With the Christmas season and cold, wintery nights coming up, peppermint-flavored goodies are just around the corner as well!
Think about holding a warm, delicious mug of peppermint hot chocolate, or munching on some peppermint bark in front of a crackling fire – my mouth is already watering!
Now, the best way to get that delicious peppermint flavor into anything you want is by using peppermint extract, a strong and powerful peppermint flavoring agent. This stuff is so convenient – just a few drops and you’re good to go!
However, there are a lot of peppermint extracts out there, and not all of them deserve your attention. For example, let’s push the artificial stuff to the side where it belongs, and take a closer look at the natural extracts!
But don’t worry, you don’t have to do any research – we’ve gone ahead and done that for you, and made this list ranking our favorite high-quality peppermint extracts.
Let’s check them out!
What is peppermint extract?
Peppermint extract is quite simply a liquid with a very strong peppermint flavor to it. It’s made by putting peppermint leaves into alcohol, and letting it steep for a long period of time. That alcohol is usually unflavored vodka, and acts to extract all the flavor of the peppermint leaves. The resulting liquid is then strained, creating peppermint extract!
A cool thing about extracts is that since they use alcohol as a base, they have a really good shelf-life – so you can use your peppermint extract for a long time!
We did review a peppermint emulsion, which is basically the same thing as an extract except that it’s made with water as the base, not alcohol. This makes some changes to the boiling points, with emulsions not evaporating in bakes like extracts do, leaving a stronger peppermint flavor. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences – just keep that in mind when using either!
How to use peppermint extract in recipes
Peppermint extract can be used in anything that you want to add the peppermint flavor to! Try putting a couple drops in your hot chocolate or coffee for a festive hot beverage, or mix it into your ice cream! You can of course use it as an ingredient in bakes, adding that delicious peppermint flavor to things like cookies and muffins. And if you’re feeling the cold weather, try adding a couple drops into some hot water for a tea!
Basically, add it to anything you want to enhance the flavor of in a peppermint-y way!
You may wonder if you can use spearmint extract instead of peppermint extract, but it’s recommended that you use them separately whenever they are called for. Peppermint has a higher menthol concentration, which is why it has that cooling effect and nose-clearing aroma. This makes peppermint a wonderful pairing with sweet desserts!
If you want to substitute peppermint oil with peppermint extract, use 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract for every ¼ teaspoon of peppermint oil that that recipe calls for, as peppermint oil is about 4 times as strong as peppermint extract!
Now, if you want to substitute peppermint oil with peppermint extract, use 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract for every 1 tablespoon of peppermint schnapps that that recipe calls for, as peppermint extract is stronger in this case.
2 great recipes to use your peppermint extract
Many recipes out there call for peppermint extract, but remember that you can really add it to whatever you want! With that being said, try out these recipes that use peppermint extract:
- Vegan peppermint bark: This delicious recipe is vegan-friendly, and will for sure satisfy that peppermint candy craving you have! Using only 4 ingredients, these peppermint barks are sure to be a hit at your Christmas gathering, and calls for ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract in addition to some vegan chocolates and coconut oil – you even have the option of adding crushed peppermint candies or candy canes for an extra oomph!
- Peppermint brownies: Do you like brownies? Well, whatever your answer is, you’ll love these keto-friendly peppermint brownies, especially for the holiday season! They’re made with coconut flour, layered with a frosted peppermint concoction, and then layered again with a delicious keto chocolate mix! This recipe gives you the option of using peppermint oil or peppermint extract, with the proper measurements as well – do yourself a favor and try this delicious recipe!
How to choose the best peppermint extract
To get the best peppermint extract, you need to know what to look for! That’s why we’ve made this list of criteria that every peppermint extract we reviewed goes through, ensuring that only the highest-quality ones get through:
- Ingredients: We don’t like any artificial ingredients in our peppermint extracts, but look for the best natural stuff – which results in the best tasting extract! We also look for transparent ingredient lists to avoid any sketchy ingredients.
- Consumer feedback: Not only does listening to consumer feedback tell us about how trustworthy a brand is, but it also gives a much deeper insight on how good or bad a product is – listen to your fellow bakers!
