Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (2024)

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Do you like the taste of chocolate and peppermint together? Then you should enjoy this easy chocolate mint extract recipe. It's made in a similar manner to the vanilla, almond and lemon extracts. (Check out the other homemade extract recipes here.) I use the chocolate mint plant as the basis for my extract, but peppermint will also work in combination with cacao nibs.

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (1)

Homemade extracts are great for holiday gift giving. The flavor gets stronger the longer you allow the extract to steep, so make sure to plan for at least 6 weeks of infusion. I haven't purchased commercial mint extract in years.

You can use your homemade chocolate mint extract for all sorts of things. Add a little to your brownies, hot chocolate or hot chocolate eggnog, ice cream, homemade peppermint patties – use your imagination!

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (2)

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe

Ingredients

80 Proof (40% alcohol by weight) vodka

Fresh chocolate mint leaves -OR- Fresh peppermint leaves

1 tablespoon of cacao nibs

Directions

Harvest mint in the morning after the dew has cleared. Remove any spoiled leaves and debris, rinse with cold water if needed and pat dry. Keep in mind that any excess water will dilute the extract and may lead to spoilage. Get your leaves nice and dry before chopping them for extract. We've have a LOT of rain here recently, so I didn't bother with a rinse.

I snip off the tender tops, and then strip the rest of the mint leaves from the stem by running my hand from top to bottom. Chop the mint leaves coarsely to create more surface area. A little rough handling/smashing as you pack them in the jar also helps release the oils.

Place chopped mint leaves in a small jar, enough so that the jar is filled but there is still some room for the leaves to wiggle and the booze to fit in. (I used a recycled jam jar, but a cup or half cup canning jar would work well, too.)

Add 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs per cup jar for chocolate mint extract, if you are using peppermint leaves, or if you'd like to add a little more chocolate flavor to your chocolate mint.

Fill jar with vodka to cover the mint leaves. Place lid on jar. Store out of direct sunlight, stirring or shaking daily, for 6-8 weeks. Longer is better if you have the time.

Strain out the mint leaves and cacao nibs with a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or flour sack towel. Store in a dark bottle out of direct sunlight. Order a set of 4 ouncedark bottles here.

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (3)

Experiment with Other Mint Extracts

You can use a similar method with whatever sort of mint you have on hand. (I do think catmint might taste a little funny.) Spearmint, gingermint and applemint would be lovely, I'm sure. (There are over 600 varieties of mint, so you have a lot of options.) Don't have fresh mint? You can also make mint extract with dried mint. Can't find chocolate mint at your local nursery? Via the wonder of the internet, you can order a chocolate mint plant online.

Once you've established an herb garden, or even tucked in a few herb plants here and there (many of mine are free range, like chickens, and wander around the yard), you can enjoy years of harvests. Mints do like to spread, so plant them in a pot, or where they have plenty of room to grow or where you can mow around them to keep them in check. I made up this extract after we had already had our first fall frosts. (These plants are tough.) On the same day I filled the dehydrator with chocolate mint, catnip and spearmint. (Chocolate mint makes wonderful herbal tea!)

What's your favorite low maintenance herb, and how do you like to use it? It's always a pleasure to exchange information and get new ideas from our readers.

You may also find useful:

  • How to Make Liquid Sweetener from Homegrown Stevia – Homemade Stevia Extract
  • How to Make Homemade Extracts – Vanilla, Lemon and Almond
  • Apple Scrap Vinegar – Get More Out of Your Apple Harvest

Printable Version of Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe

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Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe

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Easy chocolate mint extract made with fresh mint leaves and cacao nibs.

Ingredients

Scale

80 Proof (40% alcohol by weight) vodka

Fresh chocolate mint leaves

-OR-

Fresh peppermint leaves and 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs

Instructions

Harvest mint in the morning after the dew has cleared. Remove any spoiled leaves and debris, rinse with cold water if needed and pat dry. Keep in mind that any excess water will dilute the extract and may lead to spoilage. Get your leaves nice and dry before chopping them for extract. We've have a LOT of rain here recently, so I didn't bother with a rinse.

I snip off the tender tops, and then strip the rest of the mint leaves from the stem by running my hand from top to bottom. Chop the mint leaves coarsely to create more surface area. A little rough handling/smashing as you pack them in the jar also helps release the oils.

Place chopped mint leaves in a small jar, enough so that the jar is filled but there is still some room for the leaves to wiggle and the booze to fit in. (I used a recycled jam jar, but a cup or half cup canning jar would work well, too.)

Add 1 tablespoon of cacao nibs per cup jar for chocolate mint extract, if you are using peppermint leaves, or if you'd like to add a little more chocolate flavor to your chocolate mint.

