Making simple syrup doesn’t have to be an ordeal. In fact, making your own basic syrup doesn’t take much time at all. Once you get the method down you’ll be on your way to preparing any cocktail you want or moistening all cakes before frosting.
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As a flight attendant, for over 10 years, I've made way too many cocktails. But, back then our simple syrups also known as a cocktail sweetener came out of a bottle that was provided to us on every cocktail cart. And, they came in a few different flavors too.
Now, I always have sweet syrup in the fridge because it's easy to use in many recipes instead of sugar such as a quick lemonade, cocktails, coffee, etc.
What is simple sugar syrup?
Technically, it's equal parts of sugar and equal part water, boiled together until all the sugar has melted. Cool it and it's ready to use in anything from douching over cake layers and drinks/cocktails, and sometimes when requested in a recipe.
What are flavored sugar syrups?
You can flavor it with flavor ingredients from simple vanilla, lemon, orange, or rosemary. Adding flavor simply means letting the sugar water infuse a little longer. For example;
- Rosemary Gin Fizz is basically ¼ cup gin, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon rosemary syrup topped with ⅓ cup club soda. Garnished with a lemon wedge and rosemary sprig.
- My favorite to have on hand usually would be rosemary (rosemary is a very refreshing flavor in a drink), orange (my favorite), and lemon (another favorite).
- And then, of course, we had those wonderful flavors that you make when winter sets in. Like a little cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and cardamom.
- One of my absolute favorite winter drinks used to be Cinnamon Cranberry Gingersnap - with homemade brown sugar cinnamon syrup, Cointreau, cranberry juice, lemon juice, ginger slices, and a cinnamon stick.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Sugar - white sugar is most commonly used and when I make a big bottle of sugar syrup that is what I use. But, brown sugar or demerara sugar adds a nice caramel-like flavor too!
- Water - Simple water makes a great start but you can add other liquids too! For example; orange juice syrup is perfect to moisten orange cake as well as for orange-flavored drinks such as a screwdriver!
- Lemon - the main purpose of this one tablespoon is to prevent sugar crystalization. I like to use a tablespoon of light corn syrup which is an invert-sugar but not everybody has that at home.
- Flavorings - this is where it gets interesting.
- You can add a simple single vanilla bean and a cinnamon stick or a variety of spices.
- Use a few basil leaves, mint leaves, or a whole sprig of rosemary and thyme.
- Add a citrus peel or slice of lime and orange or a variety of citrus fruits.
- One of my favorite is the ginger root which I used when I make flavored alcoholic tea-based drinks.
Homemade simple syrup
- Dissolve - In a saucepan over medium heat combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Add your choice of flavoring at this time too. Cook stirring often until all the sugar has dissolved.
Pro tip - you can use spices, herbs, and citrus for flavoring. Make sure to wash the herbs before using them - Boil - Bring the syrup to a boil and let it simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes.
Pro tip - you can remove the items for flavoring at any time depending on how much or how less you want the syrup flavored. - Cool - Remove from heat. Strain into a glass jar or bottle and let cool completely. Use in any recipe that calls for simple syrup.
How to flavor sugar syrup?
Add flavoring to the sugar and water mixture before you place it on heat. For a light flavor, remove it when you take it off the heat, for a deeper flavor remove it when cooled. For an intense flavor, leave it for a day or more. Remember, not all flavors do well with intensity.
- Rosemary - add a sprig of rosemary. (you can also add more than one)
- Orange - use a peel from one orange. Do not use the white part of the peel as it will make the syrup bitter.
- Lemon - use a peel from one lemon. Do not use the white part of the peel as it will make it bitter. You can also add a tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Cinnamon - add a cinnamon stick.
- Ginger - add 3 slices of ginger.
- Orange ginger - ginger also combines well with orange to make a ginger orange-flavored syrup.
- Cardamom or cloves - you can use three cardamoms or three cloves or a combination of the two. I use it when I make my chai spice cake.
- Rose - you can use edible rose petals, but I usually add a rose extract to my simple syrup when it's done.
- Lavender - a few sprigs of edible lavender makes a heavenly lavender sugar syrup.
The purpose of sugar syrup in a cocktail is to add sweetness while the purpose of sugar syrup in cakes is to add moisture. So, while you can use the same syrup for both a syrup with less sugar and more water works best for cake!
Simple syrup can be kept at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Ideally, we still have the same two main ingredients, sugar and water. But when it comes to cakes I use a different ratio. I use 1 part sugar to 3 parts of water. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes. This way you moisten the cake layers and yet do not make the cake overly sweet.
Cake decorating takes time which means we need more working time. You can't make a cake and decorate it immediately. There is a process involved.
- You need to cool it completely, level it, crumb coat the cake,
- first frosting, sometimes ganache, cover it with fondant and then decorate it.
- The lapse of time from when you baked the cake to the time the cake is decorated can be as little as 3 days and in some cases more. - Often the cake ends up going in and out of the refrigerator which tends to dry the cake even more. So, to ensure the cake is moist when cut we use light sugar syrup to moisten the cake.
Of course, you can also use honey, maple syrup, agave syrup.
When I have no time to make syrup and let it cool down. I make this quick syrup. Take ¼ cup of light corn syrup with ¼ cup of warm water. Combine well and use it in place of classic syrup.
Printable Recipe
How to Make Simple Syrup
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Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
Rich Simple Syrup for drinks & Cocktails
- 1 cups (200 g) White granulated sugar
- 1 cup (250 ml) Water
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice (prevents crystallization when cooled)
- Flavoring ((see notes) )
Sugar Syrup for Cakes
- 1 cup (200 g) White granulated sugar
- 3 cups (750 g) Water
- Flavoring ((see notes) )
Instructions
- Dissolve - In a saucepan over medium heat combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Add your choice of flavoring at this time too. Cook stirring often until all the sugar has dissolved. Pro tip - you can use spices, herbs, and citrus for flavoring. Make sure to wash the herbs before using them1 cups White granulated sugar, 1 cup Water, 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- Boil - Bring the syrup to a boil and let it simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes. Pro tip - you can remove the items for flavoring at any time depending on how much or how less you want the syrup flavored.
- Cool - Remove from heat. Strain into a glass jar or bottle and let cool completely. Use in any recipe that calls for simple syrup.
Recipe Notes & Tips
Flavoring for sugar syrup
Add flavoring to the sugar and water mixture before you place it on heat. For a light flavor, remove it when you take it off the heat, for a deeper flavor remove it when cooled. For an intense flavor, leave it for a day or more. Remember, not all flavors do well with intensity.- Rosemary - add a sprig of rosemary. (you can also add more than one)
- Orange - use a peel from one orange. Do not use the white part of the peel as it will make the simple syrup bitter.
- Lemon - use a peel from one lemon. Do not use the white part of the peel as it will make it bitter. You can also add a tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Cinnamon - add a cinnamon stick.
- Ginger - add 3 slices of ginger.
- Orange ginger - ginger also combines well with orange to make a ginger orange simple syrup flavor.
- Cardamom or cloves - you can use three cardamoms or three cloves or a combination of the two. I use it when I make my chai spice cake.
- Rose - you can use edible rose petals, but I usually add a rose extract to my simple syrup when it's done.
- Lavender - a few sprigs of edible lavender makes a heavenly lavender simple syrup.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Bella
Hi Verena,
Just wondering if the sugar syrup can be stored? If so what’s the best way to store it and for how long?
Thanks so much!
Bella
Veena Azmanov
Hey Bella. I store mine in the fridge for up 10 days.
Nontlantla
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