Creme de Menthe the classic minty-green peppermint liqueur is easy to make yourself! Great for cocktails, recipes and for gifts.
Making homemade liqueurs is delicious and easy. Making classic Crème de Menthe is no exception.
This is a family recipe that my mother and grandmother both made. Like Homemade Coffee Liqueur, it’s easy, affordable, lasts indefinitely and is a great gift idea especially around the winter holidays.
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What is Crème de Menthe?
Crème de Menthe (translated from French to mean ‘mint cream’) is a peppermint-flavored liqueur. It is most easily identified thanks to its deep green color.
What does Crème de Menthe Taste Like?
Liqueurs are sweeter than regular liquor. Usually used for sipping or in cocktails.
Crème de Menthe has a sweet minty flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
There are only a handful of ingredients in this Crème de Menthe recipe making it a cinch to make.
All ingredients are readily available from the grocery or liquor store:
- Water
- Granulated Sugar
- Grain Alcohol (I use Everclear brand)
- Peppermint Extract
- Green Food coloring
How to Make Crème de Menthe
You’ll see from the easy steps it can be made fast and effortlessly:
- Combine the sugar and water. Heat until the sugar dissolved (happens quickly; no need to boil it), stirring frequently to speed the process. Allow to cool.
- Once cool add the grain alcohol, peppermint extract and green coloring.
- Store in a cool, dark location and it will last indefinitely.
How to Store
Store Crème de Menthe in a sealed glass container in a cool, dark place.
Frequently Asked Questions
No! Though the telltale green color is a signature of classic Crème de Menthe, if you don’t like using food coloring you can omit it and leave the liqueur clear.
YES! This homemade Crème de Menthe recipe is naturally gluten free.
If stored as described above, it lasts indefinitely!
Recipes Using Crème de Menthe
Grasshopper Pie: to say this is an all-time favorite recipe in my family would be an understatement!
Grasshopper pie is a frozen pie with a billowy, minty filling made of marshmallow, cream and Crème de Menthe in a chocolate cookie crust.
It has found its way to our Thanksgiving menu annually as well as other times throughout the year.
Grasshopper Pie Milkshake: having the same flavors as Grasshopper Pie, this minty-chocolate shake is a favorite.
Crème de Methe Marshmallows: these easy light green marshmallows are perfect in a cup of hot cocoa or as gifts.
Drizzle over Vanilla Ice Cream: this simple use is always delicious!
Crème de Menthe Cake (That Skinny Chick Can Bake)
Crème de Menthe Bars (Comfortably Domestic)
Cocktails using Crème de Menthe
Probably the best-known cocktail using Crème de Menthe is the Grasshopper Cocktail! A creamy chocolate mint cocktail…
Grasshopper Cocktail Recipe
- 1-part Crème de Menthe
- 1-part Crème de Cacao
- 1-part cream
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake and pour into a martini glass.
TIP: for the bright green color, use clear or light Crème de Cacao. The darker version will still be delicious but the color of the drink is more like drab spinach….not so appetizing.
Creme de Menthe and Cream: I actually combined 2 parts Crème de Menthe and 1-part cream as a cocktail which was great. I did not finish it so poured that into some coffee which was also fabulous.
Mistletoe Mint Martini (Real Housemoms)
Irish Mojito (Recipe Girl)
Guinness Milkshake (Lemons for Lulu)
For more ideas check this list of 12 cocktails using Crème de Menthe
Where to Buy
Because you emailed….
The Bottles with Red Stoppers (these are the Small size)
Edible Candy Cane shot glasses
More Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
- Fall Cocktails from Vail Colorado Restaurants
- Chocolate Martini
Recipe
Homemade Crème de Menthe
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 8 cups sugar
- 1 pint 190 proof grain alcohol (I used Everclear brand)
- 3 tablespoons peppermint extract
- 1 tablespoon green food coloring
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and water. Heat until the sugar dissolved (happens quickly; no need to boil it), stirring frequently to hasten the process. Allow to cool.
- Once cool add the grain alcohol, peppermint extract and green coloring.
Nutrition
Originally published November 29, 2011
Mickey says
It’s so funny for me to see a food blogger from Colorado with a Creme de Menthe recipe! I grew up in KS and used to go on vacation in the western slopes near Meeker as a kid. We would go to a ranch restaurant called Sleepy Cat, where my parents would always get vanilla ice cream with this liqueur as a topping for dessert. Greetings from an American expat in Germany!
Dan says
In your recipe ingredients you call for “peppermint extract”. Which will make your Crème de Menthe liqueur taste like a candy can. You should make a change to your ingredients to say “mint extract” if you want it to taste like a true Cream de Menthe. Peppermint and mint are two different flavors.
Toni Dash says
Hi Dan. This is a multi generational recipe in my family and this is the way it has always been made by us. Head to head it tastes just like store bought crème de menthe. Having said that, ingredients do change over time and perhaps the peppermint extract you’ve used does taste different than the extract used by mother and grandmother in the 1970’s (or even the brand I use). You certainly can swap in mint extract if it’s more to your liking. We love the recipe as we’ve always made it.
Jessica says
Is the grasshopper pie considered alcoholic ie. can it be consumed by minors?
Toni Dash says
Hi Jessica. Grasshopper Pie does have creme de menthe in it (since you are commenting on my homemade creme de menthe you realize it is an alcohol). Here is the recipe so you can check the details: https://boulderlocavore.com/gratitude-and-grasshopper-pie/
Aaron C says
Help!!!
I have several bottles of 1/2oz La Torinese Creme de Menthe and Strega from my uncle. I don’t have the recipe and he has passes away. Do you have the recipe to use these extracts to make the liqueurs? How much sugar, water, alcohol?
thank you.
Toni Dash says
Hi Aaron. I’m not sure I understand your request. If you want to make Creme de Menthe you are commenting on our recipe post with directions to make it. The details of ingredient amounts are all in the recipe card at the end of the post. Hope that helps!
Sal says
Can you vodka instead
Toni Dash says
This is the only way my family has ever made it.