Simple Syrup is fast and easy to make at home and a must have sweetening ingredient for home mixologists. This basic recipe and seven flavored recipes are great for cocktails, gifts and more.
Did you know you can make it yourself?
AND that cocktails are just the start of how it’s used?
This guide answers all your questions about how to make it and 8 easy flavored recipes you’ll love!
What is Simple Syrup?
Also known as ‘sugar syrup’, it is a liquified version of sugar used most commonly in cocktails.
It is easy to make and can be infused with many flavors!
Why Use it instead of Sugar?
Because it’s liquid, simple syrup mixes easily into drinks (cold drinks especially) and other liquids.
This ensures full mixing of the desired sweetness into a cocktail or other liquid.
It prevents undissolved sugar settling into the bottom of a drink too.
Just 2 Ingredients!
There are only two ingredients:
- granulated sugar
- water
That’s it!
Why Make It?
It can be purchased at liquor stores, but there are some advantages of making it yourself:
- Make any size batch you need due to the simple ratio relationship between the ingredients. It’s easy to size a batch.
- It’s easier to keep a fresh batch available when making it at home.
- It’s inexpensive!
Change Up the Sugar!
Regular simple syrup made with granulated white sugar is clear.
Different sugars can be used to change the color and the flavor change.
Demerara or Turbinado sugar – to make a golden color and more light caramel flavor.
Brown sugar – makes a deeply flavored syrup great for winter drinks.
How to Make Homemade Simple Syrup – Three Easy Steps
This is the easiest recipe ever!
STEP 1: Combine equal parts of granulated sugar and water in a saucepan.
STEP 2: Bring to a boil stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
STEP 3: Remove from the heat and cool completely before using.
How to Store Simple Syrup
Store in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator.
How Long Does it Last in the Refrigerator?
When stored in a sealed container it should last up to 1 month.
How to Make Flavored Syrups
One of my favorite ways to create custom cocktails is to make flavored syrups.
The flavor combination are unlimited (some of my favorites are listed later).
Steps to Make It:
STEP 1: Add a flavoring item to the base/regular recipe.
Examples of flavoring items:
- vanilla bean
- cinnamon stick
- whole spices
- herbs
- fruits
STEP 2: Allow to ‘infuse’; transferring flavor to the syrup.
STEP 3: Allow the ingredients to simmer together then cool fully. This creates a rich depth of flavor.
Or try this fresh strawberry simple syrup. Perfect for summer.
How to Use It
The most common use is in making cocktails but that’s not all:
- In cocktails (some recipe ideas below)
- Sweeten cold drinks like iced tea, lemonade or iced coffee (since it is a liquid it blends quickly and well)
- To moisten cakes! A long-known bakers’ trick to keep cakes moist by either soaking the cake layers before assembly or using a squeeze bottle to drizzle it over small holes made in the cake layers
- Poaching fruit. Pears in particular!
- Add it to a sorbet recipe
- Drizzle over a fruit salad for some extra sweetness (especially if you’ve infused the syrup)
- Drizzle over pancakes and waffles for extra sweetness
- Drizzle over plain yogurt
- Add a bit to sparkling water for a whole new drink
- Use it in oatmeal
- Give for gifts
- Add it to a marinade for a sweet-savory ingredient mix
Cocktail Recipes to use it
- Watermelon Mojito
- Basil Mojito
- the Iguana
- Persimmon Margaritas
- Spiced Apple Cider Whisky Sours
- Love Potion #9
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- The Sunfire Cocktail
Simple Syrup Recipes (regular and flavored)
Ingredients
Regular (unflavored)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Flavored Simple Syrups (NOTE: regular recipe PLUS ingredients listed per type)
Cinnamon
Vanilla
- 1 Vanilla Bean slit lengthwise and opened
Cranberry
- 1 ½ cups fresh Cranberries
Lavender
- 1 tablespoon dried Culinary-grade Lavender
Mint
- 1 cup fresh Mint Leaves
Rosemary
- 1/4 cup fresh Rosemary Leaves
Raspberry
- 2 1/2 cups fresh Raspberries (2 6-ounce cartons)
Instructions
Regular (unflavored)
- Combing the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Remove from heat and allow to fully cool.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 1 month in the refrigerator. NOTE: regular and flavored simple syrups should be stored in this way.
