How to Make Simple Syrup – Basic, Lavender, Rosemary & Cherry

Simple syrup is the foundation for making many of the non-alcoholic drinks shared on this site. I’ve come to realize not everyone knows what simple syrup is, how to make it, and what to use it for. This post will cover how to make simple syrup and then several variations so you have a wide variety of flavors to choose from to make lots of delicious drinks.

Basic Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water

Step One: Put the sugar and the water in a small saucepan on the stove and bring to a boil. Let boil for ~10 minutes until all of the sugar has dissolved. Let cool. Store in a glass jar in the fridge indefinitely.

My Favorite Uses for Basic Simple Syrup:

1 tablespoon in a glass of ice tea with fresh mint (my Mom’s signature drink)
2 tablespoons in a mint fauxjito (a mint mojito sans alcohol)
Use to make homemade lemonade (check out my lavender lemonade or rosemary lemonade recipes on this site)

Lavender Simple Syrup

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
4 teaspoons of culinary lavender

Step One: To make the simple syrup put the sugar and water with the culinary lavender in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil for ~10 minutes. Let cool. Remove the lavender by using a small sieve. Store in a glass jar in the fridge indefinitely.

My Favorite Uses for Lavender Simple Syrup:

1 tablespoon in a glass of ice tea
2 tablespoons in a lavender fauxjito (a mint mojito sans alcohol)
Use to make homemade lavender lemonade

Rosemary Simple Syrup

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
2 6″ sprigs of rosemary

Step One: To make the simple syrup put the sugar and water with the rosemary in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil for ~10 minutes. Let cool. Remove the rosemary sprig. Store in a glass jar in the fridge indefinitely.

My Favorite Uses for Rosemary Simple Syrup:

Use to make homemade rosemary lemonade
Add to a homemade cherry soda

Cherry Simple Syrup

Note: If cherry isn’t your favorite flavor then you can substitute the fruit for whatever you would like – blueberries, strawberries, loganberries, raspberries, blackberries, mango, etc.

10 oz. frozen and pitted cherries (or fruit of your choice)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

Step One: Place the water, sugar, and frozen cherries into a small uncovered saucepan on medium high for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Step Two: Once the cherry simple syrup is cool put it into a blender (or nutribullet) and mix well.

Step Three: Pour the blended simple syrup into a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to 10 days. Note: You can also pop this in the freezer and just scoop what you need. Lasts in the freezer in an air tight container for 3 months.

My Favorite Uses for Cherry Simple Syrup: