How To Make Simple Syrup For Cocktails (Plus 3 Tasty Upgrades)

Gather and measure out the two ingredients

To create simple syrup, all you need is sugar and water. You can choose any type of sugar, but using darker sugars will result in a syrup with a deeper color. For your initial attempt, it's best to start with standard white sugar.

The simplest ratio to remember is 1:1, meaning one part sugar to one part water. You can use any measurement unit. If you use one cup of sugar, you'll also need one cup of water. Alternatively, you can make a thicker, richer syrup by using a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water, or a thinner, milder syrup with a 1:2 ratio of sugar to water. The choice depends on your desired sweetness and thickness.

To begin, let's use ½ cup as your measurement unit; there's no need to waste sugar unless you're planning to make a large batch. Measure out ½ cup of white sugar and ½ cup of water.

Place the ingredients in a saucepan

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and heat it over medium. You can use any size saucepan, but a larger one will provide more surface area for the sugar and water to interact with the pan. This may cause it to boil more quickly, so be sure to watch it closely.

Bring to a boil

You should heat the sugar and water until they reach a gentle boil. Allow it to cook just until the sugar has fully dissolved and the liquid has reduced a bit, stirring from time to time. If you cook it for too long, the sugar may burn, affecting the flavor of your syrup.

Let the syrup cool

After the sugar has fully dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat. Allow it to cool completely before using, as you don’t want hot syrup in your cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Jar and store it in the fridge

After the syrup has cooled, transfer it into a glass jar and secure the lid tightly. You can keep your homemade simple syrup in the refrigerator for up to a month (it may last longer if the sugar content is higher, or slightly less time if it contains juice or puree that could spoil).

Add simple syrup to your favorite cocktails

Now that you have some simple syrup ready, it’s time to start mixing up those cocktails! Feel free to get creative with your own concoctions, but keep in mind that many classic recipes require simple syrup. Drinks like mint juleps, daiquiris, French 75s, and whiskey sours all use it, just to name a few. If you’re looking for a twist on a classic, consider trying a New York sour.

You can also replace certain liqueurs with your homemade simple syrup if you’re short on ingredients or want to reduce the alcohol content of your drink. It’s easy to create an infused simple syrup using natural ingredients to achieve a similar flavor profile (keep reading to learn how). For instance, orange simple syrup can serve as a good alternative to triple sec. If you don’t have Kahlúa, you can still make a fantastic espresso martini using real espresso, vodka, and simple syrup.

Other uses for simple syrup

Mixologists aren't the only ones crafting simple syrup behind the bar; baristas often keep a bottle or two handy for flavored lattes. You can incorporate simple syrup into coffees and teas just like you would with sugar, but the advantage of simple syrup is that it's already liquid. This makes it particularly effective for sweetening iced drinks, as granulated sugar takes longer to dissolve in cold liquids. Homemade vanilla or ginger simple syrup can add a delightful flavor to coffee while containing fewer artificial ingredients than most store-bought options. You can even have some fun shaking up your iced coffee in a cocktail shaker.

Simple syrup is also great for making homemade lemonade or sorbet. Most sorbet recipes require just fruit juice and simple syrup—it's that simple! Unlike ice creams, which often need a custard base, sorbets are incredibly easy to prepare without any cooking involved.

Another fantastic use for simple syrup is in baking. Some recipes suggest brushing simple syrup onto cakes to lock in flavor and moisture. It also adds a lovely shine to fresh fruit tarts, giving them a professional glazed finish that would impress even Paul Hollywood.

Alternate methods

There are several ways to experiment with your simple syrup. As previously mentioned, you can adjust the sugar-to-water ratio. Additionally, you can enhance the shelf life of your simple syrup by incorporating an extra ingredient. A splash of alcohol can help it last longer, or you can stabilize your homemade syrup by adding corn syrup.

You can also substitute sugar with honey or agave. Both honey and agave are excellent additions to cocktails, coffees, and teas, but their thicker consistency can make them difficult to mix into cold beverages. If you pour honey directly into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, it may freeze up, but if you dilute it with water first, it will blend smoothly. The same principle applies to agave simple syrup.

If you find yourself without a stovetop or if it's simply too hot to use one, you can try a no-heat method for a quick and easy solution. And if you're in the mood to get creative, consider adding different flavors to your next batch of homemade simple syrup.

Citrus simple syrup

Numerous cocktails feature citrus flavors, with lemon and orange frequently appearing in drinks made with gin, vodka, tequila, and whiskey. A citrus-infused simple syrup can also enhance sangria or a hot toddy beautifully. Crafting this syrup is as simple as adding a bit of peel to the pot.

Choose a peel from lemon, orange, grapefruit, or any other citrus fruit. Combine it with sugar and water in a saucepan, then bring the mixture to a boil. The peels, rich in essential oils, will impart vibrant citrus flavors to the syrup and add a splash of color. Be sure to remove the peel before storing the syrup. Citrus simple syrup is ideal for creating homemade sorbet as well as delicious cocktails.

Herbal and aromatic simple syrups

Herbs and spices are fantastic enhancements for simple syrups. These robust flavors can significantly elevate the taste of your favorite hot and cold drinks, and you won’t need much to create a noticeable difference. Just one sprig of fresh herbs such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, or mint can infuse your syrup with a wealth of flavor. Simply add the entire sprig to the pot with sugar and water, and you can easily remove it once the syrup is finished.

Cocktail pairings often come naturally. For instance, use mint simple syrup in your next mint julep, or combine thyme simple syrup with aromatic gin. For a more adventurous option, try a lavender Old Fashioned.

You can also create spiced simple syrups effortlessly using just a single cinnamon stick, a few cloves, or a whole star anise. Ginger is another aromatic that makes for a delightful spicy simple syrup. These spiced syrups are ideal for cozy winter beverages, whether alcoholic or not. Just add a splash to your next mulled cider, hot chocolate, or autumn latte.

Strawberry simple syrup

Strawberries are an ideal fresh fruit to incorporate into simple syrup. You can add a few whole strawberries (washed and with stems removed) to a saucepan containing sugar and water. The delightful strawberry essence will infuse the syrup, giving it a lovely pink/red hue. Strawberry simple syrup is fantastic for fruity daiquiris and margaritas, and it’s a brilliant trick for creating the perfect frosé.

Remember frosé? This once-popular summer cocktail blends rosé and strawberries into a sweet, refreshing slushy. While many recipes suggest blending whole fresh or frozen strawberries with wine and ice, this method can lead to a chunky or watery texture. To enhance flavor while reducing seeds and chunks, freeze the wine directly and prepare a strawberry simple syrup. Since wine doesn’t freeze completely due to its alcohol content, you can scrape the semi-frozen wine into your blender, eliminating the need for ice. Then, add some of your homemade strawberry simple syrup for added sweetness and strawberry flavor. This combination results in the ideal textured boozy frosé.