Simple Syrup is an ingredient you see a lot in co*cktail recipes. There are many brands you can buy in the store, but you’re going to be paying a lot of money for what is basically sugar water. So I say buy a bag of sugar and make it yourself at home. When you make it yourself you not only insure that you’re using quality ingredients, but you can also get creative and create different flavors. Infused simple syrups are a fun ingredient for creating co*cktails with a flavor twist. As inspiration, below I’ve created six infused flavor ideas to get you started. Once you make even one of these flavors you’ll see how simple it is and you’ll be off creating your own flavors in no time.
In addition to having the recipes, I also created a free print-it-yourself label file. I created the labels in case you were using the simple syrup(s) at a party. Just label your bottle(s) or jar(s) and your guests will know what they are using to make their drinks.
Classic Simple Syrup
Let’s start with the basics of how to make a Classic Simple Syrup. First combine equal parts water and sugar in a sauce pan ( 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar will yield about 1 1/2 cups simple syrup). Heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and liquid is translucent (usually you can bring to a boil and then let it simmer for 1 minute). Note: I used organic cane sugar, so my liquid still had a slight color. Let your liquid cool completely and then transfer to an air tight container.
Infused Simple Syrups
You’ll do the same process as the Classic Simple Syrup, but you’ll add your flavor element. For each of the below Infused Simple Syrups, you’ll combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Then over medium heat, bring ingredients to a boil and let simmer for 1 minute. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove your mixture from the heat and cover with a lid. Let steep for 30 minutes or until cool. Once cool, strain mixture into an airtight container. (You’ll reduce the shelf life if you keep the herbs, citrus rinds or other flavor agents in your simple syrup. Instead, strain your mixture.) Once ready to serve, you can garnish with fresh herbs, rinds, etc.
(Note: the measurements below create enough mixture to fill the Glass Oil Bottles with Weighted Gold Stoppers from World Market.)
Rosemary Simple Syrup Ingredients
- 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Rosemary and Ginger Simple Syrup Ingredients
(Rosemary is the primary flavor but the ginger adds a bit of heat that makes this one a little spicer than just having rosemary.)
- 5 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2″ ginger (peeled and sliced into small pieces)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Mint Simple Syrup Ingredients
- 1 cup mint leaves
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Mint Orange Simple Syrup Ingredients
(The addition of the orange juice, makes this the sweetest of the infused syrups. It would be lovely in tea or as a way to infuse flavor into a plain vanilla cake.)
- 1 cup mint leaves
- Rind pieces from one orange
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (juice from about 1 orange)
Jalapeño Simple Syrup Ingredients
- 1-2 jalapeños, sliced into pieces
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Jalapeño Lime Simple Syrup Ingredients
- 1-2 jalapeños, sliced into pieces
- Rind of 1 lime
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Be sure to strain your mixture into an airtight container and store in the fridge for longer shelf life (about 1-2 weeks). Then if you are using at a party, once you are ready to serve you can add your herb garnish.
These Glass Oil Bottles from World Market aren’t just adorable, they also made for easy pouring. They are only $5.99, making them affordable to buy a few. These bottles are perfect to have on hand for parties.
co*cktails aren’t the only use for simple syrup. You can sweeten your tea, coffee and sparkling water with just a tablespoon of syrup. Simple syrups are also used to moisten layered cakes before frosting. Wouldn’t the Orange Mint make a lovely infused cake?
The Jalapeño Simple Syrup is perfect for spicing up a classic Salty Dog. I’ll follow up with a recipe in my next post.
For the labels, download the free print-it-yourself label file. Print on full-sheet sticker paper. Cut out each label and then adhere to your jar or bottle. Creating your own flavor? There is even a blank label for you to write in the name of your own creation.
Download Free Print-It-Yourself Files Used In this Post
Simple Syrup Labels
FAQs
Infused simple syrups are good for around three months, according to Saveur, although they also suggest giving the syrup a sniff test to make sure it still smells good. Syrups that incorporate juices or purees, however, will only last around two or three weeks.
