Artificial Flavors Free Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade
This drink sounds like it shouldn't work — chocolate, peppermint, and lemon in the same glass — but somehow it absolutely does. The homemade peppermint cocoa syrup is the secret, built from just maple syrup, unsweetened cocoa powder, and a touch of peppermint extract simmered together on the stovetop. That means you know exactly what's going into your glass, with no mystery flavorings or synthetic additives hiding in a store-bought syrup. Fresh lemon juice brings a bright, tart punch that cuts right through the richness of the cocoa, and sparkling water lifts the whole thing into something genuinely refreshing. The intentional "lightly streaked" finish isn't just pretty — it means every sip hits a little differently, which makes it weirdly hard to put down. Garnish with a mint sprig and a lemon slice and it looks like something you'd pay twelve dollars for at a trendy café.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the peppermint cocoa syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 pinch fine salt
For the lemonade
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice
For serving
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
- 4 lemon slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, maple syrup, and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the cocoa is fully dissolved and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about 3–4 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the peppermint extract and salt. Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof container to remove any undissolved cocoa solids.
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