This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This mint simple syrup is made with honey and is perfect for cocktails, mocktails, in tea, coffee or for baking projects! It’s simple to make it will last for a week or two in the refrigerator.
Paleo Mint Simple Syrup Recipe
This 3-ingredient flavored simple syrup uses no refined sugars or artificial ingredients. It has an amazing and earthy mint flavor. Simple syrup is basically just water and sugar cooked together to create a liquid sweetener that easily dissolves in other liquid. It’s perfect for making drinks and for baking projects and is so easy to make. We’re skipping out on the white sugar and instead using honey to sweeten this Mint Simple Syrup.
Mint Simple Syrup Ingredients:
- Fresh Mint
- Water
- Honey
Types of Mint
There are so many different types of mint out there! They all have their own taste and aroma. More than likely if you’ve just got your standard run-of-the-mill mint either growing in your backyard or from the grocery store, it is probably peppermint or spearmint. Both of those will work well for this recipe and give it a typical mint taste. Another varietal that will work well for this simple syrup is Chocolate Mint. This isn’t easy to find in stores, but if you are lucky enough to be growing it in your garden definitely use it here!
Uses for Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
You’ll get the most use out of a mint simple syrup in beverages! You can use it in cocktails, such as a Mojito, or in mocktail recipes (cocktails without alcohol). It would be great with agua frescas (fruit blended with water) such as watermelon, or used in a lemonade recipe! It would be perfect in any tea, but especially a Fresh Mint tea and it could be a fun addition to coffee! If you are an avid baking you could use simple syrup to infuse flavors in cake layers or to use in a brownie recipe to make it minty!
Why do you ” bruise” the mint?
In this recipe we call for you to rough up the mint, or bruise it. The reason we instruct you to do this is because bruising the mint helps the oils come out of the herb and gives the simple syrup more flavor.
How to Make Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
- First you make the simple syrup! Again, we’re using honey instead of white sugar to avoid using refined sugar. Simple syrup is 1 part water to 1 part sweetener.
- Clean the mint leaves!
- Next you bruise or rough up the mint to help release the oil. Then place the cleaned mint leaves in a heat proof bowl. Carefully pour the simple syrup over the mint. Let it infuse for 10 minutes.
- Carefully strain the mint leaves, pressing down gently to get all of the oils out of the leaves.
- Place your simple syrup in a heat proof jar with a tight fitting lid and let cool completely. Cover and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
- Use as desired!
Washing Your Mint Leaves
Washing Your Mint LeavesMint can often be very gritty and dirty. Washing the mint leaves really well is important because if left with grit on them, the mint will turn the simple syrup muddy. To properly wash mint you should:
- Pick all the mint leaves off the stem
- Fill a big bowl with cool water
- Submerge the mint leaves and swoosh them around.
- Let them sit for a minute so that the dirt drops to the bottom.
- Pick up the mint leaves as gently as possible, so as to not disturb the dirt, and place in a colander.
- Empty out the water, rinse the bowl and repeat the process until no dirt is left behind in the bowl.
- If desired you can run the mint leaves in a salad spinner to dry them off.
If you like this mint recipe, check out these others:
- How to Make Fresh Mint Tea
- Arugula Salad with Mint Chia Dressing
- Mojito (coming soon)
- Mint Pesto (coming soon)
Mint Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 small bunch about 1 ounce mint leaves, cleaned well
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: To a small pot add honey and water. Turn on the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn off heat.
- Place the cleaned mint leaves in a heat proof bowl and tear them into smaller pieces with your hands, bruising them as you go to get the oils out of the leaves. Carefully pour the simple syrup over the mint. Let sit to infuse for 10 minutes.
- Carefully strain the mint leaves, pressing down gently to get all of the oils out of the leaves.
- Place your simple syrup in a heat proof jar with a tight fitting lid and let cool completely. Cover and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