- Track record: Every product reflects the brand that makes it, so we need to make sure that their track record is clean and free of any scandals or terrible customer interactions!
- Price: You can spend as much or as little as you want on peppermint extracts, so we included prices for everyone!
Now, let’s get into the rankings!
#1 Best Overall: McCormick
Being no stranger among the top spots is McCormick!
McCormick is a brand that’s pretty much synonymous with “flavoring agents,” producing amazing products for a very long time! They have a great track record, and you’ve likely seen their products – or even used them!
McCormick’s peppermint extract is absolutely delicious, providing a pure peppermint taste that you’ll love to use over and over again – they have 32,000+ reviews backing this delicious extract up!
Plus, it comes in at a great price: only $1.25 per fluid ounce! The quality you get for that price is unmatched, and you’ll definitely love this one!
Ingredients: Alcohol (89%), Oil of Peppermint, and Water.
#2 Best Value: OliveNation
Our number 2 spot for the best value peppermint extract goes to OliveNation!
This is an awesome brand that delivers amazing flavoring agents consistently, with their peppermint extract being an absolute hit! It’s delicious, balanced, and super effective in whatever you want to add it to!
But, as amazingly-priced as number 1 on this list is, OliveNation’s peppermint extract costs just $1.00 per fluid ounce – that’s a steal of a deal! They’ve also got over 2000 overwhelmingly positive reviews, and I’m sure you will be one of them!
Save your money, but don’t sacrifice quality!
Ingredients: Alcohol, Glycerin, and Peppermint Oil.
#3 Runner-Up: 365 by Whole Foods Market
At number 3 we have 365 by Whole Foods Market!
This peppermint extract has a wonderful flavor that’s strong and powerful, all while being completely natural and kosher-free. A cool thing about 365 by Whole Foods Market is that they’ve banned a ton of ingredients for their products, refusing to use things such as hydrogenated oils or FD&C colors. That makes using their peppermint extract feel really good on our conscience AND our bodies!
Plus, you get this awesome all-natural product for the solid price of $1.90 per fluid ounce!
Give this one a go!
Ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Peppermint Oil.
#4 Trusted Brand: Watkins
Watkins is one of our most trusted brands for many products, with their peppermint extract being no different!
And you should trust them too – they’ve been in the game for over 150 years, creating delicious flavoring agents while treating their customers right! Their peppermint extract is absolutely delicious, with wonderfully balanced flavors that are strong and powerful.
Their testimony is in their products – you can’t go wrong with Watkins here!
Ingredients: Alcohol, Peppermint oil.
#5 Best in Bulk: Goodman’s
If you’re one of those people that absolutely loves peppermint extract, and it makes more sense to buy in bulk rather than the smaller options that most other companies offer, then Goodman’s is for you!
They offer their peppermint extract in a 16 fluid ounce bottle, making it perfect if you’re planning on doing a lot of baking or adding the delicious flavor to many different things! And yes, this peppermint extract is tasty – as well as gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher-certified, natural, low carb, low calorie, artificial color free, animal product free, and sugar free!
As you can see, you get a lot of perks along with a lot of peppermint extract here!
Ingredients: Peppermint oil, alcohol and water.
#6 Best Organic: Simply Organic
This one’s for everyone that prioritizes organic products over everything else!
I totally understand why people like organic products, but I find that a lot of them slightly miss the mark when it comes to taste…but not this peppermint extract!
Using organic sunflower oil and organic peppermint oil, Simply Organic has created a solid peppermint extract that tastes good, and will definitely meet your needs. It’s also non-GMO and vegan, making it a healthy option if that’s what you’re looking for!
However, it is by far the most expensive on this list, which is something that many organic products share. You can get Simply Organic peppermint extract for $11.04 per fluid ounce, which is something to keep in mind!
Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil.
#7 Baker’s Choice: Wilton
Wilton peppermint extract is the baker’s choice!
They’ve managed to create a wonderful product that’s extremely well-received, achieving a 4.7 out of 5 stars overall, and a separate rating of 4.8 out of 5 for taste – now that’s a good rating!
