Peppermint-flavored candies and confections are abundant during the colder months across grocery stores, gift shops, and holiday markets. With a refreshing, cooling flavor, peppermint provides a nice contrast to a sugary treat or a decadent chocolate dessert.
But if you're like me, you might have picked up some peppermint extract in hopes of cooking up some holiday sweets and completely forgotten about it. So naturally, you might wonder: is that peppermint extract still good? What's the difference between peppermint extract and peppermint oil? And what recipes can I try using peppermint extract?
In this guide, I’ll walk through all of your burning questions on peppermint extract!
Peppermint Extract
Origin: Comes from peppermint leaves, as opposed to spearmint leaves, and is a mixture of peppermint essential oil and alcohol
Varieties: Natural, imitation, and artificial, all in liquid form
Substitutes: 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil (make sure it is edible) or 1 tablespoon peppermint schnapps
How Peppermint Extract Is Made
Typically, peppermint extract is made in one of two ways: you can dilute the essential oils with alcohol or steep peppermint leaves in alcohol and strain them before use. Purchase peppermint extract at your local grocery store or make it yourself as a fun project! (The homemade version is markedly different form the commercial version, though: it's murky brown and not nearly as fresh-tasting.)
There are three main forms of the extract: natural, imitation, and artificial. Natural peppermint extract includes minimal ingredients: alcohol, peppermint oil, and sometimes, water. Imitation and artificial extracts contain artificial flavorings.
Spearmint Vs. Peppermint
Spearmint and peppermint are two different types of mint leaves. Peppermint has a significantly higher concentration of menthol, which gives the herb its signature cooling flavor and aroma.
Because of the difference in menthol concentration, they are not ideal substitutes for one another despite having similar properties. As a result, spearmint is more commonly used in sweet and savory applications, while peppermint is more often found in sweet desserts, especially around the holidays.
Peppermint oil and peppermint extract are two very different ingredients. Peppermint oil is the pure essential oil derived from peppermint leaves. Peppermint extract is a mixture of peppermint essential oils and alcohol.
Peppermint oil is quite strong, so you need to dilute it for most uses. The oil is about four times as strong as the extract.
Check the Label
Peppermint oil has non-culinary applications, such as aromatherapy, so not all oils sold are edible.
Where to Buy Peppermint Extract
You can purchase peppermint extract in most larger grocery stores. Alternatively, shop for the extract at an online specialty shop.
Pay attention to the variety you're looking for, whether natural, imitation, or artificial. Make sure the label says 'peppermint,' as opposed to spearmint.
How to Store
Store your bottle of peppermint extract covered tightly in a cupboard or pantry shelf away from light. Peppermint extract should last about 3 to 4 years.
Peppermint Extract Substitutes
If you can't find peppermint extract, there are a few substitutions that work just as well. For 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, substitute:
1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil (make sure it is edible)
1 tablespoon peppermint schnapps
How to Cook with Peppermint Extract
You can use peppermint extract as you might with vanilla extract by adding a small amount to baked goods or chilled desserts, such as ice cream. In my opinion, peppermint extract has a sharper flavor than vanilla, so I usually start with a smaller quantity and adjust as needed.
Here are some of our favorite ways to use peppermint extract:
Add a couple of drops to some hot water for an herbal peppermint tea
Add to an ice cream base to make peppermint ice cream. Then, mix in crushed peppermint patties for a minty, sweet treat!
Spoon a couple of drops into your hot chocolate to make peppermint hot chocolate.
Spoon a little extract into your cookie dough to make peppermint-flavored cookies.
Recipes With Peppermint Extract
Looking for more ideas to use up your peppermint extract? We've curated a few delicious, minty recipes for you to dive into!
Add a couple of drops to some hot water for an herbal peppermint tea
peppermint tea
Mint tea is a herbal tea made by infusing mint leaves in hot water. Mint tea made with peppermint leaves is called peppermint tea, and mint tea made with spearmint is called spearmint tea. There also exist teas that infuse peppermint and spearmint leaves.
. Add to an ice cream base to make peppermint ice cream. Then, mix in crushed peppermint patties for a minty, sweet treat! Spoon a couple of drops into your hot chocolate to make peppermint hot chocolate.
You can use it in your coffee, give it to someone for a gift exchange, or you can make your own fancy coffee drinks. This recipe is really simple and only requires a few ingredients: half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract.
In answer to your question, you can substitute ½ cup fresh mint with 3 tsp (teaspoon) or 1 Tbs (tablespoon) mint or peppermint extract. Extracts come in different concentrations. I would add first 1-2 tsp mint extract and check the flavor then add another 1 tsp and check again until the flavor is right.
For hot drinks: Boil a cup of hot water and pour it into a mug. Mix in two to three drops of peppermint oil and drink. For cold drinks: Pour yourself a glass of cold water and mix in one drop of peppermint oil to create a calorie-free, thirst-quenching drink.
Its side effects are claimed to be usually mild and minimally toxic (gastro esophageal reflux, heartburns, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions and diarrhea). High doses could be hepatotoxic[2] and nephrotoxic (rarely interstitial nephritis and acute renal failure).
Peppermint oil appears to be safe when taken orally (by mouth) or applied topically in the doses commonly used. Peppermint oil has been safely used in many clinical trials. Possible side effects of peppermint oil taken orally include heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, and dry mouth.
Peppermint oil can help ease symptoms in people with digestive conditions, such as IBS, functional dyspepsia, and nausea after surgery. Enteric-coated peppermint oil appears to be safe to take internally, but healthcare professionals recommend using the essential oil for topical and aromatherapy purposes only.
Peppermint has a strong, spicy flavor and is actually a natural hybrid of spearmint and watermint. This is why it tends to be so much more potent than spearmint alone and works well with dark chocolate recipes.
Add vanilla extract and peppermint extract; mix to combine. Add flour and mix until it's incorporated and forms a dough. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
Many people use a teaspoon to measure how many essential oil drops are needed, as it holds approximately 5 ml of oil, which is about 100 drops of carrier oil. This means to dilute to 2%, you will only need to add 2 drops of peppermint oil to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, which can be easily done using the dropper.
Mint water prevents and treats constipation, regulates body temperature, maintains electrolyte balance, optimises natural detox, maintains blood pressure and keeps you energetic throughout the day. "Mint also helps you improve your mood.
You can easily make your own extract at home with peppermint, alcohol and a little patience. And peppermint leaves (fresh or dried), extract or essential oil can also be used for brewing your own herbal mint tea infusion at home.
However, menthol is toxic in large quantities, causing seizures and, in rare cases, death. Anyone sensitive to menthol might also experience chemical burns, and young children are more likely to have these reactions. Some symptoms of peppermint candy side effects include: Blurred vision.
Storage: McCormick Culinary® Pure Peppermint Extract has a shelf life of 1,440 days when stored tightly closed when not in use in a cool, dry place to prevent evaporation of the alcohol. Avoid exposure to heat, humidity, direct sunlight and fluorescent light to maintain flavor and color.
We found some surprising gems for flavoring drinks! Generally, we found that the best approach was to start with 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of extract per glass of whatever you're sipping, then add more extract as desired.
Finally, you can try using peppermint extract for a particularly strong wintery taste. All you need is a drop or two of the extract to give your coffee a fresh and minty flavor, but you can always add more. Remember to start with a small amount and gradually increase it to your liking.
Mint extract is too concentrated to dash right into your co*cktail, so use it to make a mint-flavored simple syrup instead. Just add a teaspoon of the extract to a cup each of water and sugar, and heat on the stove until sugar is completely dissolved.
Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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