Homemade Peppermint Schnapps

I have a fun holiday DIY to share with you all today! I've wanted to do this for a couple years, so I'm pretty excited about it... homemade peppermint vodka! I'm not a huge fan of vodka, but it's really useful in all sorts of cocktails, and especially as we're approaching christmas there are a ton of fun peppermint drinks to be made! I think I always thought it would be complicated to make infused vodka, but it's actually not! I found this recipe online and it's really simple. Let's get to it!

Ingredients:1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil OR 2 teaspoons peppermint extract (For stronger mint taste, add 3/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil or 3 teaspoons of peppermint extract)
3 cups Vodka
4-6 drops red or green food coloring (optional)

A sterile 1 quart container for the vodka to sit in while it infuses.

The first thing you have to do is make the sugar syrup. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. Over medium heat, cook until the sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear, about 5 min. Let the sugar syrup cool completely.

Now, into a sterile quart jar with tight fitting lid, pour the vodka, sugar syrup, and peppermint oil or extract and stir well (For a sweeter, thicker liqueur, add more sugar syrup). There you go! That's all there is to it. Store your delicious creation in a cool, dark place, allowing it to steep for 2 weeks. Turn the jar upside down every 2-3 days to mix, or remove lid and stir.

Once your peppermint vodka is done, you can pour it into smaller containers if you'd like. I think it'd be a perfect holiday gift, and I might just make up another batch for just such a purpose. I've got about 70 mason jars leftover from the wedding, and I think it'd be super cute to give people little mason jars full of peppermint vodka (and maybe even attach a mini candy cane!).