Crème de Menthe vs Peppermint Schnapps: Can You Swap Them?
Crème de menthe is the sweeter, smoother mint liqueur, usually between 20% and 30% ABV and often green. Peppermint schnapps is clear, less sweet and sharper, and can be anywhere from 15% to 50% ABV. In most drinks you can swap one for the other with a small tweak to the sweetness.
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Both turn up all over Christmas menus, from the Grasshopper to the peppermint martini, and most recipes only call for one of them. This guide covers how they differ, exactly how to swap them, what to mix with each and five cocktails to make.
Crème de Menthe vs Peppermint Schnapps at a Glance
| Crème de menthe | Peppermint schnapps | |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Sweet, smooth mint with a hint of vanilla | Sharper, cooler, candy cane style peppermint |
| Colour | Green or clear | Clear |
| Strength | Usually 20% to 30% ABV | 15% to 50% ABV, depending on the brand |
| Sweetness | Very sweet and syrupy | Sweet, but noticeably lighter |
| Per 25ml (approx.) | About 100 kcal and 11g sugar | About 70 kcal and 6g sugar (30% ABV bottle) |
| Best for | Grasshoppers, creamy and dessert drinks | Shots, hot chocolate, coffee, martinis |
| Swap in for the other | 25ml, plus less other sweetener | 25ml, plus a quarter teaspoon of sugar syrup |
Nutrition figures are approximate and based on US nutrition databases. Brands vary a lot, so check the label on your own bottle.
What Is Crème de Menthe?
Crème de menthe is a sweet mint liqueur made by infusing or distilling mint, usually peppermint, in alcohol and sweetening it with sugar. The “crème” refers to the thick, syrupy body, not to dairy. It is sold as either clear white or bright green.
The best-known white version, Giffard Menthe-Pastille, dates back to 1885, when pharmacist Émile Giffard created it in Angers, France, while researching the digestive and refreshing properties of mint. It was named after the mint pastilles that were fashionable at the time.
The taste is cool, sweet and smooth, a bit like a liquid After Eight, with a little vanilla underneath. White crème de menthe tastes cleaner and closer to pure peppermint, while green versions often lean towards spearmint and herbal notes. Unless you need a clear drink or a very green one, you can mostly use the two interchangeably.
What Is Peppermint Schnapps?
Peppermint schnapps is a clear mint liqueur made from neutral grain spirit, flavoured with peppermint and sweetened. Despite the name, it is not the same as the dry German schnaps. The sweet, flavoured style took off in the United States in the 1980s, and peppermint was one of the first flavours to sell widely.
Strength varies more than it does with crème de menthe. Lower-strength bottles start around 15% ABV, mid-range ones sit at about 30%, and Rumple Minze is bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). Rumple Minze is made at the Scharlachberg distillery in Bingen, Germany, although it is largely unknown in Germany itself.
The flavour is bolder and more like a candy cane than crème de menthe, which is why it works so well in hot chocolate, coffee and shots.
The Key Differences
Sweetness. Crème de menthe is the sweeter of the two, with a thick, syrupy texture. Peppermint schnapps generally contains less sugar, so it tastes sharper and less like dessert.
Strength. Peppermint schnapps is often stronger, but not always. A 30% ABV schnapps and a 24% ABV Giffard are closer than the headline ranges suggest, so read the bottle rather than assuming.
Flavour. Schnapps hits with a cooler, more intense peppermint. Crème de menthe is rounder and softer, and it pairs better with cream and chocolate.
Colour. Green crème de menthe gives a Grasshopper its classic colour. Schnapps keeps drinks clear or pale, which matters if you are aiming for a specific look.
Can You Substitute Crème de Menthe for Peppermint Schnapps?
Yes, in most drinks. To use peppermint schnapps in place of crème de menthe, swap it 1:1 and add a quarter teaspoon of sugar syrup for every 25ml to make up the lost sweetness. The drink will come out clear rather than green, so add a drop of green food colouring if the colour matters.
To go the other way, use crème de menthe in place of schnapps at 1:1, cut back any other sweet ingredient slightly and expect a milder, sweeter drink.
Very high-proof schnapps such as Rumple Minze needs a different ratio. Use 20ml for every 25ml of crème de menthe and add 5ml of sugar syrup.
