If you’ve ever found yourself heading to the store to buy simple syrup for cocktails, iced coffee, or any other purpose, you need this recipe! With 5 minutes to spare and just 2 ingredients that you almost certainly already have, you can make simple syrup at home. It’s easy to scale - make as much or as little as you need! - and substantially cheaper than buying it pre-made.
If you fancy yourself a home bartender or barista, simple syrup is a key ingredient to have on hand. As a neutral-flavored sweetener that mixes easily into both hot and cold liquids, it comes in handy for so many recipes. Although you can buy it at most grocery or liquor stores, it’s quicker and easier to make simple syrup from scratch. This is a basic kitchen skill anyone can learn, memorize, and master with very little effort!
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup, also commonly called “sugar syrup”, is a liquid sweetener made from a basic mixture of sugar and water. Granulated sugar is most commonly used, but you can also make it with raw cane sugar (such as demerara sugar), brown sugar, coconut sugar, or even honey.
By dissolving the sugar in water, you can use it in applications where regular granulated sugar would not perform well, such as mixing into cold drinks, brushing onto layer cakes, or glazing a fruit tart.
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Simple Syrup Ratios
The formula for a basic simple syrup recipe is equal parts sugar and water (preferably filtered water). This 1:1 ratio is what most drink recipes call for, and will yield a sweetener with a fairly low viscosity - closer to water than honey.
To make rich simple syrup, increase the sugar to water ratio to 2:1. This will yield a slightly thicker syrup with a more intensely sweet flavor.
How to Make Simple Syrup at Home
While it's most commonly made over the stove, you can also microwave simple syrup or make it without the use of any heat whatsoever. In my opinion, there is no "best way" to do it - each method has its pros and cons.
While using a hot method will help kill off microorganisms that can shorten the shelf life of homemade simple syrup, it also necessitates extra time allowing the syrup to cool before you can use it. No cook simple syrup, on the other hand, can be used immediately and can be made without any kitchen appliances, but has a shorter shelf life.
Stovetop Instructions
Tools Needed: Small saucepan; spoon or whisk.
Combine granulated sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook just long enough for the sugar to dissolve completely into the hot water, stirring often. Do not simmer or boil.
Remove from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature before using.
Microwave Instructions
Tools Needed: Microwave-safe measuring glass (minimum 2-cup capacity); spoon.
Combine the granulated sugar and water in a measuring glass and stir to combine. Microwave for 90 seconds.
Stir again, microwaving for an additional 30 seconds as needed to ensure all of the sugar dissolves. Let cool before using.
No Cook Instructions
Tools Needed: Tightly-lidded bottle or glass jar (minimum 2-cup capacity)
Combine the granulated sugar and room temperature water in a glass bottle or jar. Seal tightly and shake vigorously for 3-5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved completely. The mixture may look cloudy at first, but should clear up after it's had a few minutes to settle.
How to Store Simple Syrup
I recommend storing simple syrup in a sealed bottle, mason jar, or similar airtight container and keeping it in the refrigerator. If made with one of the heated methods above, it should keep for up to 1 month. No heat simple syrup lasts for about half that time, or up to 2 weeks.
Rich syrup - made with twice the amount of sugar as water - will stay fresh for anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
Adding Flavors
Much like the infinite flavors of syrup you can find at your local coffee shop, there are plenty of ways you can make infused simple syrup at home! Here are a few flavor enhancers you can add:
- Whole Spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean, cloves, and all spice.
- Citrus zest from oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruits.
- Florals, including lavender buds, rose petals, or elderflower blossoms.
- Fresh Herbs - think mint, basil, rosemary, or chicory.
When infusing simple syrup, I typically recommend adding your ingredient(s) of choice directly to the sugar and water mixture before you heat it. Once the syrup is made, cover it and let it steep for anywhere from 30-60 minutes, or until it has the flavor intensity you’re looking for. Then, strain out the add-ins and store as usual.
How to Use It
While you can find plenty of uses for simple syrup, including sweetening hot or iced tea and lemonade, making flavored sodas and mocktails, or incorporating it into a homemade gift, there are three use cases that tend to be the most prominent:
Simple Syrup for Cocktails
There are an endless list of mixed drinks that use this simple sugar syrup: margaritas, mojitos, old fashioneds, whiskey sours, gin fizzes, and so many more. It can also be used in place of agave syrup in recipes like this skinny spicy margarita.
It’s such a staple cocktail sweetener because it mixes easily and doesn’t interfere with other flavors. (That said, a flavored syrup can make a cocktail recipe more interesting too!)
Here are a few of my favorite cocktail recipes made with this sweet syrup:
Simple Syrup for Coffee
Unflavored syrup is great for sweetening a classic latte or iced coffee, but flavored simple syrup is the secret to all of the more unique coffee drinks. With it I’ve made lavender iced coffee, mint iced coffee, and even pumpkin cream cold brew. I highly recommend experimenting!
Simple Syrup for Cakes
Last but not least, we have a baking trick! Brushing (unfrosted) cake with simple syrup is often recommended as a great way to keep it moist (or fix it if its too dry). This is about as easy as it sounds - just use a pastry brush to spread a thin layer of syrup over each cake layer before adding frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a thicker syrup, use twice as much sugar as water. It won’t be anywhere near as thick as caramel sauce, but it will be slightly richer than your basic syrup.
Yes; you’ll know it’s gone bad if it starts to look cloudy, or if you see any particles suspended in the syrup.
Yes - most grocery stores carry it in the same section as the cocktail mixers. You can also find it at liquor stores. That said, it’s easier (and much cheaper) to make your own; a 12 fluid ounce bottle can cost about $4.50. For about $3.70, you can buy 4 lbs of granulated sugar - enough to make 9 bottles worth!
Agave syrup and pure maple syrup are the two best, most accessible substitutes. While neither tastes exactly the same as this sugar syrup, they are both relatively neutral in flavor and have a similar consistency. Agave syrup will work better for certain uses, like margaritas or mojitos, while maple syrup could be a great option for slightly richer applications like a whiskey sour or iced coffee.
More DIY Recipes
If you love the idea of DIY simple syrup, don’t pass up on these other ingredients you can easily make at home!
Recipe Card
Homemade Simple Syrup
This easy recipe for simple syrup is a must-have for cocktail aficionados and home baristas. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and provides the perfect way to sweeten your favorite drinks!
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: diys and how-tos
- Method: stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 cup (198 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (227 grams) water, preferably filtered
Instructions
Stovetop method:
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Cook just long enough for the sugar to dissolve completely into the hot water, stirring often - this should take about 5 minutes. Do not simmer or boil.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature before using.
Microwave method:
- Combine sugar and water in a measuring glass and stir to combine. Microwave for 90 seconds.
- Stir again, microwaving for an additional 30 seconds as needed to ensure all of the sugar dissolves. Let cool before using.
No-Cook Method:
- Combine sugar and room temperature water in a glass bottle or jar. Seal tightly and shake vigorously for 3-5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved completely. The mixture may look cloudy at first, but should clear up after sitting for a few minutes.
Notes
Storage and Shelf Life:
- Store in an glass bottle, jar, or similar airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Simple syrup made with heat will keep for up to 1 month. No-heat simple syrup will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Rich Simple Syrup:
- Double the amount of sugar for a richer, slightly thicker syrup. This will keep for 3-6 months.
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