Syrup Last? Infused simple syrups, like this mint simple syrup will stay fresh at least 2-3 weeks, up to 1 month in the refrigerator. Our big storage tip is to keep it chilled in an airtight jar, rather than leaving it out for long stretches of time at room temperature.

How Can You Tell If Mint Syrup Has Gone Bad? You’ll know it’s not fresh anymore when it takes on a cloudy appearance, smells off, or hisses when you open the container. (Simple syrup is clear when fresh.)

Can You Freeze Mint Simple Syrup? Sort Of! Because of the high sugar content, sometimes simple syrup doesn’t freeze completely solid. But you *can* freeze it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube trays and transfer the cubes to an airtight bag. It’ll stay fresh 2-3 months in the freezer. (I freeze it in 1 Tablespoon portions, so I can just add one to a drink!)

What’s The Best Store-Bought Mint Simple Syrup? Since it’s only requires 3 ingredients, it’s so inexpensive, and you can concentrate the flavor better, I always make homemade mint syrup. But, if you’re looking for a good store-bought mint simple syrup, Sonoma Syrup is a great brand that doesn’t rely on artificial flavors.

Front view of two non-alcoholic moscow mule mocktails in copper mugs with fresh mint and lime slices

WE ♥

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Front view of a jar of mint simple syrup with mint leaves

Homemade Mint Simple Syrup


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  • Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups simple syrup 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This homemade mint syrup is a cocktail and mocktail staple. It’s perfect for drinks of all kinds!   


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200 grams) sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves (about 1 oz.)

Instructions

  1. Combine Sugar And Water. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar.
  2. Dissolve Over Medium Heat, whisking or stirring as needed to help the sugar dissolve. You don’t need the mixture to boil, just bring it to almost a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Add Fresh Mint. Then, add the fresh mint leaves to the hot simple syrup and gently crush it a bit with your spoon. (The heat will make it start to wilt almost immediately, so you just need to tuck any stray leaves into the syrup.)
  4. Steep A Least 30 Minutes. Let the mint steep in the simple syrup at least 30 minutes for the best flavor. Chill the syrup if you plan to steep it longer than 1 hour. (Some folks leave theirs to steep in the fridge up to 1 day, but that can sometimes run bitter.)
  5. Strain The Syrup. Place a small sieve over a mason jar or bowl and pour the mint simple syrup through the sieve to strain out the mint.
  6. Serve & Store. Cool the syrup and store in a glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Add to your favorite drink recipes and more! 
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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