- Food: Simple Syrup
- Writer: Lizzie Green
- Content-Type: Food Blog
Simple syrup is easy to create, as the name implies. Even so, if you’ve never prepared simple syrup before, it can be scary!
Today, I’m giving a basic recipe for making simple syrup, which can be used to sweeten cocktails, coffee, tea, or any other beverage.
Simple syrup is made up of only two ingredients: sugar and water in its most basic form. It also takes only a few minutes to prepare, and when it’s done, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying your drink. That’s great.
The benefit of making your own simple syrup is that you may make it sweet or savory depending on your preferences.
Over the years, you’ve seen me make use of this opportunity in a variety of beverages made with simple syrup.
You’ll find some creative ways to flavor your simple syrup with fresh herbs and other seasonings in the recipes below. We’re off!
Simple Syrup Preparation
Equal parts sweetener and water are combined. Warm until the sweetener is completely dissolved in the water in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. That concludes our discussion.
How to Select a Sweetener
Food: Simple Syrup yum (Source: Cooking With Curls)By carefully selecting your sweetener, you can alter the flavor of your simple syrup. Keep in mind that if you use a dark sweetener, your simple syrup will be dark as well.
Also, because sugar shrinks in volume when it melts, using a liquid sweetener (like honey) will provide a more simple syrup.
Plain sugar produces a flavorless simple syrup that will sweeten your beverage without adding any additional flavors. Sometimes that’s exactly what you’re looking for!
Brown sugar has a maple-like flavor to it, and I suppose it would pair nicely with coffee or bourbon. Coconut sugar would be similar, but with a stronger flavor.
Honey is my favorite simple syrup sweetener. Honey’s floral, aromatic properties pair well with gin, tequila, and vodka-based cocktails. Honey doesn’t mix well with cold drinks straight from the bottle, but making it into simple syrup eliminates the problem.
Have you considered using maple syrup? It’s a great concept, but you don’t need to dilute it with water; you can just drizzle it straight.
Because maple syrup is more concentrated, you may only need half as much as the simple syrup. In whiskey beverages like the Old Fashioned, I like to incorporate maple syrup.
Flavor Variations for Simple Syrup
We may flavor our simple syrup even more by steeping herbs, spices, and other ingredients in it.
Simply add them before heating the mixture and keep them in until the simple syrup has reached room temperature. If you’re interested, I’d recommend picking one or two flavorings to go with your drink.
Herbs in their natural state
Simple syrups made with fresh mint, rosemary, thyme, or lavender are delightful. Have you ever tried a creamy iced coffee with mint simple syrup? No? You’ve been oblivious to the fact that you’ve been missing out!
Spices that are warming
Warm spices like whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg will enrich your simple syrup. These would be excellent choices for the holidays.
Ginger or Citrus
Simple syrup can be livened up with citrus zest (orange, lemon, or lime) or slices of fresh ginger. If your cocktail already has a citrus flavor, adding a zesty simple syrup will kick it up a notch.
Simple Syrup
| Time to prepare: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes 7-minute total time |
Make your own cocktails at home with this easy syrup recipe. Simple syrup is quite simple to produce. The recipe yields 3/4 cup (sugar-free) or 1 cup (sugar-free) (made with honey).
It’s simple to scale up or down to fit your requirements; just use the same amount of water and sweetener each time.
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup sugar or honey
- ½ cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
Food: Simple Syrup yum (Source: Cooking With Curls)- Combine the sugar (or honey) and water in a small pot. Warm the mixture over medium heat, stirring often, until the sweetener is thoroughly absorbed and the fluid is clear (you’ll know it’s done when there are no more sugar grains or honey swirls). There’s no need to cook it at this point.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature after removing it from the heat. Use as required. Refrigerate any leftover simple syrup in an airtight jar for up to one month.
NOTES
- TURN IT AROUND: Add fresh herbs (mint, thyme, lavender, or rosemary), whole spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, or nutmeg), and citrus zest strips (orange, lemon, or lime), or several slices of raw ginger before warming. Remove the flavoring agents after the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
- OTHER MIXING OPTIONS: Simple syrup can also be made in the microwave (use a microwave-safe bowl large enough to contain the mixture if it starts bubbling). If you’re using honey, all you have to do is pour very hot water into it and swirl until it’s completely integrated. Alternatively, if you want to put in some effort, combine sugar and water in a mason jar and shake until the sugar is completely dissolved.