It is slightly more expensive than some other options on this list, costing $2.96 per fluid ounce – although, I’d say it’s definitely worth it, and so do many others!
Ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Peppermint Oil.
#8 Best Gift: Nielsen-Massey
Who doesn’t love a good gift?
Nielsen-Massey peppermint extract is perfect for the upcoming Christmas season, or if you simply want to give your favorite baker an awesome present!
First of all, their peppermint extract is a solid product with a well-balanced flavor profile, but the really cool thing here that makes it such a great gift is that Nielsen-Massey includes a beautiful gift box with every order!
Now, I’m a sucker for good packaging, and this gift box is clean and perfect for adding that extra special touch.
Or, you can even buy it and enjoy it for yourself!
Ingredients: Alcohol (95%), Peppermint Oil.
#9 Best Keto: Angel Bake
At number 9 we have our choice for the best keto peppermint extract: Angle Bake!
This peppermint extract is exactly what you’re looking for if you need a keto-friendly flavoring agent – it’s a perfect addition to any keto recipe, providing a bold and delicious taste with just a couple of drops!
In addition to being keto-friendly, Angel Bake peppermint extract has no imitation or synthetic components, no PG, no gums, no emulsifiers, and no preservatives – that’s all great!
However, it is a little pricier than a lot of these other ones, coming in at $5.48 per fluid ounce – I’d say that’s definitely worth it if you need a keto-friendly peppermint extract, as you get all those other added benefits along with a great flavor!
Ingredients: Alcohol, water, peppermint flavoring.
#10 Honorable Mention: Frontier Co-op
We want to give an honorable mention to Frontier Co-op peppermint extract, as it’s a solid option as well!
Something neat about Frontier Co-op is that it’s member-owned – which is what a co-op is! Their main members are stores and other organizations that sell their products, along with wholesale customers for a total of a 40,000 member owners!
Another great thing about these guys is that they prioritize ethical practices, which you can support at the same time as getting a great peppermint extract for just $1.85 per fluid ounce!
Ingredients: Sunflower Oil And Peppermint Oil.
#11 Honorable Mention: Happy Home
Another honorable mention goes out to Happy Home!
Happy Home is a family company based in Virginia, working on flavoring agents for over 90 years. In fact, they still use the same recipe for their peppermint flavoring since 1929, making this a tried and true product!
Now, this isn’t an extract, but more of a peppermint flavoring. It has no alcohol in it, but uses natural peppermint flavoring to achieve a great taste. It’s also kosher-certified, and comes in at the affordable price of $1.43.
If you want a peppermint extract, but can’t or don’t want to have anything containing alcohol, Happy Home’s product is your best bet here!
Ingredients: Propylene glycol and natural flavors.
#12 Honorable Mention: Vanilla Bean Kings
Rounding out our rankings is Vanilla Bean Kings.
We’re fans of this brand, as they consistently make high-quality flavoring agents. Their peppermint extract is solid and kosher-certified, making it an attractive option for many people!
It has a wonderful flavor profile, with a strong taste of peppermint that’ll be sure to do its job with just a couple drops! It costs $3.75 per fluid ounce, which is a little more than some of our top choices, and it doesn’t provide anything extra like Nielsen-Massey with their included gift box for the same price.
Regardless, this is a decent one to try!
Ingredients: Alcohol, Glycerin, and Peppermint Oil.
Others we reviewed
Not every product we review makes the cut, as they don’t always pass our list of criteria!
One of those products is Dolce Foglia’s peppermint extract. Yes, it is keto-friendly which is great, but they use artificial flavoring – why get something with artificial ingredients if there are a bunch of awesome options that are natural, as in the list above?
We value natural ingredients over artificial ones here at Coconut Mama, as they bring out the best flavors and are also the best for our bodies!
Another product that didn’t make the cut is LorAnn’s peppermint emulsion. Now, it didn’t get kicked out of the rankings for being an emulsion, but rather for having a bunch of extra preservatives, which is something we don’t like! It is kosher-certified, but preservatives aren’t very healthy, and so we can’t recommend this one!
We encourage you to check out the many natural peppermint extracts on the list above, as we’re certain that you’ll enjoy them for their taste and high-quality!
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