What is the difference between simple syrup and rich simple syrup? ›
Simple syrup has two main forms: standard syrup, which is made with equal parts sugar and water (1:1 ratio), and rich syrup, which is made with twice as much sugar as water (2:1 ratio) and therefore more viscous.
What is the formula of simple syrup? ›
It's also one of the easiest ingredients to make yourself—if you can boil water, you can make simple syrup. At its most basic, simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar dissolved in an equal volume of water.
How do you make flavored simple syrup shelf stable? ›
The rule of thumb is a Shelf Stable syrup is 2 Parts Sugar : 1 Part Water. It's more sugary, but it takes on more or the flavour that you're trying to infuse.
What happens if you boil simple syrup too long? ›
Don't bring the water to a boil.
The water should be hot enough to dissolve the sugar completely, but you don't want to boil simple syrup for too long (or you'll end up with caramel).
How to tell if simple syrup has gone bad? ›
Does Simple Syrup Go Bad? The short answer is yes. You'll know it has gone bad once it is no longer clear and starts to look cloudy in appearance. When this happens, it has started to grow mold and should be thrown out.
What is a fancy name for simple syrup? ›
Simple Syrup, also known as “sugar syrup” (and sometimes “sugary syrup”) is a syrup made from dissolving white granulated sugar into an equal amount of water.
Should simple syrup be thick or thin? ›
The sweetness and/or density is a matter of preference. Thin and medium syrup is best for co*cktails, while thicker syrup is used for sundaes, fountain drinks and deserts."
What is healthier simple syrup or sugar? ›
All the sweet syrups contain around 20 per cent water and only 70 to 85 per cent sugars so they're always going to give you fewer kilojoules (Calories) and sugars than white or raw sugar which is 100 per cent sugar (sucrose).
What is the official method of preparing simple syrup? ›
volatilized by heat. In this method, the sugar is generally added to the purified water, and heat is applied until the sugar is dissolved. Then, other heat-stable components are added to the hot syrup, the mixture is allowed to cool, and its volume is adjusted to the proper level by the addition of purified water.
Homemade simple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator. When stored properly, it has a shelf life of up to one month.
Should simple syrup be made by weight or volume? ›
Most basic simple syrup recipes call for a cup of water and a cup of sugar—and many co*cktails on Epicurious were tested with that base ratio. But professional bartenders believe it's more accurate to combine these ingredients based on weight, not volume, to achieve a perfect 50° Brix (sweetness) level.
What is the best preservative for simple syrup? ›
Citric Acid is the recommended acid for use with the Sodium Benzoate. However, most other approved food acids such as phosphoric, tartaric and Malic acids will suffice. Simple syrup can be preserved for months by adding 1 ounce of sodium benzoate with ¼ ounce of citric acid, per gallon of simple syrup.
Can you infuse store-bought simple syrup? ›
Directions. Add clean Rosemary Sprigs to a bottle of Stirrings Simple Syrup. Let infuse in the refrigerator for about 4-5 hours before using in co*cktails, mocktails, desserts, or tea!
How do you keep simple syrup from hardening? ›
Keep your mixture at medium heat when mixing it in a saucepan on the stovetop. It doesn't need to boil. Using distilled water helps crystals from forming, however crystallization still happens if the simple syrup is placed in the fridge or if the 2 parts water to 1 part sweetener ratio isn't followed.
How long is homemade simple syrup good for in the fridge? ›
The shelf life of your simple syrup will depend upon the cleanliness of the airtight container and the amount of sugar in your mixture. The standard one-to-one sugar-to-water ratio will produce a simple syrup that lasts about one month in the fridge.
Does homemade fruit syrup go bad? ›
A traditional syrup has a 1-to-1 ratio and will last for about a month with basic refrigeration. However, if you make a rich syrup by increasing the sugar to water ratio to 2-to-1, you can increase this time frame significantly. It can be expected to last for about six months in the fridge.
How long does simple syrup last with citric acid? ›
Simple syrup can be preserved for months by adding 1 ounce of sodium benzoate with ¼ ounce of citric acid, per gallon of simple syrup. Each ingredient must be added separately and stirred into the syrup separately and thoroughly.
