Gluten Free Peppermint Cocoa Agua Fresca
Cool, minty, and deeply chocolatey, this agua fresca is the kind of drink that surprises you in the best possible way. It starts with a quick stovetop bloom of unsweetened cocoa powder and maple syrup, which coaxes out a rich, smooth base without any bitterness. Fresh peppermint leaves steep right into that warm cocoa mixture, infusing every sip with a bright, herbal lift that plays beautifully against the chocolate. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from gluten, so there's no label-reading stress or ingredient swaps required — just clean, simple pantry staples doing exactly what they should. Once chilled and poured over ice, it's refreshing enough to serve at a summer gathering but indulgent enough to feel like a treat. The fresh peppermint sprigs on top make it look effortlessly elegant, though the drink honestly sells itself the moment someone takes a first sip.
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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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