How to Make Homemade Dried Lavender Simple Syrup
Infuse any coffee or cocktail with an aromatic floral flavor with this lavender simple syrup recipe! With just three ingredients and 10-15 minutes, this easy lavender syrup is a great addition to your at-home coffee station or home bar. This recipe uses dried lavender buds infused into a homemade simple syrup.
Read more for tips on where to find culinary lavender, how to make your lavender syrup last even longer, and ideas for using this easy recipe!
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The first time I tried Starbucks’ new lavender cream matcha latte, I was OBSESSED. Naturally, I immediately figured out how to make it at home so I wouldn’t spend all my disposable income on this gorgeous layered beverage.
That involved making a batch of simple sugar syrup and some homemade lavender syrup so I could whip up my new favorite drink on a multiple-times-a-week basis.
Plus, if you like the flavor, you can use it for so many other things! Some of my other favorites are this lavender Earl Grey frapuccino or these Earl Grey scones with lavender glaze.
Making your own lavender syrup is a simple process and is super easy to whip up in just a few minutes!
Ingredients
Where to find culinary lavender
Food-grade lavender can be difficult to find at common grocery stores. Here are a few places I’ve been able to find it.
- Amazon
- Lowes Foods
- World Market
- Whole Foods
- Spice and Tea Exchange
One more hack? Check your local grocery store’s tea aisle and find lavender tea. And — this is important — check the ingredients. Many lavender teas contain chamomile or other herbs as well. If you can find one that only has lavender listed, jackpot! Just open up a tea bag or two and you can use it in this recipe.
If you’re lucky enough to have a lavender plant in your herb garden (and you haven’t used any toxic pesticides or chemicals), you can harvest and use your own lavender. Use fresh lavender blossoms or dry them for later!
How to make lavender simple syrup
See the recipe card for the full recipe.
Step 1. Dissolve the sugar.
Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 2. Infuse the lavender.
Add your dried lavender to the sugar and water mixture. Keep just below a boil for 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Strain and store.
Remove from heat and pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove lavender. Some tiny bits may remain, so if you want an even more clear syrup, strain again through a couple layers of cheesecloth. Add food coloring, if desired.
Cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the longest shelf life.
Storing your flavored syrup
While I wish I could store this syrup on a decorative shelf by my coffee maker, it won’t keep nearly as long at room temperature. Unless you’re using your syrup within a few days, you’re best off keeping it in the fridge. (Commercially-produced syrups like Torani contain preservatives that allow them to be stored unrefrigerated almost indefinitely.)
Regular (thin) simple syrup: A 1:1 ratio of sugar to water will create a thin simple syrup, which is what most recipes assume when they call for simple syrup. Unflavored simple syrup will last for a month in the fridge, while flavored ones like this lavender syrup should be used within two weeks.
Rich simple syrup (double strength): A 2:1 sugar to water ratio creates rich simple syrup, which significantly extends the refrigerator shelf life. Plain rich simple syrup will last up to 6 months in the fridge, while infused rich syrup should last at least 3 months. If using rich syrup, reduce the amount called for in recipes since it’s extra sweet.
Regardless, if your simple syrup crystalizes, starts to look cloudy, or smells off, throw it out.
For even longer storage, you can freeze some for later. Due to the high sugar content, frozen simple syrup has a soft, scoopable texture, like a sorbet.
Read more on flavored syrup storage from Saveur.
Uses for lavender syrup
You can use your homemade lavender simple syrup to add floral notes to coffee drinks, cocktail recipes, and even baked goods!
Flavor pairings
Lavender tastes great when paired with these flavors, if you want to try your own recipes!
- Earl Grey
- Vanilla
- Lemon
- Matcha
Recipe ideas
Here are some recipes and other ideas for using your lavender syrup recipe.
Coffee shop drinks
- Lavender Latte
- Starbucks Copycat Lavender Cream Matcha Latte
- Lavender Earl Grey Frappuccino
- Add to a London Fog latte
Other cold drinks
- Lavender Lemonade
- Homemade Lavender soda
- Craft cocktails
Other uses
- Earl Grey Scones with Lavender Glaze
- Drizzle over vanilla ice cream
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Dried Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- 2 drops purple food coloring optional
- 1 drop blue food coloring optional
Instructions
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring frequently.
- Add dried lavender buds and stir. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove lavender. Cool to room temperature and add food coloring, if desired.
- Funnel into a pour bottle or airtight container. Store for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
