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Give your next cup of coffee or lemonade a punch of flavor with these infused simple syrup recipes! They’re super simple to make and cost way less than the fancy stuff at the store. From herb-infused syrups and fruity options, there’s something for everyone!
I’ve been making homemade syrups for years now and recommend them to anyone who wants to be a little more creative in the kitchen.
They really couldn’t be easier since many of my recipes below only require 3-4 simple ingredients, and there are truly endless options.
Most variations require just 1-2 extra ingredients beyond sugar and water, so you don’t need to splurge on lots of expensive supplies or materials or spend all your money on premade syrups at the store.
Plus, they taste amazing! I love serving homemade syrups in different cocktails, homemade sodas, lemonade, and more. They make any drink more interesting.
And if you’re not a drinker, you don’t have to use them for alcohol! I like to make a bunch of different syrups for an Italian soda station at parties, and it’s always a hit.
What is simple syrup?
Simple syrups are a liquid sweetener you can use to sweeten and flavor drinks without having to dissolve sugar. So if you’re making an iced coffee or latte, you can add a few splashes of syrup instead of needing to dissolve the sugar in hot water first.
There are two basic types of syrups people use for sweetening coffee drinks and making cocktails:
- Simple syrup – equal parts sugar and water
- Rich syrup – two parts sugar to one part water
Although you only need two basic ingredients, the amount of flavor variations you can choose from is kind of unbelievable!
You can adjust the sugar to use something like coconut sugar or brown sugar, or you can steep fresh herbs, like mint or rosemary, dried spices, and so much more.
They’re a great project for people who aren’t super confident in their cooking or baking skills because they’re pretty much foolproof and require very little time and effort. Easy!
Equipment for Making Simple Syrups
You need very few supplies to make your own flavored syrups.
The most important part is to have a saucepan and I recommend grabbing a fine mesh strainer and narrow funnel to make it easy to strain out any add-ins and fill your container without making a mess.
How to Make Infused Simple Syrups
- In general, place the water, plain sugar, and any other ingredients together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Heat the mixture on the stove until the sugar dissolves.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, strain out any large pieces. If adding any extracts or alcohol, add them at this point.
- Store the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for usually 1-2 weeks although some may last longer.
My Favorite Simple Syrup Recipes
The following recipes will add a little kick to your next cocktail, iced tea, coffee, or more. There are several different flavors here, so see which one jumps out at you!
Cardamom Simple Syrup
This cardamom syrup recipe is one of my favorites. It makes any beverage taste like chai, and makes the BEST homemade cream soda! It’s super simple, too, and you can use the dried cardamom already in your pantry.
Brown Sugar Syrup
Technically, this brown sugar simple syrup isn’t exactly an infused syrup because it just uses brown sugar and water. However, the homemade brown sugar is infused with flavor from the molasses! It’s an amazing ingredient to add to this brown sugar lemonade.
My demerara syrup recipe is very similar. They’re both wonderful in coffee drinks, and stir perfectly into iced coffee without leaving little sugar crystals at the bottom.
Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup
I’m a total vanilla fiend and love to drizzle this lusciously decadent vanilla bean syrup over fresh fruits, stir it into lemonade, or sweeten a cup of Earl Grey tea. One of my favorites!
If you love vanilla like me, you might as well make some vanilla sugar while you’re at it or your own Bourbon vanilla extract. Both are great for baking!
Almond Cookie Coffee Syrup
This extra-special almond simple syrup recipe also includes a little brown sugar, butter extract, and vanilla extract, for the coziest flavor.
Great for the holidays!
Earl Grey Tea Syrup
I love the combination of black tea and bergamot in this Earl Grey tea syrup. You just infuse a couple of Earl Grey tea bags in your homemade simple syrup, then remove the bags before serving. It’s fantastic in cocktail recipes, especially with a little bourbon!
Chamomile Simple Syrup
Don’t you love that strawberry-pineapple-apple scent of chamomile? It smells like summer sunshine to me, and this chamomile simple syrup is a lovely addition to your strawberry lemonade or homemade sodas. Such a treat!
