Your favorite bartender probably has a ton of simple syrup stashed behind the bar at any given time. Simple syrup is, quite simply, a high concentration sugar solution. All you do is dissolve a bunch of sugar in hot water. Easy!
Sugar is more soluble in hot water, so you can dissolve more of it – and more quickly – than in cold or room temperature water. Ever tried to add sugar to your iced tea? Not fun.
This is handy for cocktails, tea, coffee, or homemade lemonade.
PREPARATION & PHOTOS
This is all very straightforward. I feel silly even including pictures.
Make sure your containter for storage has been cleaned thoroughly and dried before starting.
Measure out your granulated sugar.
Mix the sugar with the water and then bring the mixture to a boil.
You should stir periodically to ensure that the sugar doesn’t clump or stick to the pan until all of the sugar has been dissolved. This should not take very long.
Finally, allow the finished simple syrup to cool until it can safely be poured into whatever container you are using for storage and seal the lid tightly. You can refrigerate the finished syrup for a couple of weeks, but watch for signs of spoilage including cloudiness, particulate, or changes in smell or color.
Substitutions
Vegan vs. vegetarian?
If you are vegan, you have to be sure that you are using vegan sugar. There are differences in the processing of sugar that can mean sugar is not inherently vegan. While not a rule, beet sugar is frequently vegan, while sugar from sugarcane often is not because it can be processed with animal bones. You can read more about this on the Vegetarian Resource Group or in this Huffington Post Article.
Infusing flavors
If you feel like getting fancy, then you can make infused simple syrup as well!
Try boiling (washed) fresh herbs, spices, or citrus peels (without the bitter white pith) in the simple syrup for about 60 seconds prior to removing it from the stove. Afterwards, filter the syrup through a fine mesh strainer or a few layers of cheese cloth. The infused simple syrup should be stored in the fridge, but it likely won’t keep as long.
PrintBasic Simple Syrup
A basic simple syrup recipe. Useful for easily sweetening lemonade, coffee, or tea. Use this behind the bar to make cocktails! Convenient to keep in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 (tbsp) 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup (about 250 grams) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Ensure storage container is washed thoroughly and dry prior to starting process – it goes quick!
- Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Stir frequently to avoid sticking. Continue until all sugar is dissolved.
- Take off the heat. Cool the simple syrup until it can be transferred safely.
- Pour into storage container and seal.
- Store the simple syrup in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Notes
If you detect any cloudiness, particulate, odor, or color changes, throw out your simple syrup. These are signs of spoilage.
The nutrition information was calculated based on 1 cup volume. Note that the total volume of simple syrup you make will actually be greater than 1 cup with the dissolved sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 27 g
- Calories: 48 kcal
- Sugar: 12.48 g
- Sodium: 0 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 g
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