If you have neither bottle, these swaps all work for 25ml of crème de menthe:
| Use this | How much |
|---|---|
| Peppermint schnapps | 25ml plus 1/4 teaspoon sugar syrup |
| Rumple Minze or other 50% ABV schnapps | 20ml plus 5ml sugar syrup |
| White crème de cacao and peppermint extract | 25ml crème de cacao plus 2 to 3 drops extract |
| Branca Menta | 25ml (more bitter and herbal, much less sweet) |
| Vodka, sugar syrup and peppermint extract | 25ml vodka, 12ml sugar syrup and 1 drop extract |
| Mint syrup (alcohol-free) | 25ml |
| Peppermint tea concentrate (alcohol-free) | 25ml of strong peppermint tea mixed 1:1 with sugar syrup |
| Peppermint extract, sugar syrup and water (alcohol-free) | 2 drops extract, 15ml sugar syrup and 10ml water |
Peppermint extract is very concentrated, so add it drop by drop and taste as you go. Crème de menthe is also thicker than most substitutes, so if your swap is thin, trim any other liquid slightly to keep the same body. If you are making the Grasshopper below without the right cream to hand, our cream substitutes guide covers the options.
Brands to Look For
These are my own tasting notes from comparing them side by side. Bottle strengths differ between the UK, EU and US, so always check the label.
Crème de menthe. Giffard Menthe-Pastille is white and bottled at 24% ABV. It starts slightly earthy, then turns to peppermint and citrus with a mild chocolate and vanilla finish, and it holds its own in cocktails. Bols white is milder, with a hint of vanilla that shows up nicely in a Grasshopper. Bols green has the clearest spearmint flavour of the greens I tried and a deep bluish-green colour. Gaetano and Arrow greens taste more of chocolate and vanilla and are brighter in colour, which suits vivid green drinks. Tempus Fugit has a strong pot-distilled character with citrus notes and works better mixed than neat.
Peppermint schnapps. Rumple Minze is the famous strong one at 50% ABV, and it is best kept for shots, hot chocolate and drinks that need serious mint. DeKuyper and Dr McGillicuddy’s are two other widely sold options, usually at lower strengths.
What to Mix With Crème de Menthe
Crème de menthe is sweet, so it works best with things that either add richness or cut through the sugar.
Chocolate, coffee and cream. This is the classic pairing. Mix it with white crème de cacao and cream for a Grasshopper, or use equal parts crème de menthe and Kahlúa over ice for something like a mint mocha. Baileys works well at 2 parts Baileys to 1 part crème de menthe. For a grown-up milkshake, blend 50ml with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, or start from our creamy vanilla milkshake and stir it in.
Spirits. Vodka keeps the mint front and centre: try 2 parts vodka to 1 part crème de menthe over ice. Gin adds herbal depth at 3 parts gin to 1 part crème de menthe with a splash of soda, so it is worth a look at our gin cocktails. White rum with coconut cream or pineapple juice gives a tropical twist. Brandy is the base of the Stinger, made with 3 parts brandy to 1 part white crème de menthe.
Mixers. Add 25ml to a mug of hot chocolate for a peppermint mocha effect. For something lighter, top 25ml with 100ml of soda water over ice and fresh mint. Lemonade cuts the sweetness nicely, especially with white crème de menthe so the colour stays clear. If you need fresh leaves for the garnish, our guide to things to do with mint has plenty of uses for the rest of the bunch.
What to Mix With Peppermint Schnapps
Peppermint schnapps is less sweet and higher in alcohol, so it stretches further and suits both cosy and fresh drinks.
Hot drinks. Hot chocolate is the ultimate partner: add 25ml to 50ml to a mug. It also works in hot or iced coffee with a splash of cream, and in chai or black tea for a minty toddy.
Juices. Cranberry juice with schnapps at 3 parts juice to 1 part schnapps is festive and tart. Orange juice with a splash of champagne makes a minty mimosa, and pineapple juice with a little coconut cream gives a piña colada twist. If you enjoy fizz, our champagne cocktails include one that pairs green crème de menthe with Irish whiskey.
