Mint simple syrup is easy to make and just the thing you need to make refreshing drinks all summer long!

mint simple syrup

We’ve been traveling all over for the Cook Once, Eat All Week book tour and two things I’ve noticed everywhere we’ve gone are beautiful weather and lots of graduation caps and gowns. That can only mean one thing – the school year is coming to a close and summer is upon us! This mint simple syrup is SO refreshing. It is slightly sweet but also has a touch of cool, mint flavor that is just perfect this time of year. You can make a batch and keep it in your refrigerator to use whenever you want. Today we’re sharing two of our favorite ways to use it – a mint iced coffee and a Texas Iced Tea.

mint iced coffee with mint simple syrup in a mason jar

How to Make Mint Simple Syrup

Making simple syrup can sound intimidating, like something only ‘mixologists’ and craft cocktail bars can manage to pull off, but it truly couldn’t be any easier. A basic simple syrup is just one part sugar to one cup water. That mixture is then boiled and cooled so you can use it to easily sweeten drinks. To make a flavored simple syrup, you’ll just add your herb or fruit of choice while you boil the mixture, then strain and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it.

texas iced tea with mint simple syrup

Mint Simple Syrup Ingredients

  1. Coconut sugar or white sugar: you choose! We like coconut sugar because it’s unrefined, is a lower-glycemic option, and gives a nice brown sugar taste to the syrup, but if you prefer the taste of classic white sugar, go with that!
  2. Mint: opt for fresh mint when you can, but in a pinch, about ¼ teaspoon mint extract will work just fine.
  3. Water

How thick should simple syrup be?

Simple syrup should be very thin and easy to mix into any drink. If you’re looking for a thicker syrup, simply let it boil for a few extra minutes. Be careful though, you don’t want to reduce the solution too much – we’d keep that boil time under 3 minutes!

What can you do with mint simple syrup?

Here’s the part we’re really excited about! Although the possibilities are endless when it comes to our mint simple syrup, today we’re featuring two tasty drinks that we think will knock your socks off! First up is a mint iced coffee that is a refreshing spin on your everyday cold brew. You’ll simply mix together cold brew, water, cream, and simple syrup for a concoction that is slightly sweet, and totally different from the peppermint mocha drinks that show up around the holidays. If you’re looking for something a little bit boozier, we’ve also got a recipe for Texas Iced Tea, which is a slightly fizzy tea-based drink with lime, rum or bourbon, and mint simple syrup that is perfect for sipping outside on a hot summer’s day. This mint simple syrup would also make for a fantastic mojito, or even to make a strawberry mint lemonade. Whichever way you decide to use it, we hope you love it!

mint iced coffee and texas iced tea made with mint simple syrup

How to Store Simple Syrup

 We recommend letting your simple syrup cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container for storage. We’d go for a glass option (here’s a bottle, funnel, + brush set that would be perfect for this), and store in the fridge in between uses.

How long can you keep simple syrup?

When making simple syrup using the “hot-process” method (using heat to dissolve the sugar), the fridge life is about one month in an airtight container. If you aren’t using an airtight container though, keep an eye on your syrup, as it may only last 2-3 weeks. If you’d like to make a couple of batches at one time, our mint simple syrup can be frozen for later use. Don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t freeze completely solid – that’s only due to the higher sugar content in the syrup!

What can I do with lots of mint leaves?

Okay, so you bought (or picked) fresh mint, made our tasty mint simple syrup, and are now wondering what to do with the leftover mint. We’ve got you covered! Rinse the rest of that mint, pop it in baggies along with a few other ingredients, and have Mint Chocolate Chip Green Smoothies on hand for busy morning breakfasts! Smoothies aren’t your thing? Freeze your leftover mint in an ice cube tray along with enough water to fill each cube, and pop a few in your glass for a refreshing addition to sparkling water, lemonade, or tea!

Mint Simple Syrup Two Ways

5 from 1 vote
By Amber Goulden
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
This easy homemade mint simple syrup makes for two deliciously refreshing drinks!

Ingredients  

For the Mint Simple Syrup:

  • 1 cup coconut sugar or white sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves loosely packed

For a Mint Iced Coffee:

  • 4 ounces cold brew concentrate
  • 3 ounces water
  • 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk for dairy free
  • 1 tablespoon mint simple syrup
  • Fresh mint sprig for garnish

For a Texas Iced Tea:

  • 6 ounces unsweetened iced tea
  • 2 ounces sparkling water
  • 1 1/2 ounces dark rum or bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon mint simple syrup
  • Lime wedges for garnish
  • Mint leaves for garnish

Instructions 

For the Mint Simple Syrup:

  • Add the water, sugar, and mint to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then whisk to combine and reduce heat to medium. Let cook for 3 minutes until sugar is fully dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Strain the mint leaves out of the mixture then store in the refrigerator and cool.

For Mint Iced Coffee:

  • Combine all ingredients in a large glass filled with crushed ice and stir until fully combined.

For Texas Iced Tea:

  • Add the iced tea, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker and shake to fully incorporate the simple syrup.
  • Pour over crushed ice and top with sparkling water, then stir, garnish with lime and mint leaves, and serve!

Recipe Notes

This makes 1 1 /2 cups of simple syrup you can keep in the fridge. Nutrition information is for the syrup only, not the prepared drinks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.02g | Fat: 0.005g | Saturated Fat: 0.001g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.02mg

Additional Info

Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 22
Keyword: mint simple syrup

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Amber Goulden


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