6 Simple Syrup Recipes to Spice Up Your Cocktails, Coffee, Tea, & Sparkling Water
Think flavored syrups are for professional bartenders and baristas? These simple syrup recipes will up your drink game with seriously minimal effort. Simple syrups are my favorite way to add excitement to otherwise every-day drinks.
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Pour these in your coffee for a gourmet treat. Add a splash to your iced tea. Make an easy mocktail by adding some to sparkling water with some citrus juice. Use it in any cocktail recipe that calls for simple syrup–or make your own cocktail and use one as the sweetener. Incorporate them into baked goods. The possibilities might be limitless.
While ALL of these simple syrup recipes are easy (hence the name ‘simple’), I’m listing these by the ingredients that are easiest to find. None of them are obscure, thanks to Amazon, and you might even have them in your pantry already. (Remember those cardamom pods you bought awhile back when you were on a chai tea kick?)
All of these simple syrup recipes should last 1-2 months in the fridge. I always make small batches because I typically don’t use a ton within one month. Feel free to double the recipes. I always have a ton of flavored simple syrups in my fridge. These little glass containers are perfect for storing all your syrups and make everything look organized.
Honey Simple Syrup
Okay. You can probably make this one TODAY. Honey simple syrup is the best way to use honey in iced drinks like iced tea and iced coffee. If you’ve tried using regular honey in the past, you’re familiar with its tendency to clump up and take forever to dissolve into your drink. You can also use honey simple syrup in margaritas, a Pick 6, any variety of jam cocktail, or in place of traditional simple syrup in a Daiquiri.
The Ingredients
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup water
The How-To
Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan. Heat them up until the honey is well dissolved. Pour into your container of choice and let cool completely. Store in the fridge.
Lavender Simple Syrup
Of all the simple syrup recipes on here, this one is probably the most versatile. My favorite ways to enjoy this syrup are in lattes and in lieu of regular simple syrup in a Tom Collins cocktail (a Lavender Collins). Your extra lavender buds can be used in baked goods, too.
The Ingredients for Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon of organic, food-grade lavender buds (this is a reputable and affordable option)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
The How-To
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool in the saucepan before pouring it into a mason jar or small covered container. Strain out the lavender buds if desired. I personally like to leave a few of them in so they can further infuse the syrup as it sits in the fridge.
Matcha Simple Syrup
Oh man. This one is delicate and delightful. Not to mention it’s green, my fav color. The obvious thing to do with this simple syrup rendition is to use it in hot or iced tea for an extra boost. But I dare you to use it in a traditional cocktail like a Gimlet for an exotic layer of flavor. Or if you’re wanting a totally green cocktail, check out Rub of the Green.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder (it’s pricey but a little goes a long way, even if you’re using it for tea)
- 1/4 cup sugar (you could use stevia, coconut sugar, or agave to make this much healthier, but the ratios will be different)
- 1/4 cup water
How to Make Matcha Simple Syrup
Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil, or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add the matcha powder. It will clump so whisk well. I whisked it as well as I could before pouring it into my container. Then I put the lid on and shook it again. That’s what finally got the last remaining clumpies out.
Rose Simple Syrup
Perhaps not for everyone, and maybe best used in small doses, this rose simple syrup delivers a floral punch. Okay, maybe not a punch and more like a “love tap”. Anyone else tell your parents that, no, you weren’t hitting your brother–it was a love tap? Rose simple syrup is divine in chamomile tea and exquisite in a Rose Darling.
The Ingredients for Rose Simple Syrup
- 2 Tablespoons dried rose petals (pleeease make sure you are using food grade petals)
- 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon rosewater (this stuff is POTENT- don’t say I didn’t warn you)
How to Make Rose Simple Syrup
Boil the rose petals in the water on the stove for 1-2 minutes. You’re essentially making rose tea. There won’t be much water in the pot so be careful to make sure the petals don’t scorch. Strain the liquid and discard the petals. Pour the rose tea back into your saucepan and add the extra tablespoon of water. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove from heat and add the rosewater & stir again. Allow it to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.
Beet Simple Syrup
Now, you could definitely chop up some beets and boil them in sugar. It would produce an especially-fresh beet syrup. However, I like going the easy route sometimes and already have beet powder on hand for naturally dyeing baked goods and for using in smoothies. Plus you’ll get an even more gorgeous pink color when using beet powder. It looks dark in the jar but when you pour into your beverage, it’s lighter.
Beet simple syrup is perfect for using when you want to sweeten a drink without making it too sweet. The earthy flavor of beets can bring balance to an otherwise too-sweet cocktail. Check out my Passionfruit Paloma with beet syrup. Mmmm.
The Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar (or honey!)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon beet powder
The How-To
Add all three ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a small container like a mason jar. Let it cool completely before you put the lid on and stick it in the fridge.
Cardamom Simple Syrup
I love adding cardamom simple syrup to my coffee. It also pairs well with Earl Grey tea. It’s also a key ingredient in my Golden Pothos cocktail. Cardamom is such a unique spice that’s hard to describe. You just have to try it.
The Ingredients for Cardamom Simple Syrup
- 1/8 cup cardamom pods
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
The How-To
Crush the cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle if you have one. If you don’t, you can use a bowl and the bottom of a glass. No need to obliterate the pods– just apply enough pressure to crack the pods and release the seeds. Add the crushed cardamom, water, and sugar to a small saucepan. Bring it to a light boil and leave it boiling for 3-5 minutes. Allow it to cool completely. You can either strain the pods & seeds out before pouring it into a glass container or you can store the syrup with some of the pods.
There really are countless ideas for simple syrup recipes. You could make jalapeƱo syrup, rosemary syrup, turmeric, chamomile syrup, etc. You could even get crazy and combine two.
What’s your favorite? I’d love to hear your simple syrup recipes down below.
