Cozy DIY Christmas Coffee Bar with Peppermint Syrup
Create a festive holiday centerpiece with this easy DIY coffee bar featuring homemade peppermint syrup, fresh toppings, and customizable drink options for guests.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil (optional)
- 2 cups freshly brewed coffee (medium roast)
- 2 cups milk or cream (or oat milk for dairy-free)
- Whipped cream
- Crushed peppermint candies
- Chocolate shavings (dark or white)
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves (3-4 minutes). Do not let it boil vigorously.
- Remove saucepan from heat and let cool for 2 minutes. Stir in peppermint extract and peppermint oil.
- Pour syrup into a glass jar or bottle and set aside.
- Brew coffee using twice the normal amount of grounds to ensure strong flavor. Keep hot in a thermal carafe.
- Crush peppermint candies into chunks (not dust) and place in small serving bowls along with chocolate shavings and other toppings.
- Set up the station with the coffee carafe, syrup bottle, milk, and topping bowls on a tray or counter section.
- Taste the syrup and adjust sweetness or mint intensity if needed before serving.
Notes
Add peppermint extract only after removing the syrup from heat to preserve flavor. Syrup can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge. Use pure peppermint extract for best results; avoid imitation which tastes like toothpaste. For dairy-free options, use oat or almond milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup coffee with 1
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 35
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 2
Keywords: Christmas coffee bar, peppermint syrup, holiday recipes, DIY coffee bar, peppermint latte, holiday hosting, easy holiday drinks