Simple syrup is the simple solution to sweetening your margarita or other cocktails without adding any other weird flavors.
While I know you can purchase simple syrup, it’s ridiculously easy to make on your own. I like to make it occasionally and keep it on hand for margaritas and other cocktails or mocktails. You can add extra flavors if you’d like, but all you really need is water and sugar.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Why Use Simple Syrup?
The question is, why simple syrup and not just sugar? Well, straight up sugar doesn’t always fully dissolve. I may be uncool enough to allow sweet in my drink, but not uncool enough to allow grains. What you want is something that is already liquid so that graininess of the sugar is never an issue.
The options are honey, agave nectar, or simple syrup. I find that honey and agave nectar add extra flavors to my margarita. That may be perfect for other drinks, but I want to really taste the tequila, lime, and orange when I make my best ever margarita recipe. Simple syrup is the way to go.
It’s the perfect neutral-flavored sweetener for margaritas and other cocktails. Also fabulous in iced tea and lemonade. The only ingredients are sugar and water, which is why it doesn’t taste like much. You heat together equal parts of the two (say, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water) and then simmer until the sugar dissolves completely. It will stay dissolved even after you cool the syrup down. Store it in a sealed container in your fridge for up to a month.
How To Make Simple Syrup, Step By Step
Step #1
Measure 1 cup of sugar into a small saucepan.
Step #2
Add 1 cup of water.
Step #3
Heat over medium heat on the stovetop, stirring occasionally. It’ll look cloudy like this for awhile:
Step #4
Then, when all the sugar has dissolved, it will suddenly be clear. Remove from heat at that point.
Step #5
Let it cool and then pour it into a jar or other sealable container. Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. It’s now ready to be used in all your delicious drink recipes!
Making Flavored Simple Syrup
But what about if you want to make your simple syrup a little less… simple? There’s so many options for flavored simple syrups.
Fruit: Berries are an exceptionally great choice for this. For example, add a pound of sliced strawberries to your simple syrup mixture after the sugar has dissolved and let it simmer for another 10 minutes over low heat. Strain the syrup to remove the fruit and store.
Herbs: Add up to a cup of fresh herbs to your hot simple syrup solution off of the heat. Stir it in and let cool to room temperature to infuse the flavor before straining. Basil, thyme, rosemary, and mint are all delicious for a variety of refreshing cocktails and lemonades.
Ginger: Want a spicy kick to your drink? Take a few inches of fresh ginger root and add it sliced or grated to your saucepan of water and sugar. After the sugar dissolves, let it sit in the syrup off the stove for a bit before straining.
Using Simple Syrup
There’s plenty of great options for using your homemade simple syrups. Here’s a few more ideas to get you started.
Podcast Episode: Making Simple Syrup
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Simple Syrup Recipe
It’s so simple to make and adds the perfect touch of sweetness to your cocktails or mocktails.
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Measure sugar and water into a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally. It’ll look cloudy for awhile.
- When all the sugar has dissolved, it will suddenly be clear. Remove from heat.
- Let it cool and then pour it into a jar or other sealable container.
- Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
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This post originally appeared in March 2016 and was revised and republished in November 2024.