Making homemade simple syrup is quick and easy. It’s a game-changer for sweetening cocktails, iced coffee, iced tea, and desserts. This basic simple syrup recipe uses just two ingredients and can be customized with fresh herbs, spices, or citrus for added flavor.
Why This Recipe Works
This easy homemade simple syrup recipe is not only fast and versatile, but it also lets you control sweetness and avoid the added sugar and high fructose corn syrup found in store-bought options.
Plus, making your own simple syrup is much fun, and you can make batches of simple syrup in advance for cold drinks, cocktails, fruit salads, or ice cream toppings.
Easy Homemade Simple Syrup Recipe for Cocktails & More
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar white sugar, cane sugar, or brown sugar
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan.1 Cup Granulated Sugar, 1 Cup Water
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves completely and the syrup is clear. Don’t boil.
- If adding flavors, add them once the sugar dissolves and simmer for 2–3 minutes for infused syrup. Note: You can find some flavor ideas further down in the blog post.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Strain out solids if infused with other flavors. Then pour into a clean glass jar or mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store in the fridge for up to 1 month (or up to 2–3 months for rich simple syrup).
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
- Yield: About 1 cup (enough for 8–10 drinks or desserts)
Tips & Variations
- Rich simple syrup. Use 2 parts sugar to 1 part water for a thicker syrup and longer shelf life.
- Honey syrup or maple syrup. Substitute sugar with honey or maple syrup in equal parts with water.
- Flavored syrup. Experiment with vanilla beans, citrus zest, cinnamon sticks, or fresh herbs for cocktails and iced beverages.
- Serving ideas. Sweeten iced coffee, cold brew, iced tea, lemonades, cocktails, fruit juice, or drizzle over ice cream.
Optional flavorings
- Cinnamon sticks, star anise, or whole spices
- Citrus zest (lemon, lime, or orange)
- Fresh herbs like mint leaves or lemon balm
- Vanilla bean
Nutrition
How to Store Homemade Simple Syrup
Storing your homemade simple syrup properly is key to keeping it fresh and flavorful for all your drinks and desserts. Here’s the best way to store it:
- Use Clean Glass Jars or Bottles
Always pour your syrup into a clean glass jar, mason jar, or glass bottle. Make sure it has a tight-fitting lid or airtight container to prevent contamination and keep flavors intact. - Refrigerate
Keep your syrup in the fridge, whether it’s a basic simple syrup or a rich syrup with higher sugar content. Cold storage slows bacterial growth and keeps your syrup tasting fresh. - Shelf Life
- Basic simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water ratio) lasts about 1 month in the fridge.
- Rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water ratio) can last 2–3 months.
- Infused syrups with fresh herbs, citrus zest, or whole spices are best used within 2–3 weeks.
- Label Your Syrup
When making batches of simple syrup, label jars with the type of sugar, flavor, and date made. It helps you keep track of leftover syrup and prevents waste. - Freeze for Long-Term Storage
Pour syrup into ice cube trays or small containers for easy portioning. Perfect for adding to cocktails, iced coffee, or fruit juice later.
Creative Ways to Use Your Simple Syrup
Once you have your own simple syrup, the possibilities are endless. Here are some great additions to your kitchen routine:
- Cold beverages. Sweeten iced tea, iced coffee, cold brew, lemonade, and fruit juices.
- Cocktails & mocktail. Make drinks smoother with rich syrup or flavored syrups.
- Desserts. Drizzle over ice cream, fruit salad, pancakes, or waffles.
- Infusions. Add citrus rind, vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, or fresh herbs to create countless recipes beyond the basic recipe.
- Mix & match sugars. Try brown sugar, demerara, turbinado, or superfine sugar for unique flavors.
Pro Tip: Always use clean utensils when scooping syrup to prevent contamination and extend shelf life.
Using Simple Syrup for Cakes
1. Keeps Cakes Moist
Brushing or drizzling homemade simple syrup over layers of cake adds liquid sugar, which penetrates the crumb and keeps it from drying out. This is especially helpful for sponge cakes, layer cakes, or pound cakes.
