Easy Simple Syrup Recipe for Coffee and Cocktails
Simple syrup is a convenient neutral liquid sweetener you can use in coffee, lattes, cocktails, and other specialty drinks. Whip up this easy simple syrup recipe in about 5 minutes with just two ingredients: sugar and water!
You can also make infused variations on simple syrup like my dried lavender simple syrup or vanilla bean syrup. Read more for variation ideas, uses, and storage tips.
Ingredients and ratios
The only ingredients in simple syrup are white granulated sugar and water.
Typically they are in a 1:1 ratio (1 cup of sugar for 1 cup of water) but you can also double the sugar (2:1 ratio) to make a rich simple syrup. Rich simple syrup can be added to a drink in smaller quantities due to the higher concentration, and can be stored for longer.
Storage
Simple syrup made using 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 at least a month in the fridge.
Rich simple syrup, made with a 2:1 sugar to water ratio, has a significantly longer refrigerator shelf life. Plain rich simple syrup will last at least 6 months in the fridge. If using rich syrup, reduce the amount called for in recipes since it’s extra sweet.
Infused syrups: If you’re infusing herbs or flavors into your syrups, like this dried lavender simple syrup recipe, reduce the storage time by half (two weeks for a 1:1 ratio and 3 months for a rich syrup). Fruit- or juice-infused syrups have an even shorter shelf life.
Freezing: You can freeze your simple syrup for longer (indefinite) storage. Be aware that due to the high sugar content it will not freeze solid like an ice cube, but will be sort of a soft scoopable consistency like half-melted sorbet!
Room temperature: Don’t store your simple syrup at room temperature unless you plan to use it within a few days. Commercial coffee syrups like Torani contain preservatives that allow them to be stored nearly indefinitely at room temperature, and while sugar does act as a natural preservative, it’s not THAT good.
Regardless of whether you store it in the fridge or on the counter, if the syrup looks cloudy or starts to smell off, throw it out!
How to make simple syrup
Making this simple syrup recipe couldn’t be easier! You just add sugar and water to a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
After it cools, store in an airtight container in the fridge for at least a month.
Uses for simple syrup
- Cocktails: Simple syrup is a standard ingredient in many cocktails, so if you like to mix yourself a drink be sure to have some on hand!
- Iced tea: When unsweetened iced tea is served with little packets of quick-dissolving sugar substitutes or granulated sugar that stays grainy in a swirl at the bottom of your glass, you don’t really have a good option for sweetening your tea. Since simple syrup is a liquid sweetener you don’t have to worry about it dissolving in a cold drink! You can sweeten the tea with granulated sugar while it’s still hot, but simple syrup allows people to sweeten it to their own taste.
- Coffee drinks: Hot or iced coffee drinks are great with some neutral sweetener, or you can swap it out for an infused syrup instead!
- Matcha lattes: If you want to make a sweetened matcha latte without adding extra flavors, simple syrup is the way to go. I use it to make a Starbucks copycat Oatmilk Matcha Latte with Lavender Cream. (And lavender syrup to flavor the cold foam!) My new favorite drink!
- Quick lemonade: You can make easy single servings of fresh lemonade (or limeade, or orangeade) with a squeeze from a citrus fruit, some water, and simple syrup. If you don’t drink enough to make a big batch this is a great solution! (You can use rosemary-infused simple syrup to make Rosemary Grapefruit Lemonade instead! I HIGHLY recommend it!)
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Basic Simple Syrup Recipe for Coffee and Cocktails
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring frequently.
- Cool to room temperature and funnel into a pour bottle or airtight container. This recipe makes about 1 cup of finished simple syrup. Store for at least a month in the refrigerator.