Fill jar with vodka to cover the mint leaves. Place lid on jar. Store out of direct sunlight, stirring or shaking daily, for 6-8 weeks. Longer is better if you have the time.

Strain out the mint leaves and cacao nibs with a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or flour sack towel. Store in a dark bottle out of direct sunlight.

Notes

Use in your favorite recipes that call for mint extract, or anywhere you'd like a little chocolately-minty flavoring.

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (5)

Originally posted in 2014, updated in 2017.

Easy Chocolate Mint Extract Recipe - Just Three Ingredients (2024)

FAQs

Can I add mint extract to melted chocolate? ›

Once chocolate is melted, place 1/2 teaspoon of shortening in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for a few seconds until melted. Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and stir well. Then add peppermint shortening to melted chocolate and stir well.

Can you add flavor extract to melting chocolate? ›

Melt or temper chocolate to desired temperature. Add the extract of choice and mix it gently. The extract will mix with the chocolate without any changes to the consistency or texture of the chocolate. Set the chocolate in molds, use in ganache, as dipping sauce etc.

What is chocolate mint extract used for? ›

I am particularly fond of adding it to hot chocolate & brownies. Chocolate mint also makes delicious tea -- simply dry the leaves & flowers, or steep it fresh on its own for a lovely cup. Simply boil your water & sweetener in a good sized saucepan, stirring to dissolve.

What can I do with chocolate mint leaves? ›

You could also use it in the kitchen in many desserts. Tear the leaves and sprinkle over macerated strawberries and cream, brownies with vanilla ice cream, chocolate tarts, and more. Finally, you could use it to garnish dessert-y drinks, milkshakes, or iced coffee.

What does mint chocolate do to your body? ›

Chocolate Mint contains several vitamins and minerals that can aid your immune system and reduce chronic inflammation. Its refreshing flavour, like other mints, awakens the mind, increasing focus and cognitive function. Its soothing qualities may aid digestive function and relieve breathing problems.

Is chocolate mint plant toxic to dogs? ›

🍫🐶 Chocolate mint contains theobromine, toxic to dogs, not the mint itself. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and more; vet attention is crucial. Prevent ingestion with garden dog-proofing and training commands like "leave it".

How to make extracts without alcohol? ›

To make your non-alcoholic extracts, just substitute the alcohol called for in any extract recipe with three parts food-grade liquid glycerin and one part water. Stir the two ingredients together until well combined. Then, proceed with the recipe as usual.

What alcohol is best for mint extract? ›

Fill jar with vodka, completely submerge mint leaves. Place lid on jar and give it a good shake. Place jar in a cupboard or out of direct light, but somewhere you'll remember to shake it every few days. Let mint leaves steep for at least 6 weeks.

How long does homemade mint extract last? ›

Store in a cool, dry, dark place (such as a cupboard) and swirl once a day for at least 4 weeks (or longer, if you prefer a stronger extract). Strain out the leaves and pour the extract into a dark jar or other container (exposing your extract to light can decrease shelf life). Will keep for up to 6 months.

Why is my chocolate mint dying? ›

Keep an eye out for discoloration—leaves turning yellow or brown are sending an SOS. Wilting foliage is another red flag, indicating your Chocolate Mint might be thirsty or drowning. And don't ignore leggy growth; it's the plant's way of saying it's starved for sunlight.

What is the difference between mint and chocolate mint? ›

Chocolate mint is an herbaceous shrub in the mint family Lamiaceae. Technically, it is a hybrid of two mints, peppermint (Mentha piperita) and orange mint (Mentha citrata). It has lovely dark green, lance-shaped leaves, and, in summer, it erupts in lavender-colored flowers.

Can I eat chocolate mint leaves? ›

Chocolate Mint is a perennial herb that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The fragrant oval green leaves are usually harvested from late spring to early fall. The leaves have a minty taste.

Can you add extracts to candy melts? ›

Traditional Candy Melts candy is vanilla flavored; however, you can also find them in dark cocoa and light cocoa, as well as a variety of limited edition flavors. If you want to add your own flavoring, make sure your extract is oil-based. Anything that's not oil-based may ruin your melted candy.

What do I add to chocolate when melting? ›

Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil or vegetable oil while microwaving helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and makes it the perfect consistency for dipping! The caveat here is that once cool, the chocolate won't set up quite as hard as it did to begin with due to the added fat content.

What should you not do when melting chocolate? ›

Chocolate and water don't go together. Even a small splash of water in your melting chocolate will cause it to seize, becoming stiff and grainy instead of smooth and silky.

Does mint and chocolate go together? ›

Few flavor pairings are as perfectly matched as mint and chocolate. The contrast between freshness and decadence is almost impossible to resist. From festive peppermint ideas that are absolutely perfect for the holiday season to vibrant green treats for St.

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