Refreshing Peppermint Flavoring (Printable)

A cool, minty peppermint flavoring perfect for enhancing desserts, drinks, and baked treats.

# What You Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup vodka (at least 40% alcohol)

→ Flavor

02 - 1 cup fresh peppermint leaves, lightly packed and washed

# How to Make It:

01 - Gently bruise the peppermint leaves with your hands or a muddler to release their oils.
02 - Place the bruised peppermint leaves in a clean, sterilized glass jar.
03 - Pour the vodka over the peppermint leaves, ensuring they are fully submerged.
04 - Seal the jar tightly and store in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking gently every few days.
05 - Strain the infused liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bottle, discarding the leaves.
06 - Keep the peppermint flavoring in a sealed container at room temperature until use.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You'll have a pantry staple that tastes fresher and more potent than anything bottled, because you made it yourself with real peppermint leaves
  • It transforms your baking with a sophisticated, homemade touch that friends will immediately notice and ask about
  • The ritual of waiting and shaking the jar becomes its own kind of meditation, turning anticipation into part of the gift
02 -
  • The infusion time matters more than you think—rushing it to 2 or 3 weeks will give you something pale and weak, while 4 to 6 weeks creates an extract with real depth and presence
  • Shaking the jar regularly isn't just busywork; it's essential. Those gentle shakes distribute the flavors evenly and speed up the infusion process—I learned this the hard way when I forgot about mine for three weeks
03 -
  • Use the highest quality fresh peppermint you can find or grow—farmers market peppermint will outshine supermarket leaves every single time
  • If you're making this for others, let it infuse longer rather than shorter; 6 weeks gives you an extract so good people will swear there's magic in your kitchen

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