Candy canes contain sugar and corn syrup with peppermint flavor added during the cooling process. You may see candy canes hanging on Christmas trees. They have a strong peppermint flavor and can be crushed and added to recipes. Candy CanesĬandy canes work as a substitute for peppermint extract. Use twice the amount of creme de menthe as you would peppermint extract. It pairs well with dark chocolate.Ĭreme de menthe is versatile and works well in coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milkshakes, and soda. This liqueur is an ingredient in mint chocolate-chip ice cream, mint cocktails, and mint chocolate cookies. You’ll also want to be careful not to use too much, as creme de menthe is relatively strong.Ĭreme de menthe has a similar flavor profile to peppermint extract but is not as concentrated. Using a good quality creme de menthe as a peppermint extract substitute is essential, as lower quality brands can have a bitter aftertaste. This presumption no longer needs to be the case because this drink is making a comeback, and there are some tremendous artisanal distilleries making creme de menthe. This liqueur has a bad reputation for being cloyingly sweet and sitting around for years because no one wants to drink it. It can be found in most liquor stores and has a strong mint flavor-many people like it as an after-dinner drink. Creme de MentheĬreme de menthe is a mint-flavored liqueur used as a substitute for peppermint extract. Mint leaves, for example, are delicious, but they may need a bit of peppermint oil added for some dessert recipes. Some substitutes are not very strong and may need a flavor boost depending on the recipe.

Many people use these to top cookies, for example, because they contain too much sugar to use as an ingredient. Some substitutes will give you a minty taste, but they can be sweeter, like candy canes and mint candy. They are well suited to baked goods and other appropriate peppermint extract recipes. These ingredients will add sweetness and depth of minty flavor to your dish. The best substitutes for peppermint extract are creme de menthe, peppermint schnapps, peppermint oil, and spearmint extract. You can use several substitutes if you don’t have peppermint extract or find the taste too strong. There are other ways to impart mint flavor into your recipes. Some substitutes require large amounts to achieve a similar result. Peppermint extract is an excellent method for adding excellent peppermint taste to a recipe, so not having it can make achieving the same flavor difficult. Both artificial and imitation products contain unnatural ingredients. There are three varieties of peppermint extract: natural, artificial, and imitation. The alcohol helps extract the flavor from the peppermint leaves, and the concentration of the oil gives peppermint extract its intense flavor. Peppermint extract contains alcohol, peppermint oil, and water. It is a concentrated form of peppermint flavor, so use it sparingly. It adds a minty flavor to cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats. Peppermint extract is made from peppermint stems and leaves and is a common ingredient in many desserts and baking recipes.