Learn all you need to know for how to make simple syrup for cocktails! An essential for any bar, simply syrup is easy to make. You can even make flavored simple syrup.
My favorite ways to use this recipe are this French 75 recipe and these three ingredient wine slushies!
There are so many great cocktail recipes out there that require simple syrup – you might be tempted to buy it. But don’t! It is so easy to make, and much less expensive to make at home than go out and buy.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP
Making simple syrup requires boiling equal parts sugar and water. Though there are some versions that do a 2 to 1 ratio of sugar to water, we stick with the 1 to 1 ratio for our cocktails.
There is a method of making simple syrup that requires just shaking the sugar in the water until it dissolves, but we will stick with the boiling method.
Start with one cup of sugar.
Add in one cup of water.
Mix together over low heat.
Bring to a boil and continue to cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, and the liquid has slightly thickened.
Remove the simple syrup from the heat, allow to cool, and use in all your cocktails.
HOW DO YOU MAKE FLAVORED SIMPLE SYRUP?
Flavored simple syrup is a great way to add something special to a cocktail. What about a rosemary twist on your gin and tonic? Or a basil twist to your vodka lemonade? It is simple and easy to do.
Make this recipe as you normally would, and then just when you are done and removing the syrup from the heat, add whatever flavor you want (basil leaves, a sprig of rosemary, lemon peel, a cinnamon stick). We like to remove the basil, the lemon peel, or the cinnamon stick before making our cocktails, but that is up to you.
HOW DO YOU STORE SIMPLE SYRUP?
This recipe has a good shelf life. Simple syrup that is a one to one ratio (as is described here) has a one month shelf life if stored in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator. Syrup that is a 2 to 1 ratio has a six week shelf life if stored in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator.
WHAT CAN I USE THIS IN?
There are so many great cocktails out there that use simple syrup. Start with these ones:
- Basil Vodka Lemonade
- Eggnog Martini
- Grapefruit Champagne Cocktail
- Wine and Whiskey Cocktail
- White Wine Sangria
- Peach Vodka Smash
- Cinnamon Sangria
- Mojito Margarita
How to Make Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine the water and the sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring, until the sugar has completely dissolved and the syrup has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Cool completely.
- Use in all your cocktails and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Notes
This post contains affiliate links, if you click on them and then make a purchase, I make a small amount of money at no additional cost to you. Thank you in advance for supporting Wine and Glue.
Jessica Griffin says
I’m new to this concept, but trying to figure out how to make homemade LAVENDAR italian cream sodas for my 17 yr old. I won’t pay the coffee shop $5/day to make them plus the syrup they use cannot be healthy. Trying to be more mindful of her diet because she is a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic. Any idea on how to make lavender simple syrup? Essential oils are probably not the answer??? Thank you for your help 🙂
Lisa Longley says
Oye. That’s a hard question. I don’t think that my simple syrup is the answer for a kiddo with type one 1 diabetes because it is really just sugar water. You can try making it with Truvia (a sugar substitute). I would try doing that first before adding in any flavor – just to make sure that works first. Then look at this post from The Adventure bite (https://theadventurebite.com/blackberry-lavender-champagne-cocktail/). She uses dried lavender flowers and boils them. I would suspect you could do that with simple syrup and then strain it. Let me know what you do! I’d love to hear about it.