Homemade Peppermint Liqueur Recipe

This peppermint liqueur recipe is similar to peppermint schnapps. It's an easy-to-make liqueur that is tasty to mix in hot chocolate and a number of mixed cocktails. (Those cocktail recipes will follow in another post.) This liqueur is festive and perfect for holiday giving.

The procedure for making this peppermint liqueur is similar to the one explained in my previous post about Homemade Cranberry Liqueur. One difference, though, is that this liqueur needs to steep for 2 weeks before it can be drunk. So, you need to plan ahead if you want this for a specific occasion or gift.

I adapted this recipe from similar versions I found at cdkitchen.com and pastrywiz.com.

Here are the step-by-step photos for Homemade Peppermint Liqueur:

Step 1. Assemble the ingredients: water, vodka, sugar, pure peppermint oil or peppermint extract. (Peppermint oil is available at drug stores, health food stores, and some grocery stores. I found mine at Whole Foods. Peppermint extract is widely available at grocery stores.)

Step 2. Make a simple sugar syrup. Add the sugar and water and heat it up on the stove top. Stir and cook until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear, not cloudy.

View Simple Sugar Syrup Recipe

Step 3. Add the sugar syrup to a large jar or air tight container. Mine is a 2 quart jar. A canning funnel makes the job much tidier.

Step 4. Add the vodka.

Optional: You can add 4-6 drops of red or green food coloring, if you want a colored liqueur. I left mine clear.

Step 5. Add the peppermint oil or extract and stir. Put the lid on the jar and tighten.

Step 6. Put the jar in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks. Every 2-3 days, flip it over or give it a stir. 

Finished! Wasn't that easy? And look how beautiful the peppermint liqueur looks in these bottles. I got my hermetic top bottles at The Container Store. You can use any kind of bottle or jar, as long as they have an air-tight top. Cork top bottles are not recommended, because the cork is porous and will allow the liquid to slowly evaporate.

Don't miss my follow-up post with Peppermint Liqueur Cocktail Recipes,
it includes:

• 6 easy recipes for winter and summer cocktails using this peppermint liqueur. 
• how to turn this into an awesome gift, with free downloadable gift tags and recipe card.

You might also be interested in these posts:

• Homemade Cranberry Liqueur--also yummy, festive, and good for holiday giving.
• Cranberry Liqueur Cocktails--6 recipes with a downloadable recipe card and gift tags.

Make it a yummy day!

Peppermint Liqueur

By Monica              Servings: Makes 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil OR 2 teaspoons peppermint extract (For stronger mint taste, add 3/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil or 3 teaspoons of peppermint extract)
• 3 cups Vodka
• 4-6 drops red or green food coloring (optional)

Directions

--Make sugar syrup: in small saucepan,  combine water and sugar; over medium heat, cook until sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear--approx. 5 min. Let cool completely.
--Into a sterile quart jar with tight fitting  lid, pour vodka, sugar syrup, and peppermint oil or extract. Stir well. Store in cool, dark place, allowing it to steep for 2 weeks. Turn jar upside down every 2-3 days to mix, or remove lid and stir. Transfer to smaller sterile bottles, if desired.
NOTE: For a sweeter, thicker liqueur, add more sugar syrup.