Gut Friendly Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade

Total time40 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time10 min

5.0

(12)

This drink sounds like it shouldn't work — chocolate, mint, and lemon in the same glass — but somehow it absolutely does. The homemade peppermint cocoa syrup is built from maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder, keeping things naturally sweetened and free from the refined sugars and artificial additives that can throw a sensitive gut off balance. Fresh lemon juice brings a bright, zingy acidity that actually supports digestion, while the sparkling water adds a gentle effervescence that makes the whole thing feel celebratory without being heavy. Straining the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve is a small but smart step that keeps the texture silky smooth. The result is a lightly streaked, visually stunning drink that's as fun to look at as it is to sip. It comes together quickly once the syrup is chilled, making it an easy go-to when you want something that feels indulgent but sits well.

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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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