Spirits. Vodka and schnapps at 2 to 1 is an easy party mix, and it is the base of many drinks in our vodka cocktails. Bourbon and schnapps in equal parts with a dash of chocolate bitters is warming and good in winter. Irish whiskey in hot coffee with a splash of schnapps and whipped cream makes a minty Irish coffee, and there are more ideas in our whiskey cocktails.
Creamy mixes. Blend 50ml with two scoops of vanilla ice cream for a boozy milkshake, or add 25ml to a cup of eggnog and dust with nutmeg.
Fizzy mixers. Lemonade or ginger ale with 25ml of schnapps over ice is simple and refreshing. Tonic water at 4 parts to 1.5 parts schnapps gives a less sweet, more bitter option.
5 Cocktails to Make With Them
The most popular way to use either bottle is in a cocktail. If you are planning a festive drinks table, our Christmas cocktails use peppermint schnapps and crème de cacao too.
1. Grasshopper
The classic green cocktail, and a good pick for Halloween, St Patrick’s Day or any time you want something cool and minty.
You will need:
- Ice
- 25ml green crème de menthe
- 25ml white crème de cacao
- 25ml single cream
Add everything to a shaker with ice and shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve with a mint sprig, dipped in chocolate if you like.
2. Peppermint Martini
A Christmas favourite that works all year if you leave off the candy canes.
You will need:
- 60ml vodka
- 15ml crème de menthe
- 15ml peppermint schnapps
- 2 candy canes
- Ice
Crush the candy canes on a plate, dampen the rim of a martini glass and roll it in the crumbs. Fill a shaker two-thirds full with ice, add the vodka and both liqueurs and shake until chilled. Strain into the glass and garnish with fresh mint.
3. Santa Shot
A fun layered shot that pairs fruity grenadine with two kinds of mint.
You will need:
- Grenadine
- White crème de menthe
- Peppermint schnapps
Fill a third of a shot glass with grenadine. Slowly pour the same amount of white crème de menthe over the back of a bar spoon to layer it, then finish with the peppermint schnapps. Top with crushed candy cane if you like.
4. Chocolate Peppermint Stick
A creamy, dessert-style mix of chocolate liqueur, Baileys and peppermint schnapps.
You will need:
- 30ml crème de cacao
- 30ml Baileys
- 30ml peppermint schnapps
- 1 crushed candy cane or a few peppermint sweets
- Ice
Crush the candy cane, dampen the rim of a martini glass and roll it in the pieces. Shake the liqueurs with ice until chilled and strain into the glass.
5. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
The easiest of the five, and the best use of a bottle of schnapps in winter.
You will need:
- 1 mug of hot chocolate
- 25ml to 50ml peppermint schnapps
- Whipped cream
- Crushed candy cane
Stir the schnapps into the hot chocolate, then top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed candy cane.
How Strong Are These Liqueurs?
You can work out the alcohol units in any drink by multiplying the volume in millilitres by the ABV and dividing by 1,000. A 25ml measure of 24% crème de menthe is about 0.6 units, while the same amount of 50% Rumple Minze is about 1.25 units. The NHS advises not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days.
Crème de Menthe vs Peppermint Schnapps FAQs
Is crème de menthe the same as peppermint schnapps?
No. Both are mint liqueurs, but crème de menthe is sweeter, usually lower in alcohol and often green. Peppermint schnapps is clear, less sweet and can reach 50% ABV.
Can I use peppermint schnapps instead of crème de menthe in a Grasshopper?
Yes. Use 25ml of schnapps plus a quarter teaspoon of sugar syrup. The drink will be pale rather than green and slightly stronger.
Does crème de menthe need to be kept in the fridge?
No. Store the bottle upright somewhere cool and dark. You can chill it before serving if you like.
What is a non-alcoholic substitute for crème de menthe?
Mint syrup works at 1:1. You can also mix 2 drops of peppermint extract with 15ml of sugar syrup and 10ml of water.
Is green crème de menthe stronger than white?
Not reliably. Strength depends on the brand rather than the colour, so check the label.
The Short Answer
Choose crème de menthe when you want a sweet, smooth, dessert-style mint drink, and choose peppermint schnapps when you want a sharper, cooler peppermint hit. If you only have one bottle, you can use it in the other’s recipes with a small tweak to the sweetness.
