Tag: sugar

Matcha simple syrup is a great way to invigorate your iced tea, sparkling water, or a cocktail.
simple syrup

Matcha Simple Syrup

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Matcha simple syrup is an excellent way to add an extra boost to your iced green tea, invigorate your sparkling water, or incorporate an earthy flavor into cocktails.

Matcha simple syrup is an excellent way to add an extra boost to your iced green tea or to incorporate an earthy flavor into cocktails. Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves. It has a ton of health benefits:

  • boosts metabolism
  • detoxifies the body
  • calms and relaxes, despite the caffeine it also possesses
  • improves concentration
  • high in antioxidants (in fact, it has over 100x more antioxidants than regular green tea!)
  • lowers cholesterol
  • has several vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, zin, magnesium, selenium, and chromium
  • is said to have cancer-fighting abilities, thanks to its high quantity of a catechin called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate)
Matcha simple syrup is an excellent way to add an extra boost to your iced green tea, invigorate your sparkling water, or incorporate an earthy flavor into cocktails.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Now granted, I only use a little of matcha in this recipe, and its quite literally steeped in sugar. So who’s to say how much of these benefits you’ll get from the syrup. I would guess not much. BUT it will impart a beautiful earthy flavor and green tint to your cocktails. That’s benefit enough for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Not a cocktail drinker? (Hi Mom) You can add this to your iced green tea or sparkling water for an extra boost of flavor and maybe, like, one or two tiny health benefits.

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 ultra-mini mason jar. Then I put the lid on and shook it again. That’s what finally got the last remaining clumpies out.

I opted to make a very small batch of this so that it wouldn’t go bad before I got to use it all (I’d say 4 weeks in the fridge max). Feel free to double it!

Matcha simple syrup is an excellent way to add an extra boost to your iced green tea, invigorate your sparkling water, or incorporate an earthy flavor into cocktails.

Feeling inspired? Check out my honey syrup, rose syrup, and beet syrup recipes.

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
Homemade Kahlua
liqueur

Homemade Coffee Liqueur

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This homemade Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, is simple to make it at home. All you need is vodka, coffee, sugar, and vanilla.

If you love coffee and cocktails, you’re sure to enjoy a homemade coffee liqueur. And while you can certainly purchase yourself a bottle of Kahlua to enjoy at the ready, making your own DIY Kahlua tastes better and may even turn out cheaper, depending on the brand of vodka you use for the base.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Don’t go using Grey Goose for this stuff. Stick to a cheaper brand or go for my personal favorite, Tito’s. I always buy the jumbo jug when I run out– it’s more cost-effective to get the 1.75L bottle, trust me. Vodka is my go-to liquor for jam cocktails and for making my own infusions, like vanilla bean vodka and cinnamon vodka. If you have more on hand, you’ll be more likely to experiment with it. Or drink it. Or both.

Coffee liqueur historically is made with rum but I prefer using vodka. Rum, in my opinion, makes it a touch too sweet. And you’ll see from the recipe that there’s already plenty of sugar. I don’t want the sweetness totally masking the taste of the coffee. Many homemade coffee liqueur recipes also call for instant coffee. Sorry. Can’t abide coffee granules. I’ve gotta use the real deal.

As with all recipes, using fresh vanilla beans is always best. But, they’re a bit expensive. And, using fresh vanilla bean means you’ll have to wait at least 2 weeks before you can enjoy your homemade coffee liqueur. I opted to use vanilla extract that a friend brought me back from Haiti. It’s pretty dang good.

DIY coffee liqueur is simple to make it at home. All you need is vodka, coffee, sugar, and vanilla.

Coffee liqueur can be enjoyed by itself over ice, in a White Russian, a Colorado Bulldog, in your coffee, etc. There are even some amazing banana bread recipes out there that call for Kahlua, although I’ve never made any myself. I doubled the recipe when I made it yesterday so my home is overflowing with this intoxicating coffee nectar. Looks like I’ll be trying all these recipes. OH. Brilliant idea. Bananas foster with coffee liqueur! Oh my gosh. Yes. Gonna be making that.

Homemade Kahlua, or coffee liqueur, is simple to make it at home. My favorite way to enjoy coffee liqueur is in a White Russian.
The White Russian- my favorite way to enjoy coffee liqueur.

The Ingredients for Homemade Coffee Liqueur

  • 1 cup of STRONG freshly-brewed coffee — I should’ve added an extra scoop or two of grounds when I made the coffee but alas, I was using what I had leftover in the pot from my afternoon pick-me-up
  • 1 cup of vodka
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract OR a 1-inch section of fresh vanilla bean (must age for 2-4 weeks)

The How-To

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool slightly before pouring it into a container. If you don’t have a funnel, invest it one. It will make your life so much easier & cleaner. I used an old glass juice bottle. You could also use mason jars. Just make sure it’s something that can seal tightly. You don’t need to refrigerate it. Your coffee liqueur will last a looong time (thanks to the alcohol and all that sugar). But really, don’t drink it after like, 2 years. Just to be safe.

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
simple syrup

Rose Simple Syrup

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If you don’t enjoy the smell of roses, don’t count out this rose simple syrup just yet. I myself used to hate all things rose. My distrust of rose fragrance runs far back to my elementary days. All the way back to my 3rd-grade year, to be exact. My family, seeking to support another friend by way of a school fundraiser, bought a rose-scented pillar candle. And when I say scented I mean SCENTED. That thing was FRAGRANT, unnaturally so. None of us could stand the smell, so my mom came up with a brilliant, selfless idea: we can give the candle to my teacher.

