This article was co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur. Chef Jennifer Levasseur is a Personal Chef and the Owner of The Happy Cuisiniere based in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has over 12 years of culinary experience and specializes in Mountain and Contemporary Rustic cuisine. Moreover, she can craft dishes and modify menus to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and dairy-free diets. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston, Chef Jennifer holds Associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts from Houston Community College.
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True to its name, simple syrup is quite simple to make. It requires only two ingredients: sugar and water. Because it is cooked, it does not have those annoying grains of sugar, making it a common sweetener for drinks where texture is important. Once you know how to make simple syrup, you can experiment with adding your own flavors and variations.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225 grams) white, granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
Steps
Making Simple Syrup
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1Fill a saucepan with equal amounts of water and sugar and stir. Remember that the sugar will dissolve, so you will end up with a little bit less than you think. If you started with 1 cup (225 grams) of sugar and 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water, you will end up with 1½ cup (360 milliliters) of simple syrup.[1] If you need more/less simple syrup than that, adjust the ratios accordingly.
- A 50/50 ratio of sugar and water gives you a low margin of error when you're dealing with sugar.
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2Bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat to medium or medium high, and let the mixture come to a boil. Stir occasionally to help the sugar dissolve.Advertisement
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3Simmer the mixture over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns clear.[2] Stir the mixture occasionally with a whisk or spoon. This will may take anywhere between 3 to 5 minutes.
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4Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool. If you are making the simple syrup for a recipe, you can use it as soon as it cools down. If not, read on to learn how to store it.
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5Pour the simple syrup into a glass jar or bottle. If you choose to use a bottle, stick a funnel down the neck of the bottle first. This will make pouring the simple syrup in easier.
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6Store the simple syrup in the fridge. You can now use it to sweeten iced teas, coffees, lemonades, and cocktails. It will last about 4 weeks.
Making Flavored Simple Syrup
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1Fill a saucepan with equal amounts of sugar and water. Start with 1 cup (225 grams) of sugar and 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water. Stir the two together.
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2Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer it until the sugar dissolves. This will take about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the mixture occasionally.
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3Remove the saucepan from heat and add some spices or fresh herbs. You can use crushed, dried herbs, but avoid using ground spices; they will be too hard to filter out. If you'd like to make several different flavors, pour the simple syrup into jars first, then add your desired herbs or spices. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- 4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half.[3]
- 1 tablespoon lemon, lime, grapefruit, or orange zest.[4]
- 1 tablespoon dried herbs, such as thyme, lavender, or rose petals.[5]
- 3 to 4 fresh rosemary, thyme, or lavender sprigs.
- 1 cup (25 grams) fresh mint or basil leaves.
- ½ vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped and added in.[6]
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4Cover the saucepan tightly with a lid and wait 30 minutes. During this time, the herbs, spices, or flowers you added will steep and release their flavors into the simple syrup.
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5Strain out the herbs, spices, or flowers. They may look pretty in the jar, but they will shorten the shelf life of the syrup.[7] Place a fine, mesh strainer or sieve over a glass jar or bottle, and pour the simple syrup through it. Discard the herbs, spices, or flowers that get caught in the strainer.
- If you are filling a bottle, you might want to stick a funnel down the neck of the bottle first.
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6Close the jar or bottle tightly, and store the simple syrup in the fridge. Use it to sweeten or flavor iced teas, coffees, lemonades, and cocktails. It will last about 1 to 2 weeks.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat's the shelf life of the syrup made this way? Do I need to add any preservatives?
Norman MetzlerCommunity AnswerSyrup generally does not have an expiration date, though it may get a bit thick and chunky if you don't shake it from time to time. -
QuestionCan we use triple sec like a simple sugar for cocktails?
Community AnswerNo, triple sec is a liquor, not a sugar. Simple syrup is one part water, one part sugar boiled for four minutes. Microwaving is easiest. -
QuestionCan I use this for shortcakes?Community AnswerAbsolutely! I used this on my breakfast yesterday and it was great.
Warnings
- Don't leave your simple syrup unattended while it cooks; the sugar may burn and caramelize.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Simple syrup can expire quickly due to its sugar content. If it starts to grow mold or smell funny, throw it out.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
Simple Syrup
- Saucepan
- Spoon or whisk
- Funnel (optional)
- Glass jar or bottle
Flavored Simple Syrup
- Saucepan
- Spoon or whisk
- Fine, mesh sieve or strainer
- Funnel (optional)
- Glass jar or bottle
References
- ↑ http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/simple-syrup
- ↑ http://whatscookingamerica.net/Sauces_Condiments/SimpleSyrup.htm
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cinnamon-Syrup
- ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/221033/lemon-syrup/
- ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/lavender-simple-syrup-385609
- ↑ http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cinnamon-Syrup
- ↑ http://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/how-to-make-simple-syrup/
- ↑ http://whatscookingamerica.net/Sauces_Condiments/SimpleSyrup.htm
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/how-to-make-4-infused-simple-syrups-and-change-your-cocktail-game-like-whoa
About This Article
To make simple syrup, stir together equal amounts of sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the syrup for 3-5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns clear. Remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool. Once it has cooled, you can use it in a recipe, or you can pour it into a glass jar or bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
