Nightshade Free Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade
This drink sounds like it shouldn't work — and yet it absolutely does. The combination of rich chocolate, cool peppermint, and bright citrus creates something genuinely surprising in the glass, with sparkling water lifting everything into a fizzy, refreshing finish. The homemade cocoa syrup comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop, using maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder whisked into a smooth, glossy base that you can keep chilled and ready to go. Because every ingredient here is naturally free of nightshades — no hidden spice blends, no tomato-derived additives, no paprika lurking in a flavored syrup — you can mix this up without second-guessing a single label. The peppermint extract gives it a clean, almost dessert-like edge that plays beautifully against the tartness of fresh lemon juice. Serve it over ice with a mint sprig and a lemon slice for a drink that looks as striking as it tastes.
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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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