Vegan 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 taste it — and then you immediately want to make another round. The homemade peppermint cocoa syrup is the real star here, built from maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder whisked together into a silky, deeply flavored base that's completely plant-based by nature. Bright lemon juice cuts right through the richness of the chocolate, while sparkling water keeps everything light and fizzy. The trick of leaving the drink lightly streaked rather than fully stirred means every sip hits a little differently — one moment chocolatey, the next tart and refreshing. It's a genuinely stunning glass to set in front of guests, especially with a mint sprig and lemon slice tucked in for good measure. Whether you're serving it at a summer gathering or just treating yourself on a slow afternoon, this one delivers serious wow factor with a surprisingly short ingredient list.

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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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