How To Make Basic & Rich Simple Syrups

Even if you’re an avid home cook or baker, you may not be familiar with the magic that plain simple syrup can bring to your dishes. I honestly think simple syrup is a must-have in any kitchen. You can use it to enhance drinks like this raspberry margarita mocktail or this Paloma mocktail, desserts, and more!

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make basic and rich simple syrups and give you some ways to use them in your recipes. So, let’s dive in and learn how to make these versatile sweeteners at home.

💞 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔️ Dissolves easily in both hot and cold drinks.
✔️ Can be infused with your favorite herbs, spices, and fruits.
✔️ Cheap to make.

🧐 What are Basic and Rich Simple Syrups?

Simple syrup is essentially sugar dissolved in water, creating a liquid sweetener perfect for blending into drinks or drizzling over desserts. A basic simple syrup consists of equal parts sugar and water, while a rich simple syrup is made with a higher ratio of sugar to water (usually 2:1), resulting in a thicker, sweeter syrup.

📋 Ingredients For Simple Syrup

• Sugar—The most commonly used sugar for making simple syrup is white granulated sugar, as it dissolves easily and has a neutral flavor. However, you can also experiment with other types of sugar, such as brown sugar, turbinado sugar, or even coconut sugar. Keep in mind that different sugars will impart their own unique flavors and colors to the syrup, which may affect the final taste of your recipes.
• Water—I use tap water but you can also use filtered or bottled water water as it helps ensure a pure and consistent flavor.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Basic & Rich Simple Syrups

The process to make both is the same. The only thing that is different is the amount of water and sugar you use. I like to make mine in a Mason jar in the microwave, however, you can use a pot on the stovetop if you want.

STEP 1—Spoon sugar into a clean heatproof jar. I have basic on the left and rich on the right in the images below.

STEP 2—Add the water to the sugar.

STEP 3—Give the mixture a really good stir. You want to make sure that any sugar sticking to the bottom of the jar is incorporated into the water.

STEP 4—Heat the jar(s) in the microwave in 30-second increments. Once the sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear, remove the jar from the microwave and let the liquid cool to room temperature. Basic simple syrup will turn clear faster than rich simple syrup. You may even notice that the rich syrup has a slight caramel color to it when it’s finished.

Storage

Store your cooled syrup in clean, airtight jars or bottles in the refrigerator. The basic recipe can last up to a month, while the rich version has a longer shelf life of about two months. Always check for any signs of spoilage or crystallization before using.

🗣 Expert Tips

1. Give the mixture a stir between heating to help the sugar dissolve.
2. Once the sugar is almost completely dissolved, stopped the heating process to prevent caramelization.
3. Experiment with flavors. Add your favorite herbs, spices, fruits, or extracts while still hot. Strain out solids before storing to prevent spoilage.

💡 Ways To Use

Basic Simple Syrup

You can use basic simple syrup to sweeten cold cocktails and mocktails, or in hot drinks like hot chocolate. It’s also great for sweetening homemade lemonade or iced tea. You can also try brushing it over this Earl Grey yogurt cake or any other cake layers before you ice them to keep them moist.

Rich Simple Syrup

If you like lavender, try this lavender sugar in place of granulated white sugar for a rich botanical syrup that’s lovely in lemonade. The rich version is great for sweetening coffee-based drinks like vanilla lattes or London Fogs. You can also use it to enhance cocktails like Old Fashioneds, sours, or daiquiris. Another way to use it is as a base for homemade sorbet or granita.

⏲ More Kitchen Basics