Beef Free Peppermint Cocoa Agua Fresca
Cool, refreshing, and surprisingly sophisticated, this peppermint cocoa agua fresca is the kind of drink that stops people mid-sip and makes them ask what's in it. A warm cocoa base is whisked smooth with maple syrup, then steeped with fresh peppermint leaves before being strained and chilled into something genuinely special. The result is light and naturally sweet, with a clean minty finish that keeps it from feeling heavy — nothing like a thick hot chocolate, but with all the depth you'd want from good cocoa. Every single ingredient here is plant-based and straightforward, so there's zero guesswork about what's actually in your glass. It's a brilliant option for entertaining, since it can be made ahead and simply poured over ice when guests arrive. The fresh peppermint sprigs on top make it look like something from a fancy café, but the whole thing comes together with one saucepan and a pitcher.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups cold water, divided
- 8 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh peppermint leaves, loosely packed
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- 4 fresh peppermint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine 1 cup of the cold water with the cocoa powder and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the cocoa is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth and just beginning to steam, about 3–4 minutes — do not let it boil.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the peppermint leaves and fine sea salt, stir once to submerge the leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes.
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