Rice Free Peppermint Cocoa Lemonade

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 syrup creates something genuinely surprising in the glass, like a chocolate mint candy dissolved into a sparkling lemonade. The homemade syrup comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop using maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder, so every ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify. Straining the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve keeps the texture silky smooth, and chilling it before assembling means the sparkling water stays lively and effervescent. Grain-based thickeners and fillers are a non-issue here since the whole drink is built from fruit juice, cocoa, and sparkling water — nothing hidden, nothing complicated. The lightly streaked finish when you pour it into the glass looks almost too pretty to drink, but you absolutely should. Serve it over ice with a mint sprig and a lemon slice for a showstopper that works just as well at a dinner party as it does on a hot afternoon.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

Learn more →