My favorite homemade simple syrup recipe is perfect for sweetening cocktails, coffee, tea, and cake decorating. Variations for brown sugar, honey, and flavored syrups are below!
Simple syrup is easy to make and lasts in the fridge for a month. You can even freeze it (tips are below).
We use simple syrup to make lemon drop martinis and the Tom Collins cocktail. I also love having it on hand to sweeten teas and coffee (like this pumpkin spice latte).
Key Ingredients
- Sugar: I use granulated sugar for simple syrup, but you can substitute for brown sugar, maple sugar, and coconut sugar. Tips for using honey are below.
- Water: I prefer filtered water for this recipe.
How to Make Simple Syrup
For simple syrup, use a ratio of 1:1 water to sugar. This makes a syrup similar to what you can buy at the store. Increase the sugar for a richer syrup.
Add water and sugar to a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Swirl the pan around as the mixture heats up to help dissolve the sugar into the water. When the sugar completely dissolves, set the pan aside to cool, and then use or store it for the next time you need simple syrup!
Storing Simple Syrup
Homemade simple syrup lasts in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. You can also freeze simple syrup. Pour the syrup into an ice cube tray and freeze until hard. Pop out the frozen simple syrup cubes and transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Simple Syrup Recipe Variations
Brown sugar simple syrup: In the recipe below, substitute brown sugar for the granulated sugar. I love brown sugar simple syrup in this Old Fashioned Cocktail.
Honey simple syrup: For a mild honey-flavored syrup, use 1:1 honey and water, or for a more prominent honey flavor, increase the honey and use 2:1 honey to water.
Flavored simple syrup: Make your simple syrup, and then once the sugar dissolves, add a handful of fresh herbs, sliced citrus, ginger, chiles, or spices to infuse into the syrup as it cools. In our video, I make citrus mint syrup, which is fantastic! You might also enjoy this lemon ginger syrup. On a similar note, the leftover syrup from making our candied jalapeños is also delicious!
Homemade Simple Syrup
- PREP
- COOK
- TOTAL
The most common ratio for simple syrup is equal parts water to sugar. For a richer syrup, use more sugar. For a leaner syrup, use less. This recipe can be used with white sugar, brown sugar, and honey. Also, take a look at the notes section below for how to make flavored simple syrup.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1 cup (236ml) water, preferably filtered
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, brown sugar, or honey
Directions
- Basic Recipe
1Add water and sugar to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, swirling the pan occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves.
2Cool it, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks, or freeze it in ice cube trays.
- Citrus Mint Simple Syrup
1Add water and sugar to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, swirling the pan occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves.
2Turn off the heat and stir in a handful of mint leaves and citrus peel (I love a combination of lemon, orange, and lime). Allow it to steep and cool completely. Strain and then store.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Refrigerate basic simple syrup in an airtight jar for up to 4 weeks. Use flavored simple syrups within 2 weeks.
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I didn’t know it was that easy!
I am so happy you found us, then! Thank you for coming back.
Can you use stevia or monk sugar?
Hi Terry, We have not experimented with either of these in this recipe.
I added some vanilla before it started simmering, and the result got rave reviews.
Thank you so much. It was so simple & easy to make. Appreciate your experience & advice
You’re recipes are very nice 👍 keep on giving us simple recipes.
Thank you for this simple breakdown!
Tried it with fresh rosemary and granulated sugar. Superior!! Thanks
Sounds lovely.
Using 1/1 ratio of brown sugar and water makes for very thin syrup. It comes out like dark brown water, but sweet. Using regular sugar it’s perfect and thick.
haven’t tried it yet. Going to make soon.
I messed it up and ended up making caramel but caramel covered pancakes pretty darn good.
It was soo easy!! Thank you SOO much! They didn’t have it at the store and I thought I was doomed but you saved me!!?
I bought Simple Syrup at the store already made. What is this used for?
Simple syrup is often used for sweetening cocktails or coffee drinks.
Hi! Stumbled across this blog post in a Google search for simple syrup. While everyone tells you how simple simple syrup is, almost no one has provided the YIELD from the ratio of sugar and water. You were great in providing it, and also explaining why it is not 1+1=2 cups for the yield. Good job!