Lactose Free Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade

Total time40 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time10 min

5.0

(12)

This drink is the kind of unexpected combination that sounds wild until you take the first sip — and then you immediately want another. The homemade peppermint cocoa syrup is the star, built from maple syrup, unsweetened cocoa powder, and a hit of peppermint extract, so every element is naturally free of dairy without any substitutions or compromises. Bright, tart lemon juice cuts right through the richness of the chocolate, while sparkling water keeps the whole thing light and effervescent. The trick of leaving the drink lightly streaked rather than fully stirred means you get little pockets of intense cocoa-mint flavor in every glass. It's a genuinely refreshing option for anyone who loves a bold, complex drink but needs to skip the cream-heavy coffeehouse versions. Garnished with fresh mint and a lemon slice, it also looks stunning — which makes it just as at home at a dinner party as it is on a random Tuesday afternoon.

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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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