Add a floral layer of sophistication to your cocktails with this rose simple syrup.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’ll never forget giving it to her. I could practically SEE the pink fumes spiraling up out of the tissue paper. As any teacher would, she thanked me profusely and plastered a smile on her face while she put the candle on display on top of her filing cabinet. Moments later, Michael J. came in the room and– between gags and coughs– he was able to squeeze out the words “Mrs. Lawrence, what is that SMELL?” I couldn’t help but laugh then and I still laugh thinking about it to this day.

Fear not, this rose simple syrup won’t emit any fumes or knock out anyone who wanders into the kitchen when you’re making it. If you’re a little afraid of a heavy rose flavor, skip the rosewater and use only the rose petals. It’ll be delicate, adding only a hint of floral essence in your cocktail.

If you want more of a pink hue to your syrup, consider adding a pinch of beet powder. (You might have some on hand if you’ve made my beet simple syrup). Without the beet powder, the syrup will have a slight purple-gray tint to it, which is totally fine. I just wanted it to look a little more pink so it would add some color to my Rose Darling. You can see the difference in color in the two photos below.

As I have mentioned in my other simple syrup posts, I prefer to make small batches when crafting flavored simple syrups. I typically don’t use a lot and don’t want to waste any before I’m able to use it up.

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

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. It should keep for a month.

Add a floral layer of sophistication to your cocktails with this rose simple syrup.
I originally wanted to keep the petals in the syrup… but quickly realized the petals look pretty unappetizing once all the color has been boiled out of them.
Rose simple syrup adds a floral element to cocktails, tea, and even lattes.

Interesting in making other simple syrups? Check out these recipes:

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
simple syrup

Beet Simple Syrup

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Beet simple syrup made with beet powder

Using a vegetable in a cocktail basically makes it healthy, right? This beet simple syrup is an easy way to bring some earthy depth and striking color to any drink.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

The beet flavor is not overwhelming so even if you’re not a fan of these hot pink roots, you can still get behind adding them to your drink. You can buy huge bag of beet powder from Amazon or Walmart for around $10. And while this recipe only called for 1 teaspoon, there are a ton of other ways to incorporate beets into your life.

Beet simple syrup made with beet powder

You can mix the beet powder in smoothies, yogurt, or baked goods. It’s a great way to dye cake icing. Or put it into brownies for a hidden boost of antioxidants. I actually just made some beet juice ice cubes and can’t wait to incorporate them into a drink. Beets are high in folate, fiber, potassium, manganese, iron, and vitamin C. And although I can’t prove that all these nutrients will make their way into your cocktail glass, the beet simple syrup will at least make it look beautiful.

Beet simple syrup made with beet powder

The Ingredients for Beet Simple Syrup

  • 1/4 cup sugar (or honey!)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon beet powder

How to Make Beet Simple Syrup

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.

Wondering what to put this magenta magic into? Check out my Passionfruit Paloma.

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup

Beet Simple Syrup

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cooling time 15 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 4 ounces

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • lidded container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon beet powder
  • ¼ cup sugar (or honey)
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions
 

  • Add all three ingredients to a small saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Stir or whisk until the beet powder is fully incorporated.
  • 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.

Notes

Beet simple syrup should keep for about a month in the fridge.
Keyword beet, simple syrup, sugar
Lavender Simple Syrup
simple syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup

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Add some extra sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.

Lavender simple syrup is one of my simple joys in life. Lavender, in general, makes me happy… but lavender that I can pour into my coffee, tea, & cocktails? Heavenly. I think most people are aware of lavender’s anxiety-reducing benefits, but did you know that lavender also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties? It’s even useful for digestive problems, headaches, and is a natural antihistamine.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Now, I’m not saying that you’ll get all these benefits from lavender simple syrup (although the aromatherapy aspect will definitely be there). If you want the most benefits, you’ll need to invest in some quality lavender essential oil. Lavender is one of my most used oils and I use it for anything from burns to mosquito bites. And living in Texas means lots of mosquito bites.

Add some extra sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.

Lavender simple syrup is more versatile than you may think. You can make lavender lattes (divine), lavender lemonade, and, of course, lavender cocktails. Simply use it in place of regular simple syrup in a cocktail recipe to add a fun floral element. You could even use it in baked goods! The buds themselves are edible, too, so you could sprinkle those babies like, well, sprinkles.

The Ingredients for Lavender Simple Syrup

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 them in so they can further infuse the syrup as it sits in the fridge. The syrup should last 1-2 months in the fridge.

Inspired by all the flavoring possibilities of homemade syrups? Check out these other options:

Add some floral sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.
Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup

Add a sweet, floral flavor to your favorite cocktail, tea, iced coffee, or baked goods.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cooling Time 15 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 4 ounces

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • lidded container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp food-grade lavender buds (see note for a reputable brand)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions
 

  • Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan, or until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Allow the syrup to cool in the saucepan.
  • Strain out the lavender buds, if desired, before pouring the syrup into a lidded container.
  • Store in the fridge. The syrup should last 1-2 months.

Notes

Make sure you use food-grade, organic lavender buds. This brand is reputable.
I personally like to leave some of the lavender buds in the syrup so they can further infuse as it sits in the fridge. 
Keyword lavender, simple syrup, sugar