How to make Simple Syrup for Cakes, drinks, and cocktails

5 from 9 votes

How to make Simple Syrup for Cakes, drinks, and cocktails

Basic sugar syrup is just two ingredients but can make a huge difference when used as an ingredient in another recipe like drinks, cocktails, and cakes. Today, I will show you how I make my simple syrup, enrich it, flavor it and use it. Same recipe with different ratios for different uses and different outcomes. Here is everything you need to know.

Course basic recipes

Cuisine American

Keyword basic, cakes, cocktail, Drinks, sugar, syrup

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 7 minutes

Servings Servings

Calories 32kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Equipment

Ingredients

SS for drinks

1 cup White granulated sugar
1 cup Water
Flavoring optional

SS for Cocktails

2 cups White granulated sugar
1 cup Water
¼ tsp Lemon juice prevents crystallization when cooled
Flavoring optional

SS for Cakes

1 cup White granulated sugar
4 cups Water
Flavoring optional

Metric - US customary

Instructions

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan.
Heat on medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved.

SS for Drinks

Cook for one minute more after the sugar has dissolved
Take it off the heat.
Set aside - use as required in the recipe

SS for Cocktails

Add the lemon juice
Cook for 3 minutes more after the sugar has dissolved
The syrup will be similar to honey consistency thick and syrupy.
Take it off the heat.
Set aside - use as required in the recipe

SS for cakes

Cook for three minutes more after the sugar has dissolved
It will still be water consistency.
Take it off the heat.
Set aside and let cool completely before using on a cake.

Notes

Tips for flavoring sugar Syrups

Add flavoring to the sugar and water mixture before you place it on the 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 add more than one too)
Orange - Peel from one orange (do not use the white part of the peel as it will make the simple syrup bitter)
Lemon - Peel from one lemon (do not use the white part of the peel as it will make the simple syrup bitter), You can add a tablespoon of lemon juice too.
Cinnamon - add a cinnamon stick
Ginger - add 3 slices of ginger Ginger also combines well with orange beautifully to make a ginger orange simple syrup flavors.
Cardamom or Cloves - You can use three cardamoms or 3 cloves or a combination of the two. I use 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