Cinnamon
- Add the cinnamon stick to the regular simple syrup while boiling. Boil 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to fully cool.
- Remove and discard the cinnamon stick.
Vanilla
- Add the prepared vanilla bean it to the sugar and water for the regular recipe.
- Follow the regular recipe. Remove the vanilla bean after cool.
Cranberry
- Add the fresh cranberries to the regular recipe. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Allow to simmer until the berries have popped (2-3 minutes) and remove from heat. Cool fully.
- Strain through a fine sieve.
Lavender
- Combine lavender with the sugar and water. Follow the instructions in the regular recipe.
- When cooled, strain the lavender out of the simple syrup using a fine sieve.
Mint
- Add the fresh mint leaves to the regular recipe. Allow to simmer 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool fully, at least 30 minutes.
- When cooled, strain the mint out of the simple syrup using a fine sieve.
Rosemary
- Add the fresh rosemary leaves to the regular recipe. Allow to simmer 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool fully, at least 30 minutes.
- When cooled, strain the rosemary leaves out of the simple syrup using a fine sieve.
Raspberry
- Add thes fresh raspberries to the base recipe. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Reduce to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes; smash the raspberries with a mixing spoon or whisk while simmering to break them up.
- Remove from heat and allow to steep until cool (approximately 1 hour).
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
shar says
hi, i was just wondering what i can do with wild grapes that didnt mature but have a nice punch to them…i have LOTS…vine grew over my shed…lol. wouls you have something?
Toni Dash says
Hi Shar. I unfortunately have never tried wild grapes and really don’t know much about them. BUT I Googled ‘what do with wild grapes’ and several articles and recipes came up: wild grape juice, wild grape jelly, wild grape sorbet for starters. I’d copy that same search and I’ll be you’ll find lots of great options! Good luck! Sounds delish.
Diane says
I made fig simple syrup for a fig old fashion! Delish!
Toni Dash says
Wow! Sounds delicious!
Ingrid Pfoertsch says
Made Basil Martini. To die for!!
Toni Dash says
Yum!
Sandra says
That is so easy to make! Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to use it with my favorite drinks!
Kimberly says
Great tutorial! I love all the different flavor ideas!
Sara Welch says
I never realized how easy it was to make simple syrup! Love adding this to my margaritas; looking forward to enjoying one tonight, indeed!
Jacque Hastert says
This is perfect! I love that I can make it at home and skip buying it at the store.
Dorothy Reinhold says
I am excited about the flavored simple syrups. So many great uses!
Jen says
So many amazing variations! I think the cranberry one will be great especially during the holidays.
Kerri says
OOh! I love the idea of adding Cranberries!
Beth Klosterboer says
I love the idea of drizzling this over plain yogurt. I’m excited to try it.
Sommer says
Simple syrup is used regularly in my home and I only use this recipe. Love all the different flavor options.
Stephanie says
Such an easy recipe! Can’t wait to try it.
Mallory Lanz says
No reason not to make it, it’s so easy. Thanks for the clear directions.
Ashley says
This guide is so thorough and makes it such a simple thing to whip up!
Stephanie Manley says
I loved all of your tips. I have made this a few times when making cocktails, but I just toss it that evening. Much appreciated.
Brandy O'Neill says
Homemade is always better! Saving!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This looks incredibly delicious!
Allyson Zea says
I love using simple syrup in mojitos!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Homemade is always the best! It would be nice to have different flavored simple syrups in stock at home. With lots of holiday parties coming up, this would really come in handy!
Taylor W. says
I need to try this out! Never made it myself!
Erin says
This is a life skill!
Rachel says
This is such a handy recipe to have. It is something that is so easy to make but definitely not something I would think of.
Erin says
Love having this on hand to make cocktails – so easy!
Brooke says
We do make this often, and I appreciate your ideas for drinks to make with it!