Whip up your own basic simple syrup in less than 10 minutes using just 2 ingredients - sugar and water! Perfect for use in cocktails, mocktails, tea, coffee, or baked goods.
I started making simple syrups years ago for the bar and now they're a staple in my refrigerator. They are so fast and easy to make, store refrigerated in a bottle for months, and are a great, quick add in for beverages and dressings.
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What is simple syrup
Simple syrup is a basic technique used in the culinary and mixology worlds which heats a sugar and a liquid (usually water) creating, basically, liquid sugar. The type of sugar used (white-granulated sugar, demerara sugar, brown sugar, etc.) changes the flavor of the simple syrup. It's fun to play with different sugars and see how the flavors change.
What is the simple syrup ratio
There are two main types of simple syrup and the difference has to do with the ratio of sugar to water.
- Basic simple syrup is made with a sugar to water ratio of 1:1. You use the same amount of water as you do sugar - if you use 1 cup sugar then use 1 cup water, 3 cups sugar uses 3 cups water.
- Rich simple syrup is made with a sugar to water ratio of 2:1 - use 2 cups sugar for 1 cup water. The additional sugar makes the syrup thicker, stickier, and sweeter giving it a different 'mouthfeel' or texture that will stay on the tongue a little longer.
Why do you boil the sugar and water to make a liquid sugar syrup?
- Dissolve Sugar: Granulated sugar doesn't readily dissolve in cold water but sugar molecules break in hot liquids resulting in a smooth syrup rather than a grainy liquid, which is essential for recipes and cocktails.
- Enhance Flavors: Heating sugar and water causes the sugar to caramelize a little, leaving a depth and richness to the syrup. This extra depth of flavor elevates your cocktails, beverages, and desserts. Using sugars with a higher molasses level (demerara or brown sugar) than white sugar will further enhance this caramelized flavor.
- Customize Syrup: Adjusting the boiling time can help achieve different consistencies of syrup. A shorter boiling time results in a thinner syrup, while a longer time creates a thicker, more viscous syrup. NOTE: this can also be achieved with a Rich Simple Syrup.
- Ease of Use: Once prepared, simple syrup is easy to use, store, and mix into various recipes. Its liquid form ensures it can be easily incorporated into cold or hot preparations without the risk of crystallization, as opposed to granulated sugar.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
Sugar and water.
That's it for a plain Simple Syrup! The ratio will depend on if you are making a basic simple syrup or a rich simple syrup.
Why use simple syrup instead of plain sugar
Bartenders like simple syrup because it mixes much better in cold beverages, like cocktails and iced tea, than plain sugar crystals. It's also easier to measure and distributes evenly in liquids.
When to use a basic or a rich simple syrup
Rich simple syrup is great when you want extra sweetness and thick texture. A perfect example is pancake syrup since we want that thick, sticky syrup poured over our pancakes like in this Whiskey Maple Syrup recipe! Since rich simple syrup is sweeter than it's basic counterpart, we recommend you use less of it in recipes compared to a basic syrup. It's also good in many craft cocktails that contain whiskey or bitters, plus cocktails like an Old Fashioned, Lemon Drop, or Daiquiri.
Use basic simple syrups when you don't want to overpower other flavors or add texture to the recipe. This syrup is great when you need a neutral sweetener like in many cocktails, mocktails, iced teas, lemonades, and desserts.
How to make a simple syrup
Believe us when we say making a simple syrup is SO. VERY. EASY!
Start by adding sugar and water to a heavy duty saucepan. Give a quick stir and place the saucepan over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
Heat the sugar-water mixture until it boils and all the sugar is dissolved. Feel free to give it a stir or two during this time, but you don't need to stir constantly. Once all the sugar is dissolved, continue cooking on simmer for 2-3 additional minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and let cool. Once cool, pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to store homemade simple syrup
Always store simple syrup in a clean, airtight container. Homemade simple syrup will last at least a month in the refrigerator; we find it actually lasts up to 4 months with no problems (as long is it is stored correctly). It freezes great and will last up to 6 months in the freezer.
Additions and substitutions
This basic simple syrup recipe is a blank canvas for you to start with. We love using different sugars (demerara, brown, honey), adding berries like in our Berry Simple Syrup, other fruit (peaches, cherries), or incorporating herbs (thyme, mint, lavender) to the basic recipe.
Some favorite appetizer recipes
Some common FAQs
Yes. You want the sugar to dissolve and leave a smooth (not grainy) solution. Boil the mixture a few minutes after you think the sugar is all dissolved.
Yes. The longer you boil the mixture the more water dissolves leaving a thicker syrup. This is fine up to a point. If you boil off too much water you will be left with a burnt sugar mess.
We've found that while the sugar may appear dissolved, there's a chance it's not fully there yet. Extending the boiling time a few additional minutes helps us ensure it is completely dissolved, preventing a grainy solution and potential re-crystalization once it cools.
📖 Recipe
Basic Simple Syrup
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 1 ¼ cup 1x
Description
Make your own basic simple syrup in less than 15 minutes using just 2 ingredients - sugar and water! Perfect for use in cocktails, mocktails, tea, coffee, or baked goods. Here’s to preparing your own signature beverages with your homemade simple syrup. Cheers!
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan.
- Heat on medium-high heat until boiling and sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to gently simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat, cool, and pour into jars.
- Seal tight and store in refrigerator until needed.
Notes
Make this your own by adding fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, basil, mint), fruit (berries, peaches, cherries), or using a different sugar (demerara, brown).
Dissolving sugar. This just needs to boil until the sugar dissolves and then simmer for a few minutes after that. Boiling for an extended period of time will boil the water away which we don't want.
Store basic simple syrup in clean, airtight containers in the refrigerator for at least a month or the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks & Cocktails
- Method: cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Tablespoon
- Calories: 32
- Sugar: 8.3 g
- Sodium: 0.5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.3 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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