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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails » How to Make Simple Syrup: 8 Recipes and Suggested Uses

    LAST UPDATED: June 20, 2020 • FIRST PUBLISHED: December 11, 2018 By Toni Dash 54 Comments

    How to Make Simple Syrup: 8 Recipes and Suggested Uses

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    How to Make Simple Syrup title image

    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.

    How to Make Simple Syrup title image

    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!
    white bowl of granulated sugar

    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.

    Persimmon Margaritas with Cinnamon Simple Syrup

    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.

    Fresh mojito using simple syrup

    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
    Bottle of homemade simple syrup

    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
    Cranberry Moscow Mule with Homemade Cranberry Simple Syrup
    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
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    How to Make Simple Syrup title image

    Simple Syrup Recipes (regular and flavored)

    Simple syrup is fast and easy to make at home. Infuse it with different ingredients to change the flavor completely!
    5 from 40 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktails, Cocktail Syrup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 24 1 tablespoons servings approximately(aproximately 1 1/2 cups total)
    Calories: 32kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Regular (unflavored)

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup water

    Flavored Simple Syrups (NOTE: regular recipe PLUS ingredients listed per type)

      Cinnamon

      • 1 Cinnamon Stick

      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. 

      Nutrition

      Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Sugar: 8g
      Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      TONI DASH
      Toni Dash head shot

      Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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      1. shar says

        September 09, 2021 at 5:12 pm

        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?

        Reply
        • Toni Dash says

          September 09, 2021 at 8:53 pm

          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.

          Reply
      2. Diane says

        November 18, 2020 at 11:42 pm

        5 stars
        I made fig simple syrup for a fig old fashion! Delish!

        Reply
        • Toni Dash says

          November 19, 2020 at 5:41 am

          Wow! Sounds delicious!

          Reply
      3. Ingrid Pfoertsch says

        August 09, 2020 at 8:04 am

        5 stars
        Made Basil Martini. To die for!!

        Reply
        • Toni Dash says

          August 09, 2020 at 8:36 am

          Yum!

          Reply
      4. Sandra says

        June 17, 2020 at 12:24 pm

        5 stars
        That is so easy to make! Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to use it with my favorite drinks!

        Reply
      5. Kimberly says

        June 16, 2020 at 5:33 pm

        5 stars
        Great tutorial! I love all the different flavor ideas!

        Reply
      6. Sara Welch says

        June 16, 2020 at 12:23 pm

        5 stars
        I never realized how easy it was to make simple syrup! Love adding this to my margaritas; looking forward to enjoying one tonight, indeed!

        Reply
      7. Jacque Hastert says

        June 16, 2020 at 6:12 am

        5 stars
        This is perfect! I love that I can make it at home and skip buying it at the store.

        Reply
      8. Dorothy Reinhold says

        June 15, 2020 at 8:47 pm

        I am excited about the flavored simple syrups. So many great uses!

        Reply
      9. Jen says

        June 15, 2020 at 8:07 pm

        5 stars
        So many amazing variations! I think the cranberry one will be great especially during the holidays.

        Reply
      10. Kerri says

        June 15, 2020 at 8:58 am

        5 stars
        OOh! I love the idea of adding Cranberries!

        Reply
      « Older Comments

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      About Toni Dash

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      Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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