Strawberry Simple Syrup
Fresh strawberries infuse a rich berry flavor that makes the best lemonade, cocktails, and more. You can even brush this strawberry simple syrup on cake layers to lock in moisture and add extra flavor!
Lavender Simple Syrup
Add this lavender simple syrup to your must-make list! It’s perfect for making homemade lavender lemonade and lattes, drizzling over ice cream, or even sweetening lavender liqueur. One of my favorite floral-infused simple syrup recipes!
Love lavender, too? Check out these 45+ ways to use dried lavender for some inspiration!
Lemon Balm Syrup
This fresh lemon balm syrup is such a sunny treat! Lemon balm has a bright, lemony flavor and is so relaxing. I love to add this to lemon balm lemonade or stir some into some sparkling wine for a spritzer. So refreshing!
Hazelnut Simple Syrup
Homemade hazelnut simple syrup is such a delicious alternative to the storebought stuff! treat! This version uses real, whole hazelnuts for an authentic flavor that tastes just as good drizzled over ice cream as it does stirred into coffee!
Coconut Sugar Simple Syrup
The rich flavor of coconut sugar makes this coconut sugar simple syrup recipe so much more flavorful than a basic simple syrup. It’s heavenly drizzled into your iced coffees!
Lemon Simple Syrup
I started making lemon simple syrup to flavor baked goods, particularly my Lemon Poppyseed Granola. The infusion process amplifies the lemon flavor and holds the flavor longed than pure zest or juice. So handy!
Black Cherry Syrup
This black cherry vanilla syrup has a dark burgundy color and a strong cherry flavor, perfect for homemade sodas, lemonade, brushing onto cakes, and so much more. You can even use it to make your own homemade cherry coke!
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Blackberry Simple Syrup
Just infuse some fresh or frozen blackberries into your next batch of simple syrup to add a berry flavor to iced tea, lemonade, and more. Get my blackberry simple syrup recipe here.
Blueberry Simple Syrup
Similar to the syrup above, gently cooking blackberries with white sugar and water is a great way to bring out their flavor and purple color. I especially love this blueberry simple syrup in lemonade!
Cranberry Simple Syrup
Take your holiday drinks to the next level with this spiced cranberry simple syrup! It’s steeped with dried spices and orange for a warm, cozy flavor that’s perfect for your holiday cocktail bar.
Blood Orange Syrup
The bold red color of this blood orange syrup looks like grenadine in drinks but has the best orange flavor! I love to serve it over grapefruit sparkling water or to add color to any glass of lemonade.
Jalapeno Syrup
I love to make this jalapeno syrup recipe when I’m freezing jalapenos. It’s nice and spicy and makes the most amazing margaritas and lemonades! It’ll wake you up, for sure!
Strawberry Rhubarb Simple Syrup
Is there a spring flavor combination more iconic than this one? The second the first strawberries begin to ripen, you’ll want strawberry rhubarb everything.
This strawberry rhubarb simple syrup is ideal for homemade lemonades, sodas, cocktails, and even drizzling over ice cream!
FAQs
A simple syrup uses the same amount of sugar and water (I use 1 cup each), while a rich syrup uses twice as much sugar (2 cups of sugar to 1 cup of water). Since they’re so much sweeter than regular simple syrup, you can use half as much to sweeten your drinks!
I love making cocktail syrups with brown sugar, demerara sugar, and other types of sugar, but they can affect the final flavor of your drinks. If you want to highlight a subtle flavor, like lavender, it’s best to use plain white sugar or even honey instead.
Plain simple syrup made with just sugar and water can generally last for 2-5 weeks in the fridge. Infused syrups should be stored for up to 1 week in the fridge.
Since there aren’t any preservatives, they won’t last quite as long as a bottle of simple syrup from the store, but they’re so easy to make fresh whenever you need them!
If you enjoy this post, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think and hear about your own experiences.
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More Homemade Sweeteners
- How to Make Sugar Cubes
- Homemade Whipped Honey Recipe
- Cardamom Infused Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Infused Sugar Recipe
- Cinnamon Infused Honey Recipe
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