2. Enhances Flavor
You can infuse your syrup with vanilla, citrus zest, fresh herbs, or spices to complement the cake flavor. For example:
- Vanilla syrup for a classic yellow or chocolate cake
- Lemon or orange syrup for citrus cakes
- Cinnamon or star anise syrup for spice cakes
3. Application Tips
- Let your syrup cool to room temperature before using.
- Use a pastry brush or a spoon to lightly coat each layer.
- Don’t oversaturate. A thin, even layer is all you need.
- For multi-layer cakes, apply syrup between layers for extra moistness.
4. Shelf Life After Brushing
Once applied, your cake can stay moist for a few days, especially if stored in an airtight container or covered loosely with plastic wrap.
5. Adjusting Sweetness
If you want a less sweet option for cakes, you can slightly reduce the sugar in the syrup or add fruit juice or citrus juice to balance flavor.
Your easy homemade simple syrup works beautifully for cakes—whether plain, flavored, or layered—and it’s a simple trick used by professional bakers to achieve moist, tender cake layers.
Flavor Ideas for Cake Syrup Table
| Syrup Flavor | Best Cake Pairing | Notes / Tips |
| Vanilla Simple Syrup | Yellow cake, chocolate cake, pound cake | Classic flavor; adds subtle sweetness without overpowering the cake. |
| Lemon or Orange Zest | Lemon cake, angel food cake, chiffon | Bright citrus notes; can thin syrup with a little fresh citrus juice for extra tang. |
| Cinnamon or Spice | Spice cake, pumpkin cake, carrot cake | Adds warmth and depth; perfect for fall or holiday cakes. |
| Mint or Lemon Balm | Chocolate cake, fruit chocolate torte | Infuse lightly to complement rich chocolate or fruit flavors. |
| Star Anise or Whole Spices | Gingerbread or holiday cakes | Strong, aromatic flavors; use sparingly to avoid overpowering. |
| Fruit-Infused Syrup | Berry cakes, vanilla sponge cakes | Use fruit juice or fresh fruit to create a naturally flavored syrup. |
Quick Tips
- Brush a thin, even layer of syrup to keep cakes moist without making them soggy.
- Cool syrup to room temperature before applying to prevent melting frosting.
- Store leftover syrup in the fridge in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid for up to 1 month.
What Can Be Substituted for Simple Syrup?
If you don’t have homemade simple syrup on hand, or you want a different flavor or sweetness level, there are several great substitutes you can use in cocktails, iced drinks, desserts, and cakes:
Honey Syrup
- Mix equal parts honey and warm water to create a pourable syrup.
- Works well in tea, coffee, and cocktails.
- Adds a natural, floral sweetness that’s richer than simple syrup.
Maple Syrup
- Use pure maple syrup as a 1:1 substitute.
- Ideal for pancakes, waffles, coffee drinks, or desserts.
- Adds warm, caramel-like flavor.
Agave Nectar
- Naturally liquid and sweeter than sugar syrup, so you can use slightly less.
- Great for cold beverages and cocktails.
- Keeps vegan-friendly sweetness on hand.
Fruit Juice
- Unsweetened fruit juice like orange, lemon, or apple can replace simple syrup in some recipes.
- Works best for fruit-flavored drinks, punches, or fruit salads.
- Adds natural flavor along with liquid sugar content.
Granulated Sugar or Cane Sugar
- If necessary, dissolve sugar directly in hot water or your drink.
- Not ideal for cold drinks unless dissolved first, because sugar granules may not dissolve easily.
Brown Sugar Syrup
- Combine brown sugar and water (1:1) and heat until sugar dissolves.
- Adds rich, caramel-like flavor for cocktails, cakes, or ice cream toppings.
Quick Tips
- Adjust sweetness. Some substitutes (like agave or maple syrup) are sweeter than simple syrup, so start with less and taste.
- Flavor infusion. You can infuse any syrup substitute with cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, citrus zest, or fresh herbs to create a custom flavor.
- Storage. Most substitutes can be stored in the fridge in a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid for 1–2 weeks, except for fruit juice which should be used sooner.
If you don’t have homemade simple syrup, it’s time to make some. Once you have some on hand, you’ll find all sorts of delicious ways to use it. This works well in cocktails, iced beverages, cakes, and desserts.
My family loved this!