Dairy Free Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade

Total time40 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time10 min

5.0

(12)

This drink sounds like it shouldn't work — and yet it absolutely does. The combination of bright, tart lemon juice, cool peppermint, and rich cocoa creates something genuinely unexpected: refreshing and indulgent at the same time. The homemade syrup comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop using maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder, so there's no dairy hiding anywhere in the mix — no cream, no butter, no milk solids to worry about. That makes it a fantastic option for anyone navigating dairy-free entertaining, especially when you want to serve something that feels a little more special than plain sparkling water. The lightly streaked finish when you pour in the sparkling water is as beautiful as it is delicious, and the fresh mint and lemon garnish take it fully over the top. It's the kind of drink that gets people asking for the recipe before they've even finished the glass.

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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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