Simple Syrup is so easy to make and always great to have on hand. Whether you’re sweetening coffee, ice cold lemonade, or even adding it to baked goods, just a little sugar and water can take you a long way! Plus, making it yourself is so much cheaper than buying a bottle of it.
Simple Syrup
Making your own simple syrup is faster and more cost efficient than actually having to trek all the way to the store and buy a bottle. Plus, it’s literally sugar water which are 2 ingredients almost everyone always has on hand. All you have to do is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water, heat until the sugar is dissolved and you’ve got a batch of delicious syrup! Having this in the fridge makes it so much easier to sweeten cold drinks like iced coffee or teas. Normal sugar on its own just doesn’t dissolve as easily in cold liquid and can sink to the bottom of a glass or pitcher. With simple syrup it incorporates right in! It’s also an absolute must have for cocktails.
Speaking of cocktails, try adding this syrup to a batch of Classic Mojitos, or this delightful Cinnamon Orange Spritzer sans cinnamon for summer! Looking for something non-alcoholic? Try my Brown Sugar Apple Iced Coffee!
How do I keep my syrup from burning?
The key is to use a pot with a heavier bottom and to keep the heat at medium. Stirring fairly constantly will ensure no sugar sticks to the bottom. As soon as the sugar has completely dissolved, remove the pan from heat right away to stop the cooking process. If the syrup begins to brown you’re getting into caramel territory which is a thicker consistency than what we’re looking for. You want the syrup to be thin so that it more easily mixes into
How To Make Simple Syrup
- Whisk. Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Whisk together and continue heating until all of the sugar has dissolved.
- Simmer. Bring the syrup to a simmer then turn off the heat and let it cool completely.
- Sip. Serve in your favorite cocktails, teas, or coffees, sip away and enjoy!
Storing Simple Syrup
You can store simple syrup in an airtight container like a mason jar (perfect use for those extra pasta sauce jars that you’ve been saving) in the fridge for 3 weeks.
Serving Suggestions
Now you’ve got a whole bottle of simple syrup…so what all can you do with it? More than you’d think I bet! While it can be used in your sweet tea or coffee it is quintessential for the cocktail enthusiast. You can’t make a proper old fashioned or lemon drop without it. Let alone a mint julep or my personal choice for the drink of the summer: a well crafted mojito.
This syrup can also come in a variety of flavors. Hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, all your favorite coffee shop flavors are essentially just flavored simple syrups. You can make your own by infusing your syrup with fresh mint or rosemary, orange or peppermint extracts, lavender, or even ginger. Whatever flavor profile you’re feeling, you can probably infuse it. The longer the herbs or spices sit in the syrup the stronger the flavor will be. Strain before storing and there you have it!
Ingredients Notes
- Sugar – One cup of granulated, white sugar is called for. This will be very sweet but you can do more of a 60/40 ratio as opposed to the 50/50 ratio if you want an extra sweet syrup.
- Water – Tap, purified, cold, room, warm, any regular old H2O will work in this recipe!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Whisk the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Bring it to a simmer then turn the heat off and let it cool before using it or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
