To be honest, it seemed a little silly to write a post about a recipe for DIY simple syrup (which is sooooo easy to make), but after posting a few cocktail recipes in the past, that required the ingredient, I was surprised that I actually received a lot of comments about it. What it was, where to buy it, and how to make your own. So, to make things simpler moving forward, and to prevent you guys from having to search the web for a tutorial, I’m dedicating this post to all things DIY simple syrup!
So, let’s start with the basics…what IS simple syrup anyway?
Simple syrup is a fairly common ingredient in homemade cocktails. It’s a sweetener, and a simple one at that. Get it….simple…syrup 😉
It can be used in all types of drinks, from alcoholic beverages, iced coffee or tea, and even flavored ice cubes too!
And, yes, you can purchase pre-made simple syrup at your local grocery store in the cocktail mixer aisle, but after you see how easy this stuff is to make, why would you want to? If you can boil water…you can make your own DIY simple syrup.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
In a small saucepan, mix the sugar and water together.
Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all of the sugar has dissolved. (The mixture should be clear, not cloudy, when it’s ready.)
Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one month.
If you need to make larger quantities of the syrup, just stick with a 1:1 ratio of water to sugar.
And that’s it guys. Simple, quick, and easy!
You can also get super creative with flavored simple syrup if a recipe calls for it too! Try adding springs of rosemary, cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, or even citrus rinds or edible flower petals to your mixture when you remove it from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool and steep anywhere from a few hours to overnight, before removing the ingredients you’ve added. (Keep in mind, flavored syrups won’t last as long, so try to use them up within 2 weeks!)
Check out these recipes using simple syrup:
