Name: Simple Syrup
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 C water; 1 C granulated sugar

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Simple syrup is a liquefied form of sugar that is often used to sweeten cocktails, teas, coffees, and other cold beverages. A great way to sweeten beverages without any grainy sugar sitting at the bottom of the glass.

Container of simple syrup on a wooden block, with a napkin, jug of water, and container of sugar in the background.

A traditional simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar to water. Perfect for a wide variety of cocktails and to sweeten iced coffees and teas in the summertime!

TELL ME ABOUT THIS RECIPE

Level of difficulty: As the name tells you, it’s simple!

Flavor: Sweet, basically like liquified sugar.

Time: From start-to-finish, it will take you approximately 10 minutes to make this sugar syrup recipe. This includes prep and cooking time (not cooling time).

Ingredients and equipment to make homemade simple syrup. Includes water, sugar, a small saucepan, and a wooden spoon.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP

Granulated Sugar: sugar is a necessary ingredient for classic simple syrups, with granulated sugar being the most common type. You can also use raw sugars (like turbinado) for a different variation (my cousin, who is an award-winning mixologist, uses this for her cocktails!) .

Water: water is needed in equal parts to your sugar to make this homemade simple syrup.

Pouring water into a saucepan with sugar, preparing to make homemade simple syrup.

See a quick story series on this homemade simple syrup recipe here!

OVERVIEW: HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP

Place ingredients in a small saucepan: start by using equal parts sugar and water
Cook ingredients: over medium heat, and stir until your sugar has completely dissolved (approximately 5-10 minutes) and the liquid has thickened slightly. Try to avoid bringing your mixture to a boil.
Cool your simple syrup: remove your simple syrup from the heat and allow it to cool.
Store in an air-tight container in the fridge: transfer your simple syrup to an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

how to store

Store simple syrup in an air-tight container. I prefer to use glass containers and often use either an old honey jar (it’s shaped like a bear and it makes me happy) or a mason jar.

drinks to sweeten with simple syrup

Cocktails

Simple syrup can be used to sweeten so many cocktails… here are a few of my favorites:

Mocktails

A few of my favorite mocktail recipes that are sweetened with classic sugar syrup include:

ICED Coffees & Teas

Sweetening your favorite cold coffees and teas with simple syrup ensures your beverage is free from grainy sugar. Some of my favorite iced, summertime coffees and teas include:

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Simple Syrup

Meredith

Simple syrup is a great way to sweeten cocktails, coffees, and teas without the grainy texture of regular sugar.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 2 mins

Cook Time 8 mins

Total Time 10 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings Cup

Ingredients

▢ 1 C water
▢ 1 C granulated sugar

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat
Bring to a low boil, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and mixture has thickened (~5-10mins)*
Transfer syrup to a heat-proof, air-tight storage container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

Notes

*Note: the longer you cook your ingredients, the thicker your syrup will be when cooled.

*Store simple syrup in an air-tight container in the fridge. I prefer to use glass containers.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!