Infused Simple Syrups
Learn how to make infused simple syrups at home using herbs, fruit, vegetables, spices, and so much more. These naturally flavored syrups are incredibly versatile, easy to make, and simple, just as the name suggests.
Ingredients
Basic Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sweetener of choice
Citrus Simple Syrup
- ¼ cup lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit juice
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup organic cane sugar or sweetener of choice
Basil Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup organic cane sugar or sweetener of choice
- 1 cup basil leaves and stems stems optional
Instructions
- Heat the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, and stir until the sugar dissolves. If making plain simple syrup, transfer to a glass jar and let it come to room temperature before storing in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
- If infusing your syrup, once the sugar has dissolved, reduce the heat to a simmer, add your ingredients of choice and simmer them for ten minutes while stirring occasionally. Then, pour the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve and let it cool to room temperature. Store the infused syrup in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or up to 6 months in the freezer.
- Makes 3/4 cup of syrup. Feel free to scale the recipe up as needed.
Notes
Infusion Ideas:
Citrus peels - orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, etc.
Whole or ground spices - the options are endless: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, clove, pumpkin spice and more. Just look in your spice cupboard and see what you can come up with.
Dried flowers - so as rosebud, chamomile, hibiscus or lavender, which is delicious in lemonade. just make sure to use culinary grade.
Fresh or frozen fruit - apples, pears, berries (strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry) cherries, peaches, plums, or nectarines. These taste amazing in homemade Italian cream sodas.
Spicy peppers - give it a kick by using jalapenos or serrano peppers.
Chopped vegetables - fennel, beets, cucumber, carrots, celery, etc.
Fresh herbs - such as thyme, rosemary, sage, or tarragon. Or try basil or mint in frozen watermelon margaritas.
Fruit or vegetable juice - swap out some of the water for juice.
Tea bags - just like you infuse tea in water, you can also infuse it into simple syrup.
Vanilla bean - drizzle on ice cream, blueberry pancakes, or waffles.